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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
Kit body netball.svg
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, represents Netball Australia in big international netball competitions. These include the Netball World Cup, the Commonwealth Games, the Constellation Cup, and the Fast5 Netball World Series. They also played at the World Games.

Australia played their first official international match in 1938. As of 2023, the Diamonds have won the World Cup 12 times. They have also won the Commonwealth Games four times. They are often ranked as the number one netball team in the world.

History of the Diamonds

How it All Started

The Australian netball team played its very first international game on August 20, 1938. They beat New Zealand 40–11 in Royal Park, Melbourne. This was not only Australia's first netball Test match, but also the first international netball game ever played in the world!

A player named Lorna McConchie was on that first Australian team. The umpires included Anne Clark. A planned tour to New Zealand in 1940 was cancelled because of World War II. However, Australia finally toured New Zealand in 1948. They won all three matches. In 1956, Australia toured England, Scotland, and Ceylon. This team was coached by McConchie. They played their first games against teams from Ceylon, Scotland, and England.

Big Rivalry with New Zealand

One of Australia's biggest rivals in netball is New Zealand. For many years, from 1963 to 2015, these two teams were the strongest in the world. They often met in the finals of the World Netball Championships and Commonwealth Games.

Since 2010, Australia and New Zealand also compete for the Constellation Cup. Some of their most exciting games include the finals of the World Netball Championships in 1991, 1999, and 2011. They also had thrilling finals at the Commonwealth Games in 2010 and 2014.

Major Tournaments

Netball World Cup Wins

Australia has played in every World Netball Championships and Netball World Cup since the first one in 1963. Between 1963 and 2015, Australia won 11 championships.

In 1963, Australia became the first-ever champions. The team was coached by Lorna McConchie and captained by Joyce Brown. They won all ten of their matches. This 1963 team was honored in the Sport Australia Hall of Fame in 2005.

In the 1991 final, Australia played against New Zealand. New Zealand was the defending champion. Australia won a very close game 53–52 in Sydney. With only seconds left, Roselee Jencke made a key intercept. This helped Australia win by just one goal. Many people called it one of the greatest netball games ever. Australia went on to win three World Cup titles in a row. The 1991 team and their coach, Joyce Brown, received special awards in 1992. They were also inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame in 2012.

In the 1999 final, Australia was behind New Zealand by six goals after three quarters. But they came back to win 42–41 with a last-minute goal from Sharelle McMahon. This win gave Australia its third straight world title. The 1999 team was also inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame in 2014.

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

World Games Medals

Australia competed in netball at the World Games between 1985 and 1993. They won one gold medal and two silver medals at these events.

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

Commonwealth Games Success

Australia has played in every netball tournament at the Commonwealth Games. In 1990, netball was a demonstration sport. Australia beat New Zealand in a special match.

From 1998 to 2022, Australia reached every tournament final. They won four gold medals and three silver medals. In 1998, coach Jill McIntosh led Australia to win the first-ever Commonwealth netball title. They defeated New Zealand 42–39 in the final. In 2002, Australia won again, beating New Zealand in the final. This time, Sharelle McMahon scored the winning goal in double extra time.

At the 2010 Commonwealth Games opening ceremony, Sharelle McMahon was the captain of the netball team. She carried the flag for the entire Australian team. In 2014, Australia won their third Commonwealth title. They beat New Zealand 58–40 in the final. Caitlin Bassett scored 49 goals in that game, helping Australia win 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

Constellation Cup

Since 2010, Australia and New Zealand have played each other 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

Quad Series and Nations Cup

Since 2012, Australia has competed in the Netball Quad Series. They play against England, New Zealand, and South Africa.

Tournaments Place
2012 Netball Quad Series 1
2016 Netball Quad Series 1
2017 Netball Quad Series (January/February) 1
2017 Netball Quad Series (August/September) 2
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 the team plays in the Fast5 Netball World Series, they are called the Fast5 Flyers. In 2022, Australia won this series for the first time. They have continued their winning streak in 2023 and 2024.

Tournaments Place
2009 World Netball Series 3rd
2010 World Netball Series 4th
2011 World Netball Series 3rd
2012 Fast5 Netball World Series 6th
2013 Fast5 Netball World Series 2nd
2014 Fast5 Netball World Series 2nd
2016 Fast5 Netball World Series 2nd
2017 Fast5 Netball World Series 3rd
2018 Fast5 Netball World Series 3rd
2022 Fast5 Netball World Series 1
2023 Fast5 Netball World Series 1
2024 Fast5 Netball World Series 1

Home Game Venues

The Australian Diamonds play their home matches at different venues across Australia. Some of the courts they have used recently 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)

Meet the Players

Current Team Squad

The players listed below were chosen 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

Famous Past Players

  • Captains
  • Award winners

Team 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

Team Sponsors

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

Team Achievements

  • World Netball Championships/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/Netball Nations Cup
    • Winners: 2012, 2016, 2017 (I), 2018 (I), 2018 (II), 2019, 2022, 2023, 2024: 9
    • Runners Up: 2017 (II): 1
  • World Games
    • Winners: 1993: 1
    • Runners up: 1985, 1989: 2
  • Fast5 Netball World Series
    • Winners: 2022, 2023, 2024: 3
    • Runners up: 2013, 2014, 2016: 3
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Australia national netball team Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.