‘What dreams are made of’: Melbourne Vixen journeywoman Rudi Ellis’ unlikely path to an Australian debut
Joining her fourth club with just 31 Super Netball games to her name, Rudi Ellis started the 2024 season without expectation. Now she’s playing for her country.
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Until a few months ago, Rudi Ellis may have best been described as a netball journeywoman.
The Melbourne Vixens, with whom Ellis spent her breakout 2024 season, are her fourth Super Netball Club.
And not even the 27-year-old, who had just 31 Super Netball games to her credit before this season, would have been audacious enough to dream she’d make her Diamonds debut this year.
Not even in national coach Stacey Marinkovich’s wider squad earlier this year, Ellis became Diamond no. 192 on Thursday night when took the court in the dying minutes of Australia’s 70-57 first Test victory against England in Adelaide.
“It’s just so exciting. Honestly, it’s what dreams are made of, getting to take the court with the Diamonds girls,” Ellis said.
“It’s just been an amazing experience and just feels like a dream.”
First invited into camp by coach Stacey Marinkovich to replace training invitee Emily Mannix, who announced her pregnancy at the end of the Super Netball season, Ellis was named in the 15-member squad for the three-Test series against England and after a stellar effort at training camp, won a spot in the match-day 12 for the opening Test.
The dominance of starting goalkeeper Sarah Klau, who turned in a player of the match effort with four gains, including two intercepts, as she shutdown the England goalers, made it look likely that Ellis would ride the pine on Thursday night but she took the court five minutes from the end of the match and did not look at all out of place against Roses young gun Liv Tchine.
Marinkovich said her efforts typified the spirit that had earned her a shot in the first place.
“I think (Super Netball) really gives you that invitation into the Diamonds, and then once you come in, what do you do with that opportunity?” she said.
“She’s got great athleticism, she can get up in the air, and I think we just saw some things (in camp) that she’s been able to connect and be able to really reposition these things.
“She’s green, and she’s still evolving, but she really took on the opportunity to have a presence.
“She’s been able to contribute in conversation and she’s learning every time she steps out.”
Ellis beat out another rising defensive star, young gun Ash Ervin, for a place in the game-day 12 on Thursday night, with Marinkovich still to make a decision on her combinations for Sunday’s second Test in Sydney.
But given the short stint she had on court, Ellis is likely to get another chance this series, either on Sunday or in next Wednesday’s final Test of the series at Bendigo.
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Originally published as ‘What dreams are made of’: Melbourne Vixen journeywoman Rudi Ellis’ unlikely path to an Australian debut
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