After a week in the headlines Donnell Wallam has made a fairytale Diamonds debut, scoring the match-winning goal in Australia's thrilling 55-54 win over England on Wednesday night.
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The first game of the series in Newcastle was a topsy-turvy encounter as the Diamonds and Roses battled for the upper hand.
It was tied up 14-14 at quarter time and England led by one goal at at the main break before the Diamonds edged in front in the third quarter.
But without captain Liz Watson, who has been rested for this series, the game went down to the wire in a thrilling final quarter.
Wallam was injected into the game off the bench midway through the fourth quarter to thunderous cheers from the crowd at the Newcastle Entertainment Centre and made an immediate impact.
She scored with her first touch of the ball and finished with a perfect eight goals from eight attempts, including some sensational highlight plays.
The goal shooter nailed an off-balance goal while falling out of the court before putting Australia ahead just before the final siren.
It looked like the game was heading to extra time before a brilliant Kate Moloney intercept gave the ball to Wallam, who took a giant leap from the circle edge and tossed the ball in the goal basketball lay-up style as the clock ran out.
The 28-year-old was mobbed by her teammates immediately and the roof nearly blew off the stadium as the crowd erupted.
Wallam was embraced by the entire Diamonds squad and hugged by England stars Geva Mentor and Helen Housby, who were clearly conscious of the magnitude of the occasion.
Wallam has been at the centre of the sponsorship saga engulfing Australian netball after Gina Rinehart's Hancock Prospecting tore up its $15 million deal with the sport.
Wallam, who became the first Indigenous player to represent the Diamonds in over 20 years with her debut, expressed concern about wearing the Hancock Prospecting logo on the Diamonds uniform.
She became Diamond No. 189 and just the third Indigenous netball to play for the Diamonds - after Sharon Finnan-White and Marcia Ella-Duncan.
"I was kind of relieved to get my chance on court," Wallam told Fox Netball after the game.
"It's been the toughest few weeks of my life so to finally get out there and play in this dress was really special. It kind of makes the last couple of weeks feel like a bit of a blur."
A different looking Diamonds line-up is taking on England in this series, which doesn’t have a trophy on the line.
After winning the Quad Series, the Commonwealth Games and Constellation Chip, Diamonds coach Stacey Marinkovich will use the three-match England series as a chance to blood debutants and try some different combinations ahead of next year’s netball World Cup.
Updates
Donnell Wallam is on the court, officially making her Australian debut and becoming the first Indigenous player to represent the Diamonds since Sharon Finnan-White more than 20 years ago.
Wallam came on for Sophie Garbin midway through the fourth quarter to deafening cheers from the crowd at the Newcastle Entertainment.
"What a moment for her, such a big week," Fox Netball's Sam Poolman said.
"The emotional pressure, the expectation, the media talk behind her has been unheard of. We haven't seen this before. For her to come on, the culture of the Australian Diamonds to say, 'We are sisters in arms', they're going to wrap their arms around her."
Commentator Matt Russell added: "I can't remember an Australian professional athlete making a debut with so much controversy and so much media around them before their debut."
Wallam made the perfect start, scoring a goal with her first touch of the ball as the Diamonds kept their noses in front. She then followed it up with a beautiful off-balance goal while falling out of court.
It's a topsy-turvy battle but the Diamonds have edged three goals in front, leading 42-39 at three quarter time.
England goal shooter Eleanor Cardwell is proving a strong presence in the circle for the Roses and is having a tight battle with the Diamonds defenders.
After a quarter resting on the bench, Courtney Bruce has come back on for Sarah Klau at goal keeper.
The Diamonds have made a couple of substitutions after the first half, with Kate Moloney coming on for Jamie-Lee Price at wing defence and Cara Koenen replacing Kiera Austin at goal attack.
Australia has edged back in front early in the third quarter.
The England Roses have their noses in front 27-26 at halftime.
After the Diamonds dominated the first quarter, England took control in the second quarter and led by as many as five goals midway through the term as they capitalised on turnovers.
But the Diamonds went on a four-goal run to make up the deficit and trail by just one goal at the main break.
They Diamonds are fading in and out of the game with a mix of lapses and hot patches, as they did in the Constellation Cup.
Coach Stacey Marinkovich may look to make some substitutions in the second half.
It's all tied up 14-14 after the first quarter of Game 1 between Australia and England.
The Diamonds' midcourt of Paige Hadley and Maddy Proud are having no trouble finding goal shooter Sophie Garbin, who is scoring the bulk of the goals early for Australia.
The Diamonds had the clear upper hand in the opening quarter but that didn't translate to the scoreboard.
But the Roses are fighting hard and withstanding some strong Diamonds defence to stay well and truly in the fight.
A slightly different Diamonds line-up will take to the court against England.
After her sensational form in the Constellation Cup, Sophie Garbin will start at goal shooter, meaning Donnell Wallam will mostly like come off the bench later in the game if she is to make her debut.
Australia starting VII: Sophie Garbin, Kiera Austin, Paige Hadley, Maddy Proud, Jamie-Lee Price, Courtney Bruce, Sarah Klau.
Australia bench: Maddy Turner, Kate Moloney, Jo Weston, Cara Koenen, Donnell Wallam
England starting VII: Eleanor Cardwell, Helen Housby, Natalie Metcalf, Jade Clarke, Laura Malcolm, Fran Malcolm, Geva Mentor
