Netball news: Netball Australia names 10-strong team for Fast5 Netball World Series in Christchurch in November

Selectors are casting an eye to the future, naming a team full of rising stars for Australia’s Fast5 Netball World Series title defence. See who made the team.

Netball Australia has named a team flushed with emerging young talent for its Fast5 Netball World Series title defence in New Zealand as it chases a hat-trick of crowns in the modified and fast-paced format.

A host of rising stars including midcourters Zara Walters (20), Leesa Mi Mi (23) and goalers Lucy Austin, Lauren Frew, Matisse Letherbarrow and Reilley Batcheldor (22) have earned selection in the 10-player team for the November 9-10 event in Christchurch.

Melbourne Vixens’ Zara Walters is among a host rising stars selected. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

Five players from Super Netball grand finalists Adelaide Thunderbirds and Melbourne Vixens feature in the team, which also includes defenders Ruby Bakewell-Doran, Rudi Ellis, Kim Jenner and midcourter Tayla Williams.

Sophie Fawns, Amy Sligar and Teigan O’Shannassy have been named as reserves for the world series.

Netball Australia’s pathway head coach Anita Keelan will take the reins of the Aussies with support from West Coast Fever talent coach Guy Keane for the five-a-side format, which features shorter quarters, multiple point shots, power plays and unlimited substitutions.

Adelaide Thunderbirds premiership goaler Lauren Frew has been named in the Fast5 team. Picture: Graham Denholm/Getty Images

Australia clinched back-to-back Fast5 titles with a 35-23 win over New Zealand at last year’s world series in Christchurch.

The Aussies will face off against traditional netball rivals New Zealand, England, Jamaica, South Africa and Uganda at this year’s event.

“The FAST5 competition is a great opportunity to expose Australian athletes to international netball,” Keelan said.

“I can’t wait to see the development of the Australian FAST5 team at the Netball World Series as we focus on implementing performance behaviours and executing skills that are paramount to the Australian brand of netball.”

Diamonds coach Stacey Marinkovich said Fast5 was an important pathway to the national team.

Sunshine Coast’s Leesa Mi Mi is another young gun named in the Fast5 team. Picture: James Worsfold/Getty Images

“This is a very dynamic team that has the skills and attributes for the FAST5 game and is also a key part to our emerging pathway,” Marinkovich said.

“These players have shown skill sets and strengths that align strongly to the Australian style of play and we look forward to seeing them evolve with a Diamonds flavour for the future.”

The Fast5 world series has provided a platform for Australia’s rising stars to gain valuable experience on the international stage, helping blood potential future Diamonds.

Three young players who featured in last year’s Fast5 team – Ashleigh Ervin, Georgie Horjus and Hannah Mundy – were selected as debutants in the Diamonds’ 2024-25 squad.

Austin was also named as a Diamonds’ invitee this year.

Giants’ Matisse Letherbarrow is another inclusion. Picture: Kelly Defina/Getty Images

2024 Australian FAST5 Netball World Series Team

Lucy Austin GS/GA (Adelaide Thunderbirds/South Australia)

Ruby Bakewell-Doran GD/GK (Queensland Firebirds/New South Wales)

Reilley Batcheldor GA/GS (Sunshine Coast Lightning/Queensland)

Rudi Ellis GK/GD (Melbourne Vixens/New South Wales)

Lauren Frew GA/GS (Adelaide Thunderbirds/South Australia)

Kim Jenner GD/GK (Melbourne Mavericks/Queensland)

Matisse Letherbarrow GS/GA (GIANTS Netball/New South Wales)

Leesa Mi Mi C (Sunshine Coast Lightning/Queensland)

Zara Walters C (Melbourne Vixens/Victoria)

Tayla Williams C (Adelaide Thunderbirds/South Australia)

Reserves:

Sophie Fawns GS/GA (NSW Swifts/New South Wales)

Amy Sligar C (GIANTS Netball/New South Wales)

Teigan O’Shannassy GK/GD (NSW Swifts/New South Wales)