Tears from Australian Diamonds bolter Rudi Ellis – and star footy partner – as coach delivers selection news

Plenty of blood, sweat and tears have gone into every inch of Rudi Ellis’s netball career, so when she received a call from Stacey Marinkovich informing her of Diamonds squad selection, the tears rolled out.

Australia’s newest Diamond managed to keep things together – just – when she received the call from national coach Stacey Marinkovich informing her of her shock selection in the squad to face England.

But Rudi Ellis concedes there were tears as soon she put the phone down before she was able to share the news with her nearest and dearest.

“Honestly, I couldn’t believe it,” Ellis said.

Rudi Ellis (right) and Emily Mannix celebrate a Vixens’ win last season. Picture: Getty Images

“I was like, oh, why is Stace calling? But it was so lovely, such a surreal moment. And I literally cried after the phone call.

“It was just amazing.”

At 27, Ellis admits she is “no spring chicken”.

After making her Super Netball debut in 2020 with the Queensland Firebirds, she had racked up just 31 appearances in four seasons with the Birdies and West Coast Fever, before a move back to Melbourne and the Vixens, with whom she had been a training partner in 2018-19.

The decision proved a masterstroke, with 2024 a breakout season for Ellis, who received plenty of court time, firstly due to an injury to veteran defender Jo Weston, and from then on, on merit, in a Vixens side that went on to make the grand final and only just lose the premiership decider to eventual champions Adelaide Thunderbirds.

“I knew coming over to Vixens, I’d definitely have to prove myself, like I’ve tried to at each club that I’ve been with,” Ellis said.

“There’s definitely no guarantee for court time, so I really just wanted to put in as much work as I could during the pre-season, and then do extra footwork sessions with (coach) Simone (McKinnis) after training … just grabbing every opportunity I can to better myself as a defender is something that I’ve really put in the forefront of my mind this year, and think it’s definitely helping.”

Rudi Ellis spent time at West Coast Fever (above) and the Queensland Firebirds before returning to the Vixens, where she was previously a training partner. Picture: Getty Images

That work was rewarded with a spot as an invited training partner to the recent Diamonds camp, with Ellis filling a spot that had initially been awarded to clubmate Emily Mannix, who is pregnant with her first child.

Again, Mannix made the most of her opportunities and with veteran defenders Courtney Bruce and Jo Weston carrying niggling injuries that need attention ahead of their possible return for October’s Constellation Cup against New Zealand, and Marinkovich was able to make what she called “a really nice phone call to make”.

Ellis’s move back to Melbourne also reunited her with partner, Western Bulldogs player Tim English, who arrived home just minutes after she was off the phone with her parents passing on her selection news.

“I called mum and dad straight away, which was nice to be able to talk to them about it, and then Tim came home 10 minutes later, so it was really exciting to be able to share that news with loved ones,” she said.

“I think Tim was tearing up a little bit, which he never does, so that was really beautiful to see.

“And mum and dad were just over the moon, just so happy, and there’s with obviously been a lot of hard work from them put into this moment.”

Rudi Ellis and partner Tim English of the Bulldogs at the AFL Awards. Picture: Getty Images

There’s plenty of buzz around the Bulldogs heading into the AFL finals series and ruckman English, a 2023 All Australian, will be a key part of any charge they make towards the last Saturday in September.

Ellis will be invested, but will be engaged elsewhere from September 18 as the Diamonds start their three-Test series against the Roses.

The squad of 15 will be trimmed to just 12 for each of the three matches against England and there are no guarantees Ellis will make her debut in the gold dress, with Marinkovich adamant call-ups are hard won.

But that sits well with a player who has worked hard for every moment in her career.

“I’m just so stoked to be involved at all,” she said.

“I’ll definitely be working my butt off at camp and taking any opportunity that comes my way.

“But regardless of being in that 12 or not, I’m just so excited to be with the Diamonds and supporting the girls.”