Shock call-up to Australian Diamonds’ squad for Melbourne Vixens defender Rudi Ellis, who was just weeks ago named as a training partner

The Diamonds have named their 15-woman squad to face England in a three-match series next month, including one big surprise who has been elevated from a training partner to the possibility of a national debut.

Vixens defender Rudy Ellis is on the cusp of a shock Diamonds debut after being named in Australia’s squad to face England in a three-Test series next month.

Just weeks ago, Ellis was invited into camp as a training partner for the Diamonds following a breakthrough Super Netball season.

But in a stunning development, the 190cm goalkeeper was named in coach Stacy Marinkovich’s 15-woman squad for the England series and could make her Test debut against the World Cup finalists.

Vixens defender Rudi Ellis has been named in the Diamonds’ squad to face England. Picture: Netball Australia

Fellow defender Ash Ervin and playmaker Georgie Horjus are also potential debutants after being named in the squad.

The Diamonds will play three Tests against the Roses in Adelaide, Sydney and Bendigo from September 19 and with Courtney Bruce (ankle) and Jo Weston (ankle/calf) unavailable due to injury, Ellis has been included in a largely inexperienced defensive end.

“This is just the right time for (Bruce and Weston) to get on top of a few niggles and they’re going through their rehab and building up towards Con Cup,” Marinkovich said.

“But with that comes opportunity. Rudi’s now been elevated to the squad and obviously in the 15, which is was a really nice phone call to make.

“I think I completely shocked her.”

While the Diamonds’ most recent camp was not strictly a selection battle, Ellis impressed, even when battling a slight chest infection in the final days and had emphasised to Marinkovich her commitment to regain full health quickly to ensure she could be a vigorous training partner again at the next camp.

Rudi Ellis has won a call-up to the Diamonds’ squad after a breakout defensive season making waves against the likes of Fever champion Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard. Photos: Getty Images

“I said: ‘Well, you better do everything to get yourself right, because not only have you been elevated to squad, you’re now in the 15 (to face England)’,” Marinkovich said.

“I think she nearly fell off her seat.”

NSW Swifts keeper Sarah Klau is the most experienced of the five defenders named, with 51 Tests to her name, while the Fever’s Sunday Aryang has 27 caps.

But the Diamonds will still have a relatively inexperienced backline, with Thunderbirds defender Matilda Garrett (3 Tests), who made her debut against South Africa last year, and the Lightning’s young tall Ervin, who is also in line to make her debut after a stellar Super Netball series, the other defenders named in the squad.

Victorian product Ellis, who made the most of a switch back to the Vixens last season after lacklustre stints at West Coast Fever and the Queensland Firebirds, is the only real shock in a Diamonds squad that also includes South Australian Horjus, who was named as along with Ervin and Hannah Mundy as first-time squad members in June.

Mundy has not been named in the group to face the Roses but along with other wider squad members who have not been called up for the England series, she remains in contention for the four-Test Constellation Cup series in Australia and New Zealand in October.

Thunderbirds’ Georgie Horjus has also been named in the Diamonds’ squad to face England. Picture: Getty Images

Marinkovich has gone with an experienced quartet of captain Liz Watson, vice-captain Paige Hadley, Giants stalwart Jamie-Lee Price and Vixens leader Kate Maloney in the midcourt, with Mavericks captain Amy Parmenter (9), the fifth middie named.

Horjus has essentially been named as a shooter, along with Cara Koenen, Kiera Austin, Sophie Garbin and Sophie Dwyer.

However, Marinkovich said she would not label the versatile youngster who can play both wing attack and goal attack with great proficiency.

“We certainly wouldn’t be pigeonholing her into one position,” she said.

“We’re keen to explore what she does in different combinations with players across that transverse line.

“And then, how does she connect with the shooters, either in the circle with them, or giving them the ball.

“There’s a lot to explore and … we want to just make sure that we can give her some freedom to bring her game to the combinations.”

Originally published as Shock call-up to Australian Diamonds’ squad for Melbourne Vixens defender Rudi Ellis, who was just weeks ago named as a training partner