NETBALL SCOOP: Australian Diamonds v England Roses Test preview

Diamonds
Sunday Aryang
Kiera Austin
Sophie Dwyer
Rudi Ellis
Ash Ervin
Sophie Garbin
Matilda Garrett
Paige Hadley
Georgie Horjus
Sarah Klau
Cara Koenen
Kate Moloney
Amy Parmenter
Jamie-Lee Price
Liz Watson
Coach – Stacey Marinkovich

Roses
Imogen Allison
Eleanor Cardwell
Amy Carter
Beth Cobden
Funmi Fadoju
Alice Harvey
Helen Housby
Hannah Joseph
Nat Metcalf
Berri Neil
Lois Pearson
Razia Quashie
Ellie Rattu
Liv Tchine
Fran Williams
Coach – Jess Thirlby

UMPIRES

Angela Armstrong-Lush
Gareth Fowler
Ken Metekingi

HEAD TO HEAD

All Matches: 87
(Australia 78, England 8, Draws 1)

In Australia: 29
(Australia 27, England 2)

Last 15 Matches:
(Australia 11, England 3, Draws 1)

Funmi Fadoju gets airborne over Kiera Austin. Image: Danny Dalton

STRENGTHS

Diamonds

The Diamonds’ main area of strength is definitely their midcourt. They will run with an experienced combination that hasn’t changed too much since their Commonwealth Games and World Cup triumphs. Wing defence Ash Brazill has retired, but the attacking midcourt will see Liz Watson, Paige Hadley, Kate Moloney and Jamie-Lee Price all upping their game to try and make the match day 12. Their strength onto the ball and circle, control, and precision feeding of the shooting circle should give them an edge.

The biggest question mark will come over which combination will get the nod. While Moloney and Price have both been used at wing defence, specialist Amy Parmenter could be named at someone’s expense, while Sunday Aryang could also slide across from goal defence if needed.

A season spent together in the shooting circle has cemented a strong combination between Sophie Garbin and Kiera Austin. The latter has been in fine form all season, using her creativity and timing to create space. Garbin has taken massive strides from the confidence of starting at goal shooter, week in, week out. Her timing and choice of angle on drives out of the circle are well-balanced, creating room for Austin’s sweeps and drives, and this harmony of structure has improved both their accuracy. The duo also share the load smoothly, creating headaches for any defenders trying to work as a unit.

Even without Courtney Bruce and Jo Weston, the Diamonds defensive unit is going to take up plenty of space. The height and wingspan of Sarah Klau, Ash Ervin, Rudi Ellis, Tilly Garrett and Sunday Aryang should provide a few headaches for the Roses’ midcourt as they connect with their circle. Key to the Diamonds success will be how effectively they shut down those connections, with Garrett or Aryang tasked to run with Housby. While it’s the most inexperienced end of the Diamonds, there’s plenty of opportunities to disrupt ball.

Liz Watson will lead from the front. Image May Bailey l Clusterpix

Roses

With five experienced members of their team – Geva Mentor, Layla Gusgoth, Laura Malcolm, Jade Clarke and Chelsea Pitman – having moved on, the Roses are bringing a blend of youth and experience to Australian shores. They’ve also opted for a more balanced squad – less wing defence heavy than in previous years, and with several genuine wing attack options. And in contrast to the Diamonds, they will have had a lengthier preparation, which bodes well for their connections.

After a horrific run with injuries, wing defence Beth Cobden is a welcome sight back in the England squad, and her potential combination across the defensive transverse line with Funmi Fadoju is exciting. Both have proven instincts to win ball, as well as the reach and timing to create lifted passes for back players. Combined with the defensive leadership of captain Fran Williams, the Roses could create havoc in an Australian forward line that likes to play with speed.

With Courtney Bruce and Jo Weston missing from the Australian team, England has an experienced shooting duo that could take advantage of any weakness in a less experienced Diamonds’ defence. Eleanor Cardwell is only playing the Australian leg of the Roses’ tour, so coach Jess Thirlby will no doubt be looking to utilise her combination with Helen Housby in these three tests. Housby always takes her game up a notch in the England dress, and is always a big danger to any opponents.

Helen Housby after shooting the winning goal for England at the 2018 Commonwealth Games. Image Marcela Massey

CHALLENGES

Diamonds

Perhaps Stacey Marinkovich’s biggest challenge will be how she integrates her handful of newer players into the Diamonds with the long term in mind. All five midcourters range in age from 27 to 32, with youthful squad member Hannah Mundy not selected for the series. Meanwhile, three of Australia’s key defenders are aged between 29 and 30, including sidelined incumbents Jo Weston and Courtney Bruce. Add an additional three years on until the 2027 World Cup, and it’s uncertain if the physical demands of netball means they will all go the distance. While there’s no substitute for experience, this current international season is the perfect time to start bringing some youth into the mix.

Despite World Netball updating the rules, little changed during Suncorp Super Netball this season with significant contesting allowed. The Diamonds will now fall under the watchful eyes of a New Zealand umpiring panel, who weren’t afraid to bench ANZ Premiership players for infringing the new rules. While Stacey Marinkovich’s side will work with the umpires before the test series, to understand their interpretation of the rules, the Diamonds will need to adapt quickly, or find themselves out of play and off the court.

If Australia have a weakness, it’s in their defensive end with their two most experienced campaigners Bruce and Weston both out of action. While Klau and Aryang remain from the World Cup XII, it’s almost certain that Ervin or Ellis will debut at goal keeper at some point, while Tilly Garrett will likely add to her handful of caps at goal defence. With two newcomers in the mix, Klau and Aryang will need to work overtime to provide leadership and support.

The international retirement of former vice-captain Steph Fretwell leaves a gaping hole in the Diamonds’ attacking end. Her timing, creativity and ability to create space is hard to match, so it will be fascinating to see how Austin, Sophie Dwyer and potential debutante Georgie Horjus gel their shooters. The Austin/Garbin connection is well-drilled – Cara Koenen has had court time with Dwyer, but could potentially be a better match with Horjus who plays a more similar game to Fretwell.

Diamonds defenders Courtney Bruce and Jo Weston will be missed. Image – Danny Dalton | Tah Dah Sports

Roses

Building connections and combinations will be the Roses biggest challenge, with so many incoming players. While it may take those a little while to build, fortunately most players are clustered at just three domestic NSL teams, meaning that various units already have some experience together. In the past, with limited wing attack options the overworked Nat Metcalf has looked spent at the end of a long tournament. However, will coach Jess Thirlby bench one of her most experienced players to trial some of her youngsters? If it happens, it’s most likely to be during the Australian series, while she still has her experienced shooting end together.

Having reigned supreme for 20 years, Geva Mentor leaves a massive gap at goal keeper. Alice Harvey has the height at 190cm but is still relatively inexperienced at this level, while World Cup reserve Razia Quashie is slightly shorter (185cm) but provides an intimidating presence in the circle. Both players will be vying to claim the bib, but will have their work cut out against the movement of Cara Koenen and Sophie Garbin.

Their shooting end could have similar issues, as their experience level drops off sharply after the Cardwell/Housby combination. However, with the Diamonds lacking two of its most experienced defensive stars, it’s the perfect time for Liv Tchine, Lois Pearson and Berri Neil to step up to the mark. After a domestic season where she was needed mostly at goal attack, Cardwell ran into some injury issues, so fans will be hoping the superstar is back to her best.

England have shown the ability to match it with Australia, but have struggled to back it up on a regular basis. The main exception came in the 2013 series, which England took 3-0 on home soil. The Diamonds’ incredible history of success is hard to eclipse, particularly in Australia with huge crowds on their side.

England Roses players Eleanor Cardwell, Helen Housby and Nat Metcalf will spearhead England against Australia, but how will they integrate some of their rising stars. Image – Danny Dalton | Tah Dah Sports

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Diamonds

For the Diamonds, all eyes will be on their debutantes. Georgie Horjus looks set to be a generational player for the Thunderbirds, but how well will that translate to the Diamonds, should she debut? How will she cope with building a completely new set of connections with the existing shooters and midcourt? Albeit on the short side at 172cm, Horjus is an incredibly smart and creative player, and could be perfectly poised to fill the gap left by Fretwell. And having trained against two of Jamaica’s finest defenders for the past few seasons, Horjus should have the ability to cope with athletic opposition who have a good lean or jump over the shot. Also making it smoother for Horjus, she will have wise and experienced heads around her, and plenty of support.

Rudi Ellis has had a strong domestic season, benefiting from both regular court time and Sharni Layton’s coaching to improve her footwork and timing. While she might debut, she will face stiff competition for the goal keeper bib from Ash Ervin, whose youth makes her more likely to be a name for the future. The 21 year old stands at 192 cm, and despite having transitioned from goal shooter to keeper just a few years ago, she’s already impressing with her footwork and ability to win ball.

Ervin has troubled Grace Nweke at Fast5 and Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard in Super Netball, and regular court time now should see her push her claim for the 2027 World Cup. She’s benefited from Bruce’s support – and injury – at Lightning, and now finds herself in a similar situation with the Diamonds.

If Ervin is fast-tracked, Marinkovich could end up with a towering defensive end, with the ability to push all her defenders forward from their usual positions – imagine a back three of Ervin, Bruce and Weston for example. Big bodies and arm spans can really trouble attacking vision into the circle, and that has the potential to give nightmares to their opponents.

Georgie Horjus has been playing across wing and goal attack this season. Image Tahliah Harding.

Ash Ervin made Jhaniele Fowler work for every ball when Lightning played Fever this season. Image Clinton Bradbury/Bradbury Photography

Roses

There’s potentially a feast of new talent that could gain court time for the Roses. A few of the most notable include Berri Neil, Amy Carter, Lois Pearson and Ellie Rattu.

Pearson is a goal attack/wing attack slide who has cemented her place in Manchester Thunder’s starting seven. Named their Players’ Player of the Season, she was also voted into the NSL’s All-Star VII. Her versatility could perhaps give her an edge over Neil, although the competition between the pair for court time could push both of them to greater heights. Neil stands 6cm taller, and has pre-existing connections with Tchine. Known for her silky movement and creativity, Neil is another talent for the future.

A centre/wing defence, Rattu is known for a maturity and leadership that goes beyond her handful of caps. Like the other relative newcomers, Rattu is yet to prove herself as a 60 minute player at this level, but is seen as a possible successor to Imogen Allison in the middle.

Finally, Carter debuted back in 2020, but her international career was cruelled by an ACL injury that saw her miss the 2022 season. Another centre/wing defence, Carter was a reserve for the Netball World Cup, and will be hoping to stake her claim for a permanent place in the Roses’ 12.