Collingwood’s Diamond-encrusted Magpies netball team the envy of the world

THE worst kept secret in Australian netball has been confirmed with Collingwood revealing a super team the envy of arguably ever foreign netball nation.

Collingwood’s new netball team for the 2017 national league.

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THE worst kept secret in Australian netball has been confirmed with Collingwood revealing a super team the envy of arguably ever foreign netball nation.

The club will boast a bevy of stars and fan favourites for its first season in the 2017 national netball league.

So strong is the side it could arguably match every netball national in the world — potentially even the world No. 2 Silver Ferns side.

Off-season plundering by the club has decimated the heart and soul of netball’s two champion clubs, the Queensland Firebirds and NSW Swifts.

April Brandley and Sharni Layton together for the Diamonds.

Established and upcoming talent has been cherry picked from around the county to form the super side.

The Magpies team is headlined by former Swifts stars Sharni Layton and Caitlin Thwaites and fellow Diamonds players Madi Robinson, Kim Ravaillion and April Brandley.

It also includes Ash Brazill, Shae Brown, rising star Alice Teague-Neeld and Cody Lange.

Of the 10 players, only young defender Micaela Wilson was absent from this year’s ANZ championship,

“These 10 athletes are all amazing talents in their own rights, but just as importantly they are extremely motivated by the opportunity to build an elite club culture from scratch and be part of making history,” Keppich-Birrell said.

“The skill levels of the players and what they are going to be able to do together on court will be something to behold. It’s going to be a very exciting time to watch netball.”

“What’s really exciting from a coach’s perspective is that while they each come for different reasons, there’s a common theme around building a wonderful team that is going to be successful for many years.”

Collingwood netball coach Kristy Keppich-Birrell.

The GWS Giants backed NSW team, under former Swifts coach Julie Fitzgerald, will unveil its line-up for the new national netball league on Thursday.

The Queensland Firebirds have also been named with Jamaican Romelda Aiken deciding to stay with the club despite it being destabilised by Collingwood poaching and the retirement of key players Laura Geitz and Clare McMeniman.