It seems like only yesterday Australia wrapped up a flawless 2022 with series wins over New Zealand and England.
The Diamonds won the Quad Series last January before going on to win gold at the Commonwealth Games, reclaim the Constellation Cup and demolish England.
With coach Stacey Marinkovich at the helm, Australia’s redemption tour is in full swing as the Diamonds turn their attention to the one major trophy missing from their cabinet — the Netball World Cup.
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But first is the Quad Series in South Africa starting this weekend, where they will look to kick off a crucial 2023 in style.
Australia will play New Zealand, England and South Africa in Cape Town, in a practice run for the Netball World Cup which will be held in the same city in July.
Here’s everything you need to know about the Quad Series and the Diamonds.
‘X-factor’ left out, shooting spot up for grabs
In the absence of Gretel Bueta, the goal shooter’s bib was well and truly up for grabs last year and Sophie Garbin grabbed it with both hands, steering the Diamonds to a comeback victory in the Constellation Cup.
Garbin is the frontrunner to be starting GS at the World Cup, but getting more international experience into her will be crucial to the Diamonds’ chances.
“I feel like Sophie Garbin needs a lot more court time to make sure she can cement that spot,” Fox Netball commentator Cath Cox told news.com.au.
“She was impressive in the internationals last year — the first time I saw any real consistency from her.
“It’s an interesting one because Gretel Bueta’s name is still being thrown in the mix. I don’t think she’ll come back, but if she’s back you’ll have her on the court anywhere. She’s just one of those incredible athletes and no matter where she’s playing, she’s very, very important to Australia’s success.
“If she’s not there, it’s probably going to be Sophie Garbin and Steph Wood (at goal attack), or you go with the club combination from the Sunshine Coast Lightning of Wood and Cara Koenen.”
Donnell Wallam made an immediate impact in national colours, scoring a game-winning goal in a fairytale debut against England.
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But the goal shooter wasn’t picked in the Diamonds’ Quad Series squad, raising eyebrows in some quarters given her ability as a holding shooter.
“I’m surprised at that one (Wallam being left out),” former Australian goal shooter Caitlin Bassett said on Fox Netball’s Quad Series preview show.
“I think she’s the X-factor. And if we don’t have Gretel Bueta, who is absolutely incredible and athletic in our attacking end, I think we need to have her.
“The pressure is now on Koenen and Garbin in particular to really stand up and say, ‘Hey, I’m gonna be the X-factor for this team when I get out there’, because we know this woman back at home is incredible.”
“I think she’s probably still raw,” Cox said of Wallam’s omission.
“There’s a lot of pressure when you go to a World Cup that she may not be used to because she’s only really been playing for a year.
“But I also feel like she was one of the most dominant and consistent in that international series at the end of last year.
“I think sitting her out and giving the others an opportunity to prove themselves isn’t a bad idea.
“She can still make the World Cup team. Stacey can come home from South Africa and realise she needs Donnell Wallam and selects her. The door is still well and truly open for her.”
Brazill’s return creates selection headache
Who plays wing defence looms as the most difficult selection for Marinkovich at the World Cup.
Ash Brazill, a key member of the Diamonds’ gold medal-winning Commonwealth Games team, has been recalled to the squad for the Quad Series in her last chance to impress before the World Cup.
Brazill stepped away from netball after winning gold in Birmingham to play an AFLW season with Collingwood and spend time with her young family.
But in her absence, young gun Amy Parmenter stepped up by producing several standout performances in the international series late last year.
The Quad Series is Brazill’s last chance to remind Marinkovich why she should be the starting WD at the World Cup.
“I feel like Ash Brazill’s got a lot of pressure on her,” Cox said.
“Amy Parmenter was exceptional at the end of last year. Ash Brazill will be well aware of that.
“She voluntarily had some time away and they’re the risks you take in that somebody else is going to have an opportunity and do well with it, which is exactly what Amy did.
“Ash needs to come back and play exceptionally well if she wants to keep that spot.”
Diamonds captain Liz Watson sung Brazill’s praises and said the 33-year-old’s influence on the team couldn’t be underestimated.
“She’s been really impressive even just to come back into this camp and slot right back in,” Watson told news.com.au.
“She brings a lot of voice and leadership for us in that defensive end. She’s had time away but she was still very much engaged in how we were going, across the opposition, across what happened at the last tours as well.
“She’s definitely come in prepared and knowing what she wants to do.
“She’s such an asset for us in that role and she’ll be looking to shut down all the wing attacks that we come up against.”
Kiwis biggest threat to Aussie World Cup dream
The Diamonds are determined to win back the Netball World Cup after losing to New Zealand by one goal in the 2019 final.
But standing in the way of the perfect redemption story are the Silver Ferns, who look to be peaking at just the right time under the guidance of revered coach Noeline Taurua.
Australia beat New Zealand on goal difference in last year’s Constellation Cup but the Kiwis have been boosted by the inclusion of a superstar trio for the Quad Series.
Jane Watson, Karin Burger and Gina Crampton, who all have a habit of winning trophies and gold medals, loom as the trump card heading into the World Cup.
That’s not to mention wing attack Peta Toeva, who dominated when she was on the court during the Constellation Cup, and exciting 20-year-old goal shooter Grace Nweke.
The Diamonds are wary of New Zealand but the Quad Series is the perfect chance to get a close look at their fiercest rivals.
“New Zealand have a few players we haven’t seen in a while back,” Watson said.
“I guess they are a little bit unknown. We’ve seen the players before but we haven’t seem them play in a long time so with some of their players coming back it’s going to be a bit of a test to see where everyone’s at.
“We obviously want to win. We worked so hard last year to get that Quad Series back and we want to keep it. It’s the best practice and test for us.”
“New Zealand just seem to be rising at the right time,” Cox added.
“Their head coach Noeline Taurua is one of the smartest chess players ever. She will have them purring at the right time.
“Plus they’ve got three big inclusions back and experience to come back into their side for this Quad Series that was missing from the internationals last year. They’re going to make a really big difference to that line-up.
“New Zealand are the current world champions. They know how to do it, they’ve done it before. The thing is though, this is only trophy and title Australia doesn’t currently hold is the World Cup and they will be desperate to get it back.”
Australia’s Quad Series squad: Sunday Aryang, Kiera Austin, Ash Brazill, Courtney Bruce, Sophie Dwyer, Sophie Garbin, Paige Hadley, Tara Hinchliffe, Sarah Klau, Cara Koenen, Kate Moloney, Jamie-Lee Price, Liz Watson (c), Steph Wood.
QUAD SERIES FIXTURES (AEDT)
January 22
1am – Spar Proteas vs Silver Ferns
3am – Australia vs Vitality Roses
January 23
1am – Spar Proteas vs Vitality Roses
3am – Australia vs Silver Ferns
January 25
1am – Vitality Roses vs Silver Ferns
3am – Spar Proteas vs Australia
January 26
1am – 3rd & 4th Play offs
3am – Final
