The Melbourne Mavericks can confirm that Eleanor Cardwell has informed the club that she will not be seeking a new contract in 2026.
It’s been a difficult year for Cardwell, who on the eve of the 2025 SSN season was required to undergo her second knee surgery in six months. The first surgery – conducted in October 2024, as a result of an aggravating an injury when representing the England Roses during an international series against the Australian Diamonds – was deemed not to have been successful in March of this year.
“It’s obviously been a really difficult year for me personally, not being able to take to the SSN court at all,” Cardwell said. “As so many people know, the journey to return to play from injury is physically difficult, but emotionally it’s really hard too, and for me, it’s been compounded by not being surrounded by my family and close friends back home. The majority of my life out here is linked to netball, so when the girls are away for a game and I’m not travelling because I’m still rehabbing...it’s been a real mental challenge.”
“I’ll be really sad to leave the girls and all the friends I’ve made here in Melbourne and Australia, but I’m looking forward to being surrounded by my family, continuing my training, and working towards my goal of returning to the court at the highest level and hopefully representing England at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games and the 2027 Netball World Cup in Sydney.”
“It’s been a real privilege to come out here and play in the SSN,” Cardwell concluded. “It’s the best netball league in the world and I’ve learnt so much and had so many wonderful experiences – I've been a part of a drought-breaking, Premiership-winning team at the Adelaide Thunderbirds, and I’ve been co-vice captain of an inaugural club, so I count myself as pretty fortunate.”
Mavs General Manager, Shae Bolton-Brown, paid tribute to Cardwell’s contribution to the club both on and off the court.
“There’s no doubt that El is one of the best shooters in the world, so it’s been an absolute privilege to have her as an inaugural Maverick and as co-vice captain of our club during our first two seasons. She will be missed on court – as we have unfortunately found out this year – but more importantly, her leadership and humility that she brings to the group will be missed off it.
“Like anyone who moves on, El will always be a part of the Mavs family, and as we get to the end of our second season as a club, the reality is that we are going to be losing more people from that inaugural group. We’re keen to start a ‘Mavs alumni’ group to keep that connection there wherever our Mavs family are in the world, so we’re thrilled that as a Mavs alum, El is going to be a huge part of keeping that group connected.”
Cardwell’s contribution to the Mavs will be celebrated at the club’s Awards Night tomorrow evening.
