Netball Australia has launched an investigation into the internal workings of the Queensland Firebirds after a troubled season the place the membership narrowly averted the picket spoon, farewelled its coach mid-campaign, and controversially let go of two beginning gamers.
ABC Sport broke the information in June that head coach Bec Bulley could be leaving the workforce with 5 weeks remaining within the season on account of participant unrest, midway by means of a four-year contract.
The workforce rallied to win two extra video games beneath interim coaches earlier than ending seventh total.
Since then, the Firebirds have let go two of their 30-year-old bookends.
Neither purpose keeper Remi Kamo or purpose shooter Donnell Wallam have been supplied contract extensions for subsequent yr.
Donnell Wallam has left the Firebirds to play in New Zealand, regardless of being statistically one the most effective scorers in Australia. (Getty Photographs: Bradley Kanaris)
Wallam — who’s one in every of simply three First Nations gamers to have represented the Aussie Diamonds — was additionally second within the league for objectives this season (556).
Kamo — who has Māori roots from her father’s aspect — had extra intercepts (17) and defensive rebounds (20) than some other Firebird.
Neither participant follows the workforce on social media anymore, nor did they attend the end-of-season awards dinner.
As an alternative, they are going to play in New Zealand in 2025, after Wallam signed with the Mystics and Kamo penned a deal on the Stars.
A skilled psychologist, Kamo stated the setting on the Firebirds was poisonous and claimed that gamers have been “gaslighted”.
She stated she suffered a psychological breakdown all through the season and ended up sick as a result of stress.
Had a chance not opened up within the ANZ Premiership, Kamo stated she doubts whether or not she would have continued to play netball in any respect.
Kamo stated she felt “disempowered” on the Firebirds and that her recollections of taking part in Tremendous Netball will at all times be soured. (AAP: James Gourley)
“I’ve by no means been extra disempowered than I used to be at that place,” Kamo advised ABC Sport.
“It’s undoubtedly a privilege to have the data I do due to my occupation, however typically once you’re deep within the pits, it is laborious to use to your self.
“It did assist to establish not less than that objectively issues weren’t good.
“I want the gamers there all the most effective and assume they deserve higher … sadly, my recollections of taking part in Tremendous Netball are at all times going to be soured.
“I do not assume I might ever return there, no matter a change in coach.
Kamo stated gamers from different groups would provide messages of assist to Firebirds gamers. (Getty Photographs: Mark Kolbe)
“Even gamers from different golf equipment might see we have been struggling, they despatched good messages our means.
“What helped get me by means of it greater than the rest was my sister and assist community.”
Now not within the Tremendous Netball bubble, Kamo stated she desires to inform her aspect of the story for many who aren’t free to talk with out concern of their subsequent taking part in alternative being jeopardised.
She can also be enthusiastic about guaranteeing the subsequent era of gamers from various or marginalised backgrounds are in a position to thrive in a clear setting.
‘You’ll dread the person efficiency evaluation conferences’
Reaching the heights of the world’s finest league is each netballer’s dream and Kamo was initially excited to be signed as a Firebird in 2023.
Nonetheless, she believes her sport stagnated as soon as she hit the massive time.
In the identical yr Kamo signed on, former world champion Bulley was appointed as coach.
After profitable stints main pathway packages and as an assistant on the NSW Swifts, the chance was Bulley’s first as a head coach on the high degree.
Bec Bulley (left) and different workers members converse to the Firebirds throughout a timeout in June this yr. (Getty Photographs: Jenny Evans)
Kamo was eager to see how far her sport might develop beneath the steering of the 2015 world champion, however stated that she believed the workforce lacked route and struggled to type relationships with Bulley.
Kamo stated at occasions gamers felt manipulated and that it was higher to stay silent than to air any of their issues, which resulted in a rising mistrust amongst the taking part in group.
“The suggestions wasn’t constructive, we lacked technique, our sport plan could not be adjusted throughout dwell play, and you’ll dread the person efficiency evaluation conferences,” Kamo stated.
“In my first yr, I attempted to fly beneath the radar, however I shortly labored out that we weren’t going to develop as gamers, so we began to show to one another extra for steering.”
An early warning signal for Kamo got here six days earlier than the 2023 season when assistant coach Sara Francis-Bayman was dismissed. Francis-Bayman then shifted to the West Coast Fever.
Sara Francis-Bayman (centre) was dismissed from the Firebirds and is now serving as an assistant coach with the Fever. (AAP: Steven Markham)
The information was devastating for the gamers, as they’d gravitated in direction of Francis-Bayman.
“Key figures at Netball Queensland introduced us into the boardroom and simply learn off a chunk of paper about why she was leaving … It was impersonal and compelled,” Kamo stated.
“Sara was like a protected area and that was a extremely surprising day.
“For it to occur proper earlier than the season was very destabilising.
“Many people left the room in tears as a result of we have been so upset.”
Within the two seasons since that call, Kamo stated she witnessed gamers being humiliated at coaching and that issues stated throughout personal participant conferences have been later used towards them.
Bec Bulley celebrates a Firebirds victory with Gabi Simpson in April 2023. (Getty Photographs: Albert Perez)
Kamo additionally felt the management of the membership failed to guard participant wellbeing each time these issues have been raised with these greater up the chain.
ABC Sport contacted Bulley for a response, however she selected to not remark at this cut-off date.
Kamo stated that when the pinnacle coach had departed, there was a way of reduction, however believed Netball Queensland did not do something to restore the tradition on the membership.
‘I am wanting ahead to being in a supportive setting’
Kamo had been supplied a two-year contract extension on the finish of 2023 with the Firebirds.
As an alternative, she opted to signal for simply 2024 due to the stress.
Had Kamo taken that deal, she would now be making ready to play for the Firebirds beneath recent management, with New Zealander Kiri Wills appointed as their subsequent head coach.
Kamo stated she is wanting ahead to being a part of a extra supportive setting and making use of for citizenship to offer her a shot at Silver Ferns choice down the monitor.
“I misplaced my enjoyment of netball final yr, so I am wanting ahead to being in an setting that is supportive, permits me to be myself and lets me benefit from the sport I really like,” Kamo was quoted in a media launch by the Stars on the time of her signing.
In the meantime, Netball Australia stated it might be thorough in its investigation into the Firebirds.
Kamo is wanting ahead to linking up with the Stars in New Zealand. (Getty Photographs: Albert Perez)
“Netball Australia can verify it not too long ago acquired a grievance and took speedy motion,” a press release learn.
“Netball Australia is in search of additional info to progress the inquiry, in addition to providing assist, and assurance that the grievance is being taken extraordinarily severely.
“The investigation course of will probably be thorough and carried out confidentially and due to this fact we can’t remark additional presently.”
Netball Queensland and the Firebirds say they’re conscious {that a} grievance has been acquired and that they’re dedicated to cooperating totally with the investigation.
“Because the matter is beneath an ongoing investigation by Netball Australia pursuant to the Netball Integrity Coverage Framework, Conduct and Disciplinary Coverage, Netball Queensland and its staff is not going to be making any public touch upon this matter.”
