The NSW Swifts are delighted by today's news that five of the club's current roster have been selected for Australian Diamonds duty.
Netball Australia has named a 21-strong Diamonds squad for 2021/22, as international netball returns to the country for the first time in two years.
The Diamonds will take on rivals the New Zealand Silver Ferns in the 12th Constellation Cup this October and Netball Australia is exploring further Test Match opportunities with an update to be provided when details are confirmed.
Swifts Paige Hadley, Sarah Klau, Maddy Turner, Maddy Proud and Sophie Garbin were all named in head coach Stacey Marinkovich's squad.
In other good news, young Swifts defender Lauren Moore has been named in the Australian Development squad.
Swifts head coach Briony Akle said she was overjoyed for the players selected.
"It is always a hugely proud moment to be selected to represent your country, even if you have been part of the international setup for a while," Akle said.
"Both Paige and Sarah have been key members of the Australian team for the past few seasons and I am also so happy for Maddy Turner to be back in there for the first time since 2019. Injury went against her last season but she has returned to the form that merits this call-up.
"I am also really stoked for Sophie and Maddy Proud. Sophie made her international debut earlier this year and has backed that up with strong performances in Super Netball, and Maddy Proud is one of the form midcourters in the game.
"Alongside Paige she has been an inspirational captain and I know she's ready for this opportunity.
"It is a real validation of what we are trying to do at the Swifts to see our players picked for higher honours and I would like to thank our brilliant performance team for helping get the players to this level."
Marinkovich said of her selection: “Selecting a squad is never easy, especially when you look at the quality of performances that have consistently been 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.
“We are committed to building on what we started as a group late last year and I am looking forward to integrating the new squad members and enhancing and evolving the program with their contribution.
“There is a huge amount of energy coming from the players about what lays ahead and that is extremely motivating, especially when they have faced many obstacles through the Super Netball season.”
2021/22 Australian Diamonds squad:
- Jess Anstiss (West Coast Fever)
- Sunday Aryang (West Coast Fever)
- Kiera Austin (Giants)
- Caitlin Bassett (Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic)
- Ash Brazill (Collingwood Magpies)
- Courtney Bruce (West Coast Fever)
- Gretel Bueta (Queensland Firebirds)
- Verity Charles (West Coast Fever)
- Sophie Garbin (NSW Swifts)
- Paige Hadley (NSW Swifts)
- Kimberley Jenner (Queensland Firebirds)
- Sarah Klau (NSW Swifts)
- Cara Koenen (Sunshine Coast Lightning)
- Kate Moloney (Melbourne Vixens)
- Amy Parmenter (Giants)
- Jamie-Lee Price (Giants)
- Maddy Proud (NSW Swifts)
- Maddy Turner (NSW Swifts)
- Liz Watson (Melbourne Vixens)
- Joanna Weston (Melbourne Vixens)
- Stephanie Wood (Sunshine Coast Lightning)
2021/22 Australian Development squad:
- Mahalia Cassidy - Sunshine Coast Lightning
- Lara Dunkley - Queensland Firebirds
- Tippah Dwan - Queensland Firebirds
- Sophie Dwyer - Giants
- Kate Eddy - Melbourne Vixens
- Rudi Ellis - Queensland Firebirds
- Matilda Garrett - Adelaide Thunderbirds
- Sasha Glasgow - West Coast Fever
- Maddie Hay - Giants
- Tara Hinchliffe - Queensland Firebirds
- Georgie Horjus - Adelaide Thunderbirds
- Olivia Lewis - West Coast Fever
- Emily Mannix - Melbourne Vixens
- Matilda McDonell - Giants
- Jemma Mi Mi - Queensland Firebirds
- Lauren Moore - NSW Swifts
- Hannah Mundy - Melbourne Vixens
- Maisie Nankivell - Adelaide Thunderbrids
- Alice Teague-Neeld - West Coast Fever
