Why I bought netball’s worst club

By the Editorial Team · Friday, August 7, 2026

Craig Hutchison’s Sports Entertainment Group has acquired the Sydney Giants netball team, marking its second franchise in Australia’s Super Netball League and plans to rebrand the club while retaining the current coaching staff through 2027. This expansion strengthens SEG’s commitment to growing netball nationally, aiming to broaden the team’s reach in New South Wales and enhance the sport’s visibility alongside existing franchises.

Craig Hutchison’s Sports Entertainment Group (SEG) has expanded its presence in Australia’s Super Netball League with the acquisition of the league’s eighth licence from Netball New South Wales, marking the company’s second netball franchise after the Melbourne Mavericks. The deal, effective from October 1, involves taking ownership of the Sydney-based Giants netball club, which SEG plans to rebrand with a new name, logo, and colours, departing from the current affiliation with the AFL club's branding that has been in place since 2017.

Despite the forthcoming transformation, SEG has confirmed that Nerida Stewart and assistant coach Jen Wright will remain in their coaching roles through at least the end of 2027, honoring their existing contracts. The club’s home games will continue to be held at Ken Rosewall Arena in Sydney Olympic Park, which Hutchison described as central to the team’s identity, although the organisation is exploring opportunities to expand the team’s reach across Western Sydney and the broader New South Wales region. While Blacktown is a potential base for the team’s operations, no final decision has been announced.

Hutchison said the acquisition reflects SEG’s strong commitment to invest in and promote netball, a sport he said he has developed a deep passion for. He emphasised the intention to engage with the current Giants supporters throughout the rebranding process to ensure continuity for the club’s fan base. “We see ourselves as positive disrupters in netball in terms of fun and energy and purpose and learning and storytelling,” he told SEN radio. Hutchison also acknowledged the established presence of the New South Wales Swifts and Netball New South Wales’ statewide reach, positioning SEG’s new franchise as a fresh addition that will complement existing efforts to grow the sport.

This move brings SEG’s footprint in Australian professional women’s sports to four teams, including the Melbourne Mavericks in Super Netball and the Bendigo Spirit and Perth Lynx in the Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL). Hutchison highlighted netball’s broad popularity, noting its significance in Australian households and praising the league as the best netball competition in the world. He described SEG’s investment as a long-term commitment to helping develop the sport and enhance its visibility across the country.

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