Fever Stars Earn Diamonds Selection

West Coast Fever Captain Courtney Bruce, mid-court stars Jess Anstiss and Verity Charles, and exciting young defender Sunday Aryang have all been named in a 21-strong Origin Australian Diamonds squad for 2021/22, as international netball returns to Australia for the first time in two years.

They will join West Coast Fever Coach Stacey Marinkovich, who will depart the Fever at the end of the Suncorp Super Netball finals to become full-time Origin Australian Diamonds Head Coach.

After a breakout season, 20-year-old Aryang has been named in the Diamonds squad for the first time after getting the best of some of the competition’s most experienced attackers and recording 45 deflections, 23 intercepts and 11 rebounds.

Bruce has also been in sparkling form with a competition-high 88 deflections, 44 intercepts and 22 defensive rebounds, seeing her finish third on the overall Nissan Net Points leader board.

Anstiss (35 pick-ups, 18 deflections, 7 intercepts) and Charles (293 assists, 17 pick-ups, 11 deflections) have been two of Fever’s most important players through the mid-court this season, with their ability to feed the attacking circle and versatility to play in the centre or on the wings. 

The Origin Australian Diamonds will take on rivals the New Zealand Silver Ferns in the 12th Constellation Cup this October.

The squad was selected by a panel made up of Marinkovich and national selectors Anne Sargeant OAM and Michelle Wilkins.

“Selecting a squad is never easy, especially when you look at the quality of performances that have consistently been put out during the Suncorp Super Netball season,” Marinkovich said.

“I am delighted with the versatility that we have selected and the skillset that these players possess. There is an absolute belief that the players will successfully transfer their elite performances to the Diamonds game plan and the international stage.

“We are committed to building on what we started as a group late last year and I am looking forward to integrating the new squad members and enhancing and evolving the program with their contribution.

“There is a huge amount of energy coming from the players about what lays ahead and that is extremely motivating, especially when they have faced many obstacles through the Suncorp Super Netball season.”

In developing a depth of talent within Netball Australia’s pathway, the 2021/22 Australian Development squad has also been announced, which includes West Coast Fever’s Sash Glasgow, Olivia Lewis and Alice Teague-Neeld.

The Development squad was selected by the National Selection Panel and included input from Head Coach Julie Fitzgerald.

2021/22 Origin Australian Diamonds squad

2021/22 Australian Development squad