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Adelaide Thunderbirds defender Matilda Garrett is the shock bolter with a shot at Diamonds choice for the upcoming Netball World Cup.
The 24-year-old is one in every of 19 gamers that coach Stacey Marinkovich has named in her 2023-2024 nationwide squad, 15 of which is able to obtain a airplane ticket to Cape City for the main match.
Garrett was a part of the Australian U21 aspect that completed runners up on the Netball Youth Cup in Bostwana again in 2017, and made her Tremendous Netball debut a yr later for the Collingwood Magpies earlier than shifting west to her present membership.
Final yr, she was picked for the Diamonds improvement squad, however some glorious performances in current weeks for the Thunderbirds, notably in victories in opposition to heavyweights the Melbourne Vixens and West Coast Fever, have now seen her elevated to the senior group.
After six rounds of Tremendous Netball, Garrett has 16 positive aspects to her identify – 11 deflections, 9 intercepts, two rebounds and two pick-ups.
The opposite attention-grabbing component she will carry to the Diamonds is her inside information on Jamaican imports and Thunderbirds teammates Shamera Sterling and Latty Wilson, who’ve taunted Australia with some damaging type each internationally and domestically over the previous 12 months.
Nonetheless, the number of Garrett is certain to catch netball followers without warning, contemplating the opposite, extra skilled gamers which were missed in her favour.
Maddy Turner, Emily Mannix and Kim Jenner are all gamers which were contained in the Australian set-up earlier than and would have in all probability been a extra apparent alternative than Garrett.
The opposite proficient gamers which have missed the reduce embody Fever stars, midcourter Alice Teague-Neeld and long-bomb specialist Sasha Glasgow.
Glasgow sits second for two-point tremendous pictures within the league (30) and has been in scintillating type, whereas Teague-Neeld leads the competitors for centre-pass receives (156) and purpose assists (148).
Each have been a part of the workforce that lifted the Tremendous Netball trophy final yr in inexperienced, however there was ambiguity hanging over Glasgow’s need to be a part of the Australian set-up.
The 24-year-old purpose assault is eligible to play for each her dwelling nation and England, and there have been rumours circulating as as to whether she has opted out of Diamonds choice with a view to pursue her guardian’s British heritage.
When the Fever have been contacted a month or so in the past, they instructed the ABC that Glasgow had made no selections about her worldwide future. Now it seems Glasgow might have extra readability on this, particularly contemplating stalwart Jo Harten introduced her Roses retirement simply this week.
As a substitute, Marinkovich has stayed loyal to the shooters which have introduced the workforce current success, sticking with Sophie Dwyer, Kiera Austin, Steph Wooden, Donnell Wallam and Sophie Garbin.
The massive omission from this yr’s nationwide contracted checklist and the Commonwealth Video games gold medal marketing campaign is Gretel Bueta, who has taken on an assistant teaching function with the Queensland Firebirds this season after falling pregnant.
Whereas she is little question an enormous loss in assault, the aspect have nonetheless been capable of win the Quad Collection, Constellation Cup and a Check sequence in opposition to England over the previous seven months in her absence.
Garbin, in the meantime, has struggled to carry out for the Magpies within the first half of the home season, scoring simply two targets in 34 minutes of their current ANZAC Day conflict in opposition to the Sunshine Coast Lightning.
However she has been enjoying out of place at purpose assault for the membership and was the sport changer that led Australia to victory final October within the Constellation Cup.
The Netball World Cup is simply three months away and will likely be held from July 28 to August 6 in South Africa for the primary time.
Solely 12 gamers will make the ultimate workforce, with three travelling reserves, after World Netball relaxed their guidelines round harm and sickness replacements.
There may be a variety of strain on the Diamonds to carry out on the occasion, after they conceded the crown to New Zealand by only one purpose (52-51) final time.
The aspect went via undefeated to the ultimate, having received seven straight matches, together with their ultimate preliminary conflict in opposition to the Silver Ferns (50-49), however kiwi mastermind coach Noeline Taurua had stored a few tips up her sleeve that made the distinction within the decider.
If Australia can pinch the cup from their trans-Tasman rivals they will have received again each title they conceded throughout a low interval from 2018-2021 that made their world primary rating really feel slightly hole.
Since August, they’ve retained the Quad Collection, reclaimed the Constellation Cup and returned to prime of the Commonwealth Video games podium, however the World Cup crown is the ultimate piece of the puzzle and would definitely be the icing on the cake.
Aussie Diamonds 2023-24 Squad
Shooters:
Kiera Austin
Sophie Dwyer
Sophie Garbin
Cara Koenen
Donnell Wallam
Steph Wooden (vc)
Midcourters:
Ash Brazill
Paige Hadley
Kate Moloney
Amy Parmenter
Jamie-Lee Worth
Maddy Proud
Liz Watson (c)
Defenders:
Sunday Aryang
Ruby Bakewell-Doran
Courtney Bruce
Matilda Garrett
Sarah Klau
Joanna Weston
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