Melbourne Mavericks

Last updated
Melbourne Mavericks
Melbourne Mavericks Logo.svg
Founded2023
Based in Glen Waverley, Victoria
RegionsCity of Melbourne
Home venue John Cain Arena [1]
MyState Bank Arena
Head coach Tracey Neville
Captain Amy Parmenter
PremiershipsNil
League Super Netball
2025 placing7th

Melbourne Mavericks is an Australian professional netball team who have competed in Super Netball since the 2024 season. The club is operated by the Sports Entertainment Group (SEG) and is based at the Waverley Netball Centre in Glen Waverley, Victoria.

Contents

The Mavericks hold the SSN license made vacant by the Collingwood Magpies, who folded and withdrew from the league at the conclusion of the 2023 season. [2]

History

Following the demise of the Collingwood Magpies, speculation circled as to who would be awarded the eighth license for the 2024 Super Netball season and beyond. Submissions for the new license closed on 20 June 2023, with as many as six initial bids being whittled down to two by the closing date, according to media reports. [3]

On 21 July 2023, the league announced that the Sports Entertainment Group (SEG), led by chief executive Craig Hutchison, was awarded the license for a team to be based in south-east Melbourne. As part of the licensing agreement, Netball Australia will operate the team for the rest of 2023 before transitioning to SEG for 2024 and beyond. [4] ABC News reported that the SEG bid was preferred by broadcasters Fox Netball over the alternate bid put forward by Netball Victoria, which suggested a regional team 'floating' between Geelong, Bendigo or Ballarat. [3]

On 2 August 2023, decorated English netball coach Tracey Neville was announced as the inaugural head coach of the then-unnamed Mavericks. [5]

In their debut season, Neville guided Mavericks to a fifth place finish, just missing out on the finals on goal average. [6] This was despite Lauren Moore and Sasha Glasgow suffering season ending injuries before round one. [7]

The Mavericks played one home game each season in 2024 and 2025 at the Derwent Entertainment Centre in Hobart, Tasmania. [8] [9]

Location

The team was initially announced as being representative of 'south-east Melbourne' without a specific location named. In October 2023, SEG confirmed that the club's administration and training base would be located at the Waverley Netball Centre in Glen Waverley, Victoria. [10]

Identity

Mavericks mascot "Goose" is a unicorn with sparkly pink hair Melbourne Mavericks Mascot.png
Mavericks mascot "Goose" is a unicorn with sparkly pink hair

The identity of the Mavericks was officially announced by netball operations general manager Shae Bolton-Brown on 20 September 2023, with the club's name, logo and primary colours—sky blue, 'pacific cyan' and sapphire—revealed after months of speculation. [11]

Current Players

2025 Melbourne Mavericks roster
PlayersCoaching staff
Nat.NamePosition(s)DoBHeight
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Kim Brown GD, GK (1998-02-27) 27 February 1998 (age 27)1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Flag of England.svg Eleanor Cardwell GS, GA (1994-11-11) 11 November 1994 (age 30)1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Tayla Fraser C, WD, WA (1999-06-13) 13 June 1999 (age 26)1.72 m (5 ft 8 in)
Flag of England.svg Sasha Glasgow GA, GS (1998-07-19) 19 July 1998 (age 27)1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Jessie Grenvold GD, GK (2003-04-26) 26 April 2003 (age 22)1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Flag of Jamaica.svg Shimona Jok GS (1998-12-01) 1 December 1998 (age 26)1.95 m (6 ft 5 in)
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Molly Jovic C, WA (1995-10-07) 7 October 1995 (age 29)1.71 m (5 ft 7 in)
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Olivia Lewis GK, GD (1999-04-29) 29 April 1999 (age 26)1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Maisie Nankivell C, WD, WA (1999-09-29) 29 September 1999 (age 25)1.76 m (5 ft 9 in)
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Lauren Parkinson GD, GK, WD (1998-01-30) 30 January 1998 (age 27)1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Amy Parmenter  (c)WD, C (1997-08-01) 1 August 1997 (age 27)1.76 m (5 ft 9 in)
Head coach
Assistant coaches


Notes
  • (c)– Captain
  • (cc)– Co-captain
  • (vc)– Vice-captain
  • Star of life gold.svg – Injury / maternity leave
  • (TRP)– Temporary Replacement Player
Player profiles: Team website Last updated: 24 April 2025

Internationals

Flag of England.svg  England

Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa

Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia

Head Coaches

CoachYears
Tracey Neville 2024–present

References

  1. ↑ "MELBOURNE MAVERICKS TO CALL JOHN CAIN ARENA HOME". SEN. Retrieved 27 January 2024.
  2. ↑ "'Incredibly difficult': AFL giants quit Super Netball". wwos.nine.com.au. 25 May 2023. Retrieved 2023-05-25.
  3. 1 2 Carter, Brittany (2023-07-21). "Craig Hutchison wins bid for eighth Super Netball team". ABC News . Retrieved 2023-07-21.
  4. ↑ "Eighth Licence Awarded". Super Netball . 2023-07-21. Retrieved 2023-07-21.
  5. ↑ "Decorated coach to lead newest team". Super Netball . 2023-08-02. Retrieved 2023-09-20.
  6. ↑ "2024 season review: Mavericks". netball.com.au. Retrieved 2025-05-05.
  7. ↑ "Mavericks on managing their emotions". netball.com.au. Retrieved 2025-05-05.
  8. ↑ "Netball Tasmania lock in deal to bring Melbourne Mavericks for SSN games". The Mercury. 13 March 2024. Retrieved 3 July 2025.
  9. ↑ "Tassie remains happy hunting ground for Mavs". Melbourne Mavericks. 18 May 2025. Retrieved 3 July 2025.
  10. ↑ "Mavericks confirm new home at Waverley Netball Centre". Sports Entertainment Network . 2023-10-20. Retrieved 2023-11-02.
  11. ↑ "SEN unveils the Melbourne Mavericks - a game-changing new netball brand". Sports Entertainment Network . 2023-09-20. Retrieved 2023-09-20.
  1. https://wwos.nine.com.au/netball/super-netball-2023-collingwood-confirm-withdrawal-conclusion-of-season/4cbb8c47-770e-4782-a702-ceb8af38e140 Retrieved 2023-05-25.
  2. ^ a b Carter, Brittany (2023-07-21). "Craig Hutchison wins bid for eighth Super Netball team". ABC News . Retrieved 2023-07-21.
  3. ^ "Eighth Licence Awarded". Super Netball . 2023-07-21. Retrieved 2023-07-21.
  4. ^ "Decorated coach to lead newest team". Super Netball . 2023-08-02. Retrieved 2023-09-20.
  5. ^ "Mavericks confirm new home at Waverley Netball Centre". Sports Entertainment Network . 2023-10-20. Retrieved 2023-11-02.
  6. ^ "SEN unveils the Melbourne Mavericks - a game-changing new netball brand". Sports Entertainment Network . 2023-09-20. Retrieved 2023-09-20.
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