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Australia national netball team facts for kids

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Australia
Australian diamonds logo.png
Nickname(s) Diamonds
Association Netball Australia
Head coach Stacey Marinkovich
Asst coach Nicole Richardson
Captain Liz Watson
Vice-captain Patricia Tran
Most caps Liz Ellis (122)
World ranking 1
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Team colours
Kit skirt netball.svg
Team colours
Kit body netball.svg
Alternate
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Alternate
First international
Australia  40 – 11  New Zealand
Royal Park, Melbourne, 20 August 1938
Largest win
Australia  113 - 12  Singapore
Sydney, 5 July 1991
Largest defeat
New Zealand  61 - 36  Australia
The Trusts Arena, 29 October 2005
Netball World Cup
Appearances 16 (Debuted in 1963)
2023 placing 1st
Titles won 12
Commonwealth Games
Appearances 7 (Debuted in 1998)
2022 placing 1st
Best result First (1998, 2002, 2014, 2022)

The Australia national netball team, also known as the Australian Diamonds, represent Netball Australia in international netball tournaments such as the Netball World Cup, the Commonwealth Games, the Constellation Cup, the Netball Quad Series and the Fast5 Netball World Series. They have also represented Australia at the World Games. Australia made their Test debut in 1938. As of 2023, Australia have been World champions on 12 occasions and Commonwealth champions on 4 occasions. They are regularly ranked number one in the World Netball Rankings.

History

Early years

On 20 August 1938, at Royal Park, Melbourne, Australia defeated New Zealand 40–11. This was the first netball Test between Australia and New Zealand. It was also the world's first international netball match. The Australia team included Lorna McConchie and the umpires included Anne Clark. Australia were due to tour New Zealand in 1940. However the tour was cancelled due to the outbreak of World War II. In 1948, an Australia team eventually toured New Zealand for the first time, winning all three test matches. The Australia team included Myrtle Craddock. In 1956, with a team coached by McConchie and captained by Pat McCarthy, Australia toured England, Scotland and Ceylon. During the tour Australia played their first tests against Ceylon, Scotland and England.

Rivalry with New Zealand

One of Australia's main rivals in international netball is New Zealand. Between 1963 and 2015, the two teams dominated the World Netball Championships and Commonwealth Games tournaments. Since 2010 the two teams have also competed for the Constellation Cup. Notable and memorable clashes have included the finals of the 1991, 1999 and 2011 World Netball Championships, the finals of the 2010 and the 2014 Commonwealth Games and the final match of the 2013 Constellation Cup.

Tournament history

Netball World Cup

Australia has competed at every World Netball Championships and/or Netball World Cup since the 1963 inaugural tournament. Between 1963 and 2015, Australia have won 11 championships. With a team coached by Lorna McConchie, captained by Joyce Brown and also featuring Margaret Caldow and Wilma Ritchie, Australia were the inaugural champions after winning all ten matches during the 1963 tournament. In 2005, the 1963 team were inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame. In the 1991 final, Australia defeated reigning champions, New Zealand, 53–52 at a packed Sydney Entertainment Centre. New Zealand held a one point lead at each change, Australia then went ahead with minutes to go. With seconds to spare, Roselee Jencke made a match-saving intercept to ensure a one-goal victory for Australia. The match, which was broadcast live on Network 10, was hailed as one of the greatest netball games ever. Bob Hawke, the Prime Minister of Australia and a lifelong sports enthusiast, called it the best sporting contest he had seen. It was also the first of a hat-trick of World titles for Australia. In 1992, the team and their head coach, Joyce Brown, were all awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia. In 2012 they were inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame. In the 1999 final, Australia were trailing New Zealand 28–34 after three quarters. However, they snatched the title 42–41 with a last minute goal from Sharelle McMahon. The win gave Australia its third straight world title. In 2014, the 1999 team became the third Australia national netball team to be inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame.

Tournaments Place
1963 World Netball Championships 1
1967 World Netball Championships 2
1971 World Netball Championships 1
1975 World Netball Championships 1
1979 World Netball Championships 1
1983 World Netball Championships 1
1987 World Netball Championships 2
1991 World Netball Championships 1
1995 World Netball Championships 1
1999 World Netball Championships 1
2003 World Netball Championships 2
2007 World Netball Championships 1
2011 World Netball Championships 1
2015 Netball World Cup 1
2019 Netball World Cup 2
2023 Netball World Cup 1

Sources:

World Games

Between 1985 and 1993, Australia competed at the World Games, winning one gold and two silver medals.

Tournaments Place
1985 World Games 2
1989 World Games 2
1993 World Games 1

Source:

Commonwealth Games

Australia has competed at every netball tournament at the Commonwealth Games. In 1990 they defeated New Zealand in a one-off match when netball was a demonstration sport. Between 1998 and 2022 they have played in every tournament final, winning four gold and three silver medals. In 1998, Jill McIntosh guided Australia to the inaugural Commonwealth title after they defeated New Zealand 42–39 in the final. In 2002, Australia defended their title, again after defeating New Zealand in the final, this time courtesy of a Sharelle McMahon goal in double extra time.

During the 2010 Commonwealth Games opening ceremony, McMahon, now team captain, carried the flag for the overall Australia team. In 2014, Australia won their third Commonwealth title after defeating New Zealand 58–40 in the final. Caitlin Bassett scored 49 from 53 at 92% accuracy to clinch the title.

Tournaments Place
1990 Commonwealth Games n/a
1998 Commonwealth Games 1
2002 Commonwealth Games 1
2006 Commonwealth Games 2
2010 Commonwealth Games 2
2014 Commonwealth Games 1
2018 Commonwealth Games 2
2022 Commonwealth Games 1

Source:

Constellation Cup

Since 2010 Australia and New Zealand have competed for the Constellation Cup.

Tournaments Place
2010 Constellation Cup 1
2011 Constellation Cup 1
2012 Constellation Cup 2
2013 Constellation Cup 1
2014 Constellation Cup 1
2015 Constellation Cup 1
2016 Constellation Cup 1
2017 Constellation Cup 1
2018 Constellation Cup 1
2019 Constellation Cup 1
2021 Constellation Cup 2
2022 Constellation Cup 1
2023 Constellation Cup 1
2024 Constellation Cup 2

Netball Quad Series

Since 2016, Australia have competed in the Netball Quad Series, playing against England, New Zealand and South Africa.

Tournaments Place
2016 Netball Quad Series 1
2017 Netball Quad Series (January/February) 1
2017 Netball Quad Series (August/September) 1
2018 Netball Quad Series (January) 1
2018 Netball Quad Series (September) 1
2019 Netball Quad Series 1
2022 Netball Quad Series 1
2023 Netball Quad Series 1
2024 Netball Nations Cup 1

Fast5 Netball World Series

When competing at the Fast5 Netball World Series, the team is referred to as the Fast5 Flyers.

Tournaments Place
2009 World Netball Series 1
2010 World Netball Series 1st
2011 World Netball Series 1
2012 Fast5 Netball World Series 1st
2013 Fast5 Netball World Series 1
2014 Fast5 Netball World Series 1
2016 Fast5 Netball World Series 1
2017 Fast5 Netball World Series 1
2018 Fast5 Netball World Series 1
2022 Fast5 Netball World Series 1
2023 Fast5 Netball World Series 1

Home venues

The Diamonds have played their home matches at various home venues around Australia. The courts they most recently used include:

Venue Tournament
Sydney Super Dome 2015 Netball World Cup
2019 Constellation Cup
Perth Arena 2019 Constellation Cup
Newcastle Entertainment Centre 2018 Netball Quad Series (September)
John Cain Arena 2016 Fast5 Netball World Series
2017 Fast5 Netball World Series
2018 Netball Quad Series (September)
2018 Fast5 Netball World Series
Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre 2018 Commonwealth Games
Coomera Indoor Sports Centre 2018 Commonwealth Games
Adelaide Entertainment Centre 2016 Netball Quad Series
Margaret Court Arena 2016 Netball Quad Series
Brisbane Entertainment Centre 2017 Netball Quad Series (August/September)
AIS Arena 2017 Netball Quad Series (August/September)

Notable players

Current squad

The current squad was selected for the 2024 Constellation Cup.

Australia roster
Players Coaches
Name Pos DOB Height Club Nat Caps
Sunday Aryang GD (2000-12-25)25 December 2000 (aged 23) 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in) West Coast Fever
Kiera Austin GS, GA, WA (1997-08-26)26 August 1997 (aged 27) 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) Melbourne Vixens
Courtney Bruce GK, GD (1993-12-08)8 December 1993 (aged 30) 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in) Sunshine Coast Lightning
Sophie Dwyer GA (2001-12-05)05 December 2001 (aged 22) 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) Giants Netball
Rudi Ellis GK, GD (1997-08-13)13 August 1997 (aged 27) 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) Melbourne Vixens
Sophie Garbin GS, GA (1997-04-06)06 April 1997 (aged 27) 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in) Melbourne Vixens
Matilda Garrett GK, GD (1998-08-11)11 August 1998 (aged 26) 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) Adelaide Thunderbirds
Paige Hadley C, WA, WD (1992-08-26)26 August 1992 (aged 32) 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) New South Wales Swifts
Georgie Horjus GA, WA (2002-01-28)28 January 2002 (aged 22) 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in) Adelaide Thunderbirds
Sarah Klau GK, GD (1994-09-30)30 September 1994 (aged 30) 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) New South Wales Swifts
Cara Koenen GS, GA (1996-02-27)27 February 1996 (aged 28) 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) Sunshine Coast Lightning
Kate Moloney WD, C, WA (1993-01-08)8 January 1993 (aged 31) 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in) Melbourne Vixens
Jamie-Lee Price WD, C (1996-01-10)10 January 1996 (aged 28) 1.79 m (5 ft 10 in) Giants Netball
Liz Watson (c) WA, C (1994-03-30)30 March 1994 (aged 30) 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) Sunshine Coast Lightning
Joanna Weston GD, WD, GK (1994-02-14)14 February 1994 (aged 30) 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) Melbourne Vixens
Head coach
  • Stacey Marinkovich


Notes
  • (c) – Captain
  • (cc) – Co-captain
  • (vc) – Vice-captain
  • Injured or on maternity leave – Injury / maternity leave
  • (TRP) – Temporary Replacement Player

Sources:

Notable past players

Captains
Main article: List of Australia national netball team captains
Award winners
Further information: List of Australia international netball players

Head coaches

See also: List of netball coaches in Australia
Years Head coaches
1956, 1963 Lorna McConchie
1960 Eunice Gill
1967 Margaret Pewtress
1971, 1979, 1987–1989 Wilma Shakespear
1975, 1983, 1991–1993 Joyce Brown
1985 Pamela Barham
1990 Margaret Corbett
1990 Gaye Teede
1995–2003 Jill McIntosh
2003–2011 Norma Plummer
2011–2020 Lisa Alexander
2020– Stacey Marinkovich

Sources:

Sponsorship

Sponsors Seasons Notes
Samsung 2017–2019
Origin Energy 2020–present

Honours

  • World Netball Championships/INF Netball World Cup
    • Winners: 1963, 1971, 1975, 1979, 1983, 1991, 1995, 1999, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2023: 12
    • Runners up: 1967, 1987, 2003, 2019: 4
  • Commonwealth Games
    • Winners: 1998, 2002, 2014, 2022: 4
    • Runners Up: 2006, 2010, 2018: 3
  • Constellation Cup
    • Winners: 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022, 2023: 11
    • Runners Up: 2012, 2021, 2024: 3
  • Netball Quad Series
    • Winners: 2016, 2017 (I), 2018 (I), 2018 (II), 2019, 2022, 2023: 7
    • Runners Up: 2017 (II): 1
  • World Games
    • Winners: 1993: 1
    • Runners up: 1985, 1989: 2
  • Fast5 Netball World Series
    • Winners: 2022, 2023: 2
    • Runners up: 2013, 2014, 2016: 3
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