Three NSW Swifts are included in the 18-strong 2022-23 Australian Diamonds squad which has been announced ahead of this year’s Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
Double Premiership champions Paige Hadley, Sarah Klau and Maddy Turner have all been selected, however, there was disappointment for Swifts co-captain Maddy Proud who missed out.
All three players were part of the Diamonds team which claimed the Quad Series in the UK earlier this year, and have been stalwarts of the international setup since 2019.
2015 World Cup winner Hadley and Klau were part of the Diamonds team which contested the 2019 World Cup, while Turner made her international debut later that year on the back of the Swifts winning the 2019 Suncorp Super Netball title, a feat which the Club repeated last year.
There is one addition to the 2022-23 squad, with Queensland Firebirds’ goal shooter Donnell Wallam impressing Diamonds head coach Stacey Marinkovich.
A proud Noongar woman, Wallam burst onto the Suncorp Super Netball stage this season, shooting 210 goals across the first five rounds.
The Diamonds were crowned champions at the Netball Quad Series in January and are ranked world number one ahead of the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games from July 29 to August 9.
The 2022 Commonwealth Games team of 12 athletes will be selected from the Diamonds squad. The squad was selected by Marinkovich and national selectors Anne Sargeant OAM and Michelle Wilkins.
A squad of up to 22 athletes can be selected, with Marinkovich declaring positions are still up for grabs.
“Selection definitely hasn’t been an easy task,” Marinkovich said. “We have such a great depth of talent within our system across every position on the court and I congratulate those who have been selected.
“After showing great accuracy and strength at the post during her debut Suncorp Super Netball season, Donnell Wallam has been selected in the Diamonds squad.
“We have selected 18 athletes and will continue to closely monitor performances throughout the Suncorp Super Netball season, with the potential to add to the squad throughout the year.
“This squad showcases an incredible breadth of experience and new emerging talent.
“We have our sights firmly set on the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games, and we are also incredibly excited for international netball to return to Australian soil later this year.”
Netball Australia is currently working through the Diamonds' international fixtures, including the Constellation Cup, with more information to be shared in the coming months.
2022-23 Australian Diamonds squad
- Sunday Aryang (West Coast Fever)
- Kiera Austin (Melbourne Vixens)
- Ash Brazill (Collingwood Magpies)
- Courtney Bruce (West Coast Fever)
- Gretel Bueta (Queensland Firebirds)
- Sophie Dwyer (Giants Netball)
- Sophie Garbin (Collingwood Magpies)
- Paige Hadley (NSW Swifts)
- Sarah Klau (NSW Swifts)
- Cara Koenen (Sunshine Coast Lightning)
- Kate Moloney (Melbourne Vixens)
- Amy Parmenter (Giants Netball)
- Jamie-Lee Price (Giants Netball)
- Maddy Turner (NSW Swifts)
- Donnell Wallam (Queensland Firebirds)
- Liz Watson (Melbourne Vixens)
- Jo Weston (Melbourne Vixens)
- Stephanie Wood (Sunshine Coast Lightning)
