Senior netball officials suggested making an "unprecedented attempt" to influence the broadcast coverage of player protests staged at last weekend's round of Super Netball matches, by "limiting the input of high-profile commentator and outspoken board critic Liz Ellis in particular," according to Linda Pearce of the SYDNEY MORNING HERALD. Sources confirmed the subject was raised at a forum held after Friday's "bitterly contested election at Netball Australia's annual general meeting in Canberra." Strike action was "among retaliatory measures threatened by the players that did not eventuate." Instead, they "formed pre-game huddles to delay the start to the round-nine matches and draw attention to their concerns over the re-cast board's independence." The post-AGM meeting fielded a suggestion that "efforts be made to limit the commentary" relating to the player action and the issues raised by the Australian Netball Players' Association in the "rancorous lead-up to the AGM." That possibility was "immediately quashed" by Netball Australia CEO Marne Fechner, who said on Thursday that, at that time, "neither the governing body nor the clubs knew what form of protest the players would take." She also confirmed that "any commentary censorship was declared to be unacceptable" (SMH, 4/27).