Super Netball 2024: Melbourne Vixens young gun Hannah Mundy on her Diamonds’ squad selection and breaking the news to her famous netball mum

Hannah Mundy has long dreamt about a call-up to the Diamonds and she was able to finally deliver that news to her famous mum last week - but as REBECCA WILLIAMS writes it didn’t quite go as planned.

Melbourne Vixens’ young gun Hannah Mundy was at the nail salon when she casually dropped the news to her mum in a family group text.

This wasn’t just an insignificant update about where she was planning on going out for dinner that night.

When you’re the daughter of a three-time netball world champion for Australia, news that you have just been named in your first Diamonds’ squad just days ahead of your 23rd birthday doesn’t come much bigger.

So how did the rising midcourt star’s mum, former 84-Test Australian netball international Shelley O’Donnell, react to the news?

“I actually texted her, which she wasn’t too happy about,” Mundy said.

“I was at the nail salon, so I was like, ‘I better text her straight away’ and I made a group chat with her and dad and they were just excited for me.

Hannah Mundy in action for the Melbourne Vixens. (Photo by Kelly Defina/Getty Images)

“I think she probably did expect a call and to be fair I probably should have called her, but I just wanted to tell them in the moment and I did not want to call them in the nail salon.

“Mum was pretty shocked as well, but I can tell she is really excited even though she might not show it to her full extent. She definitely lives vicariously through me.”

Mundy was among the next generation ushered into the 2024-25 Diamonds squad named by coach Stacey Marinkovich last week.

The 23-year-old was one of three players to earn their first call-up in the 18-player squad alongside Adelaide’s Georgie Horjus and Ash Ervin (Sunshine Coast).

Reflecting the strong 2024 form of her ladder-leading team, Mundy was one of six Vixens named in the squad alongside captain Kate Moloney, goalers Kiera Austin and Sophie Garbin, defender Jo Weston and invitee Emily Mannix.

Having grown up around netball her entire life, it was a moment Mundy had always dreamt about, but the exciting midcourter admitted she had not expected it to come so soon.

“I am ecstatic. It was very unexpected,” Mundy said.

“I obviously missed the first two rounds of SSN (with injury) so it took me a while to get that match fitness back - probably not match fitness - but just confidence back.

“I did not really think it was on the cards, but I was over the moon when Stacey called me and I am really grateful for the opportunity.

“It has always been a goal of mine, obviously having mum who has been there and I have grown up knowing them, knowing the Australian Diamonds and supporting them and just knowing how awesome it is to be a part of and such an honour.

“I think I have always wanted to, I did not think I would ever make it, but I’m stoked to be given the opportunity.”

Kate Moloney of the Vixens and Hannah Mundy of the Vixens warm up during the round nine Super Netball match between Melbourne Vixens and Melbourne Mavericks at John Cain Arena, on June 10, 2024, in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Kelly Defina/Getty Images)

Always her biggest supporter throughout her netball career, Mundy’s mum’s advice to her about her Diamonds’ opportunity was straight-forward.

“She has just always been one to say, ‘Just be yourself, go out there and play like you do, don’t try to be anyone that you’re not’,” Mundy said.

“She has always backed me in and she is my number one supporter and having her there for support has been really valuable for me going through the pathway and now I can tell she is really excited.

“(Her advice was) just to play my game and back myself in.”

Mundy has had big shoes to fill at the Vixens, stepping into the role vacated by Australian captain Liz Watson - the game’s premier wing attack - after her former teammate’s move to the Sunshine Coast Lightning.

But it is a job Mundy has been building towards since she was first blooded in 2021 as an injury replacement when Watson was sidelined with a foot injury.

“Going back to my first year at the Vixens, I obviously replaced Liz and I think it was a bit of deja-vu (this year),” Mundy said.

“That year we did not do too well and I probably put a lot of the blame on myself, being quite young and new to the team. That was really hard back then, but that was a really valuable experience for me.

“This year, I know I have got a couple of years under my belt and I had a lot more confidence than I did back then.

“I think there is that perceived pressure (replacing Watson) but I was really excited to be given a little bit more court time and really thrive in that attack-end with the new additions that we have.”

Hannah Mundy of the Vixens attempts to keep the ball in play during the round nine Super Netball match between Melbourne Vixens and Melbourne Mavericks at John Cain Arena, on June 10, 2024, in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Kelly Defina/Getty Images)

Mundy conceded her initial Super Netball call-up had been a steep learning curve, but said it had been the best thing for her game getting thrown in at the deep end.

“Looking back on it I would have it no other way,” Mundy said.

“It is the best way for me to learn. I honestly learnt so much about myself on and off court, we were obviously in the hub as well, so that was another element added to it.

“But looking back on it every game I improved so much because you just kind of have to figure it out for yourself out there and SSN is such a different intensity to the state leagues.

“I realised that after the first couple of games, but was really stoked to be given that opportunity back then and I would not have it any other way.”

Mundy is relishing her role in the Vixens’ attack alongside goaling duo Kiera Austin and Sophie Garbin and fellow midcourter Moloney.

“I think it is a really fresh attack-end, which has been a real positive for us,” Mundy said.

“Having Sophie there, she is a moving shooter, she is a holding shooter, a bit of a hybrid she likes to say, which works so well for us.

“I think we have so many layers to our game that we haven’t even discovered yet.

“It is that constant learning and that real dynamic movement that makes us really unique and, I think personally, hard to defend, that is biased though.

“On Monday, we had a really convincing win and we still came off the court knowing that we can do better. That’s the beauty of our team always wanting to improve.

“But we are tracking really well and we are really excited for the rest of the second half of the season.”

ENDS

Originally published as Super Netball 2024: Melbourne Vixens young gun Hannah Mundy on her Diamonds’ squad selection and breaking the news to her famous netball mum