Rising star Donnell Wallam has been overlooked for the upcoming Quad Series to be held in Cape Town next month, as Australia named its 14-player roster on Wednesday.
Wallam will be joined by Firebirds teammate Gretel Bueta as absentees for the trip, after she opted not to put her hand up for selection against England, New Zealand and South Africa.
But Netball Australia confirmed that Bueta would “remain a part of the Diamonds 2022/23 squad” despite not heading overseas for the Quad Series.
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The Aussies will instead rely on Kiera Austin, Sophie Dwyer, Sophie Garbin, Cara Koenen and Stephanie Wood in attack for the four-team series to be played from January 22-26.
Midcourter Amy Parmenter also misses the trip to Cape Town, with Ash Brazill returning from her stint with Collingwood in the AFLW.
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The Diamonds will take a mostly unchanged line up from the 12-player Commonwealth Games gold medal squad – with only Bueta missing out.
In her place comes Garbin, with Dwyer and Jamie-Lee Price also named.
It’s a tough call on Wallam, who was also an unused reserve for the Commonwealth Games campaign.
She made her international debut amid scrutiny after the announcement of Hancock Prospecting’s $15 million sponsorship withdrawal.
Wallam had the support of her playing peers when she asked for an exemption against wearing the company’s logo on her Australian dress – which was not granted by Netball Australia.
But despite the pressure, Wallam came on in the final quarter of the match against England and shot the matchwinner in remarkable scenes.
The Australian Diamonds will take on fellow leading netball nations England, New Zealand and South Africa in the Quad Series as a lead up event for next year’s World Cup – to also be held in Cape Town starting in July.
“The Netball Quad Series is key for our build up to the 2023 Netball World Cup, to be played in Cape Town,” coach Stacey Marinkovich said.
“Our focus for the series will be improving connections and the standard of performance while gaining a better understanding of our opposition.”
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FULL 14-PLAYER SQUAD
Sunday Aryang
Kiera Austin
Ash Brazill
Courtney Bruce
Sophie Dwyer
Sophie Garbin
Paige Hadley
Sarah Klau
Cara Koenen
Kate Moloney
Jamie-Lee Price
Liz Watson
Jo Weston
Stephanie Wood
