Former Vixens teammates named Diamonds skipper, vice-captain leading into home World Cup
The Diamonds have undergone a full leadership review heading into a new World Cup cycle, appointing a replacement for pregnant vice-captain Paige Hadley.
Netball’s leadership dream team has been reunited, with Kate Moloney named the Diamonds’ vice-captain, reuniting her with former Vixens teammate and Aussie skipper Liz Watson.
Moloney steps into the formal role in place of Paige Hadley, who is expecting her first child early next year, although she’s long held a place in the Diamonds’ leadership group.
The 32-year-old lifted the Super Netball trophy for the Vixens last month, joining coach Simone McKinnis in hoisting the gong after the departure of her former co-captain Watson for the Sunshine Coast Lightning two years ago.
But the chance to reunite with Watson in a leadership capacity after a squad vote and formal interview process was exciting for both women.
Watson first captained Australia in 2021, leading the team in three of the four games before being formally appointed to the position later that year.
But with the Diamonds starting a new cycle ahead of pinnacle events at the Commonwealth Games next year and Sydney World Cup in 2027, the squad went through a structured nomination and interview process for their leaders for the next two years.
“It was really important to us to put it back to the group to do the vote and the whole leadership process again,” Watson said.
“So we’ve got a really great leadership group and then Kate in this (vice-captaincy) role now, which is very exciting but I feel like Kate’s been a leader in this environment for a very long time anyway.
“So it does feel really normal in a way but at the same time, very exciting for her to have the official title.”
Moloney said it was great to have the support of her peers.
“To be in this position now and to be able to support Lizzie and to support the group is really exciting and I’m looking forward to it,” Moloney said.
A member of the gold medal-winning Commonwealth Games side in 2022, Moloney was a travelling reserve for the World Cup the following year, with she and Jamie-Lee price swapping places in the final team.
Having now cemented her place in the side though, alongside Price, Moloney believes the crests and troughs of those selection battles have not only strengthened her as a player but a leader.
“For me, it’s always trying to bring my best self to every environment that I come into ... and I think all of those experiences have helped me as a player but they’ve also helped me as a leader, because I can navigate all of those situations as well,” she said.
“Those experiences, good and bad, can actually help you (as a leader) as well.”
Watson is one of the biggest believers in Moloney’s leadership abilities.
“I’ve said this to the group that Kate is a leader in netball and whether you follow the Vixens or you follow netball (in general), you know that Kate has that natural leadership across her game and everything that she’s done for the game of netball itself.
“We do definitely know each other really well and kind of bounce off each other and know how we operate in terms of leadership styles as well. So that’s very handy to have that experience with her.
“(Her appointment is) very well deserved and I think it’s something that the whole group definitely put her forward for and know that it’s the right fit for this group going forward.”
Moloney too is effusive about Watson’s leadership qualities, having watched her friend steer the Diamonds through some of the game’s most prickly issues over the past few years, while helping maintain the team’s standards to push them to wins in benchmark events.
“Liz is an incredible leader and what she’s done for the Diamonds (in the last) four years now - World Cup, Comm Games - it’s been absolutely incredible,” Moloney said.
“She’s also had to navigate through so many challenges along the way but her leadership’s just gone from strength to strength.
“I’m just really excited about the opportunity to work alongside her again and to support her in any way I possibly can. She’s done an incredible job for so long, and I have no doubt she’ll continue to do that.”
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Originally published as Former Vixens teammates named Diamonds skipper, vice-captain leading into home World Cup
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