The strong form of a number of young athletes in the Suncorp Super Netball League has seen them rewarded with inclusion in the Origin Australian Diamonds and Development squads for 2021/2022.
21 athletes were named by selectors Stacey Marinkovich, Annie Sargeant and Michelle Wilkins in the Diamonds’ squad. The selectors, aided by Development Squad Head Coach Julie Fitzgerald, also chose a further 19 athletes to make up the Development Squad, with the view to growing the depth of talent within Australian pathways.
After a stellar season, 20 year old Sunday Aryang (West Coast Fever) and 24 year old Amy Parmenter (GIANTS Netball) have made their first senior national squad, while Ash Brazill (Collingwood Magpies) and Maddy Turner (NSW Swifts) have both been reselected after last year’s omission.
April Brandley (GIANTS Netball) did not make herself available for selection for family reasons, although the newest mother in the league, Gretel Bueta (Queensland Firebirds), has been welcomed back.
Some pundits were tipping that Sophie Dwyer (GIANTS Netball) and Maddie Hay (GIANTS Netball) might earn Diamonds’ squad selection, but both have been picked for the Development group. However, with Kiera Austin currently recovering from an ACL injury, Dwyer has been asked to attend the Diamonds’ training camp.
Notable omissions from previous squads include Kelsey Browne, Kim Ravaillion, Kristiana Manu’a, Gabi Simpson and Laura Scherian. Maddy McAuliffe and rising star Donnell Wallam could also potentially consider themselves unlucky not to appear in the Development squad. Although there is no further information at this point, Ravaillion has been in strong form this season, and her absence may indicate that she chose not to nominate.
Head coach Stacey Marinkovich said, “Selecting a squad is never easy, especially when you look at the quality of performances that have been consistently put out during the Suncorp Super Netball season.
“I am delighted with the versatility that we have selected and the skillset that these players possess. There is an absolute belief that the players will successfully transfer their elite performances to the Diamonds’ game plan and the international stage.
“There is a huge amount of energy coming from the player about what lays ahead and that is extremely motivating, especially when they have faced many obstacles through the Suncorp Super Netball season.”
It is unknown at this point if the Diamonds will be able to meet for a camp prior to the Constellation Cup this October. Much will depend on the Covid status of various states, with a number of them currently in lockdown. Netball Australia is also exploring further test match opportunities.
More information will follow.
2021/22 Origin Australian Diamonds squad
| Name | Netball Club | State of Origin |
| Jess Anstiss | West Coast Fever | Western Australia |
| Sunday Aryang | West Coast Fever | Western Australia |
| Kiera Austin | GIANTS Netball | New South Wales |
| Caitlin Bassett | Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic | Western Australia |
| Ash Brazill | Collingwood Magpies | New South Wales |
| Courtney Bruce | West Coast Fever | Western Australia |
| Gretel Bueta | Queensland Firebirds | Queensland |
| Verity Charles | West Coast Fever | New South Wales |
| Sophie Garbin | NSW Swifts | Western Australia |
| Paige Hadley | NSW Swifts | New South Wales |
| Kim Jenner | Queensland Firebirds | Queensland |
| Sarah Klau | NSW Swifts | South Australia |
| Cara Koenen | Sunshine Coast Lightning | Queensland |
| Kate Moloney | Melbourne Vixens | Victoria |
| Amy Parmenter | GIANTS Netball | New South Wales |
| Jamie-Lee Price | GIANTS Netball | New South Wales |
| Maddy Proud | NSW Swifts | South Australia |
| Maddy Turner | NSW Swifts | South Australia |
| Liz Watson | Melbourne Vixens | Victoria |
| Jo Weston | Melbourne Vixens | Victoria |
| Steph Wood | Sunshine Coast Lightning | Queensland |
2021/22 Australian Development squad
| Name | Club | State of Origin |
| Mahalia Cassidy | Sunshine Coast Lightning | Queensland |
| Lara Dunkley | Queensland Firebirds | Victoria |
| Tippah Dwan | Queensland Firebirds | Queensland |
| Sophie Dwyer | GIANTS Netball | New South Wales |
| Kate Eddy | Melbourne Vixens | Victoria |
| Rudi Ellis | Queensland Firebirds | New South Wales |
| Matilda Garrett | Adelaide Thunderbirds | Victoria |
| Sasha Glasgow | West Coast Fever | South Australia |
| Maddie Hay | GIANTS Netball | New South Wales |
| Tara Hinchliffe | Queensland Firebirds | Queensland |
| Georgie Horjus | Adelaide Thunderbirds | South Australia |
| Olivia Lewis | West Coast Fever | Western Australia |
| Emily Mannix | Melbourne Vixens | Victoria |
| Tilly McDonell | GIANTS Netball | New South Wales |
| Jemma Mi Mi | Queensland Firebirds | Queensland |
| Lauren Moore | NSW Swifts | New South Wales |
| Hannah Mundy | Melbourne Vixens | Victoria |
| Maisie Nankivell | Adelaide Thunderbirds | South Australia |
| Alice Teague-Neeld | West Coast Fever | Victoria |
