Diamonds 500th Test: Netball stars past and present nominate favourite moments
From resounding Commonwealth Games wins to snatching victory from the jaws of defeat at the World Cup, the Diamonds have done it all. Here are some favourite moments from netball’s elite.
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The Diamonds play their 500th Test match on Sunday night 85 years after meeting New Zealand in the world’s first netball international in 1938.
We asked several prominent figures their favourite Diamonds moments.
Liz Watson (Diamonds captain)
My favourite moment would be the semi-final against Jamaica at the 2023 Netball World Cup. Steph (Wood) was playing one of her best games and I knew that the tournament was going to be her last game, which made it extra special. It was so close the entire game (the Diamonds won 57-54) and it felt like a gold-medal match.
Stacey Marinkovich (Diamonds coach)
My favourite moment is the final of the Quad Series in 2022 in London. The first step in going on to win the Commonwealth Games gold later that year and the World Cup this year, it was my first series win with the group.
Jill McIntosh (ex-Diamonds coach/player)
My favourite memories as a member of the Australian netball team, both as a player and a coach, was the camaraderie we shared and the absolute pride and honour it was to wear the gold and green uniform. As a player, winning the World Cup in Singapore in 1983 was a highlight and as a coach, winning the 1999 World Cup in Christchurch and the 2002 Commonwealth Games gold medal in Manchester were very special.
Sharni Norder (ex-Diamonds capt)
There was no prouder moment than stepping out on the court in an Aussie Diamonds dress, to know the greats who had played before me and to represent such a strong traditional sport in Australia. To be named captain for the England Tour in 2017 was icing on the cake as I got to lead the next generation like current stalwarts Liz Watson and Jo Weston. To have been a part of those 500 Tests is an honour. Here’s to the next 500.
Wendy Archer (Netball Aust chair)
I’m struggling to find one Test that is a standout, probably because they are all so closely contested. Last year’s Constellation Cup is a great example of that fierce rivalry where the Cup was decided on aggregate, with the Silver Ferns and our Diamonds winning two games each. I think this demonstrates very clearly the fierce rivalry between our two nations, the will to want to prevail over the other, that has been present since that first game between the two nations way back in 1938.
Lisa Alexander (ex-Diamonds coach)
Definitely the World Cup in Sydney, the win there was my favourite time. It was very, very stressful but it was enormously satisfying at the end of that and to see the growth also in the game that occurred from that was brilliant. In the past, I’d probably have to say also the 1991 final that was won in Sydney when we really had a bit of a breakthrough … another brilliant game between us and New Zealand. The other one for me is the 2010 Commonwealth Games final in Delhi, watching the extra overtime game from Australia – that was the most amazing game of all time. I remember setting our targets for fitness based on playing 85 minutes. I said if we can do that, then 60 minutes should be easy.
Liz Ellis (former Diamonds captain)
I have two favourite memories. The first is watching the 1991 World Cup final and it lit the fire for me to play for Australia. Second is the 2007 World Cup final. The World Cup was supposed to be in Fiji in July and due to political unrest was moved to Auckland in November. We just worked so hard as a team for the extra four months. It was an amazing team and winning the final always felt like our destiny.
Norma Plummer (former Australian player and coach)
I had some very memorable matches against New Zealand – first as a player winning in 1975, plus down to the wire Test matches. But I guess the 2007 World Cup final, beating the Ferns in Auckland and the 2011 World Cup win in Singapore after losing the Commonwealth Games in 2010 in the longest game in history – a double overtime thriller – was sweet revenge.
Vicki Wilson (former Diamonds captain)
My favourite one as a spectator was the Delhi Commonwealth Games (in 2010), double overtime, I remember just sitting in front of my TV just going, ‘Oh my god’. It was just so, so exciting. It was a phenomenal Test match, just players out on their feet – it was a game for the ages. As a player, I can’t go past my first test. I got to get on court with Annie Sargeant and her tip to me, I remember before we went out on court, was to ‘keep your hands up’. A couple of times she threw me the ball shooter to shooter in the circle and I just wore it on my forehead. So that was just magical, a special moment. It was in Wales in 1985, and I ended up not missing a shot, so it was just a great day.
Joyce Brown (former Diamonds player and coach)
In 1963, Australia won the first World Tournament in England. Australia had played Tests in 1938 but this was the first World Tournament against 10 other nations. We beat New Zealand by one. We marched through the avenue of national flags to the tune of Waltzing Matilda. The match was a cracker and leading Australia as captain was a thrill. As Australian coach it was my honour and task to help the team to win world titles in 1975, 1983 and 1991. I was privileged to coach the best players in the country, such as Vicki Wilson, Margie Caldow, Karyn Bullock, Michelle den Decker, Carissa Dalwood and other great players. How lucky I am to have great memories of all of their magnificent wins.
Kathryn Harby-Williams (former Diamonds captain)
I can’t split two games – the 1999 World Cup final, in which we came from six goals down at three-quarter time to snatch it on the buzzer. The fighting feeling in the huddle made us walk on to the court for the final quarter thinking we were going to win. Then there’s the 2002 Commonwealth Games and the Diamonds’ double extra overtime win. It was my proudest moment as captain and so exhausting I almost passed out on the dais.
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