Are 'bully' defenders crossing the line this Super Netball season?

For those that love netball and have played the game, it's pretty apparent that its description as a non-contact sport isn't the full truth. Especially in Australia, where physicality is embraced and considered to be one of the defining traits of our trademark style of play.

But with the Commonwealth Games coming up in Birmingham this July and the Diamonds desperate to win back their gold-medal status, umpires have reportedly been asked to take a harsher stance on this physicality in the Super Netball competition this season.

Speaking with Netball Scoop last week after naming her 18-player Diamonds squad for the Games, head coach Stacey Marinkovich referenced «an athlete's ability to be able to stay in play», as one of the key factors taken into consideration during the selection process.

«Generally speaking, international umpires tend to be less tolerant of Australia's robust style of play … and penalty counts have gone up across Super Netball this year [because] we're honing a more international style of umpiring, so players will be forced to be cleaner,» Marinkovich said.

As we head towards the halfway point of the domestic league, the average amount of penalties per game has risen to 121.5, up from 115.5 this time last year.

Struggling teams towards the bottom of the ladder like the Adelaide Thunderbirds (396 total penalties) and Collingwood Magpies (391 total penalties) have been the main culprits, although the ladder-leading Melbourne Vixens (389 total penalties) and third-placed Queensland Firebirds (379 total penalties) have also racked up high tallies.

Whether the approach is having its desired effect is up for debate, considering the Vixens and Thunderbirds conceded a whopping 157 penalties over the weekend, six