Surprise turns to shock in Diamonds debutant’s Matilda Garrett’s big selection moment

Matilda Garrett famously dodged calls from Diamonds coach Stacey Marinkovich earlier this year. When her next step towards an Australian debut arrived, she was again completely caught out.

Once again, Matilda Garrett was caught off guard.

The player who famously dodged calls from the national coach when the wider Diamonds squad was announced earlier this year, was also unaware when the touring teams for the Constellation Cup and South Africa series had been posted at the team’s recent training camp in Canberra.

“We were at a camp at the AIS (Australian Institute of Sport) and when the list was put out, I didn’t even realise that it had been put out and then a few of the girls just came over and gave me the biggest hug,” she said of her thrilled teammates.

“That was a pretty special moment. I don’t even know how I was feeling – I was nervous, I just could not believe it; I was honestly a bit shocked.

“So that was pretty exciting and the way the girls got around me was very special.”

Thunderbirds star Matilda Garrett was caught off guard by her Diamonds call-up. Picture: Getty

On professional placement with the Adelaide Crows when the Australian squad was announced earlier this year, Garrett missed several calls from coach Stacey Marinkovich and tried to put the national coach off when she returned the message, having no idea she was calling to inform her she had been named in the preliminary World Cup group.

Garrett believes in her own ability but is so humble she would never expect to be named despite going move for move with the best shooters in the land at this month’s camp.

“I think we want to make each other better,” she said of the intensity of the Diamonds environment.

“We want to push each other. We know that with international netball we’re coming up against the best of the best, so those camps are always extremely hard and always challenging.

“So it was just so nice to see my name on the list at the end of it.”

Garrett missed several calls from Diamonds coach Stacey Marinkovich. Picture: Getty

Given South Africa’s tour is the first time they have played a series in Australia since 2005 and Garrett is making her international debut, she has seen little of the Proteas live in action.

But she has been swotting hard since her selection to know the ins and outs of their shooters’ games ahead of Wednesday night’s opener in the Diamonds’ first ever match in Cairns.

While Ine-Mari Venter played Super Netball briefly, she plies her trade in England’s Super League, where she will be joined next year by young guns Elmere van der Berg and Nichole Taljaard.

Garrett has been studying the games of all three since being named for the series.

“They are a very strong side – and a team that you just cannot underestimate, especially with having Norma as their coach,” she said of former Diamonds mentor Norma Plummer.

“I feel like this series is going to be a tough one but just an awesome hitout.”

The Diamonds know what to expect from South Africa’s Thunderbirds star Lenize Potgieter. Picture: Getty

Garrett said having watched the work ethic of former South African Thunderbirds teammates Lenize Potgieter and Shadine van der Merwe, she knew the type of graft it would take to unsettle the Proteas.

“Every single country that you play against bring their own flair and style of netball and that’s no different for South Africa,” she said.

“We’re excited to be able to take the games to Cairns and then also down in to Hobart. Hopefully we get a nice big crowd and yeah, it’s great that we’re able to take the Diamonds a bit more around Australia, which is awesome.”

Regardless of whether she makes her debut on Wednesday, Garrett will pull on the gold dress as part of the 12-member match-day squad and remains almost speechless at the thought.

“I know it’s going to be extremely special. It’s such a privilege already just to be on this tour,” she said.

“Even just warming up I’ll be extremely nervous but it’ll just be so special to be surrounded by all the Diamonds girls,” she said.

“I feel like from the get-go, even coming into camp, that was my first time doing something as part of the squad and the way they just they just got me on to the same page and got around me … I’m just excited to share it with this group of girls.”

New faces: Diamonds trio Matilda Garrett, Amy Parmenter and Donnell Wallam. Picture: Sandhya Ram

DIAMONDS INJECT NEW BLOOD TO REJUVENATE SQUAD

Energy.

It’s the key requirement for the trio of players that come into the Diamonds squad for the series against South Africa starting in Cairns on Wednesday night.

The Diamonds were on a plane out of Auckland just 12 hours after losing the final match of the Constellation Cup in a bruising encounter against New Zealand in Auckland on Sunday, tackling a brutal travel schedule ahead of the series opener against the Proteas in Cairns.

They flew into Sydney, before changing to a domestic flight to Cairns, arriving in the far north in the early afternoon Queensland time.

With many of the squad carrying weary legs, and defender Jo Weston, goaler Kiera Austin and midcourter Kate Moloney rested for the South Africa series, Marinkovich wants her incoming trio to provide as much spark as a charger to a flagging phone.

Diamonds coach Stacey Marinkovich wants the trio of new faces to inject energy into her weary squad. Picture: Getty

Midcourter Amy Parmenter, goaler Donnell Wallam and defender Matilda Garrett were waiting for the squad in Cairns and are champing at the bit to head into action.

“You’ve got Tilly, who hasn’t played and can debut,” Marinkovich said of Garrett, who was added to the wider Diamonds squad earlier this year before missing the World Cup cut.

“You’ve got Amy (Parmenter) who’s been pretty much out of the program for the last 12 months, so she’s really keen to be able to connect and work her position out on court – and then Nelly, she brings excitement and flair with the way she plays.”

Parmenter, the former Giants wing defence who looks set to head to new Super Netball outfit the Mavericks this season, earnt six caps last year after making her debut in the Constellation Cup.

Many thought the retirement of Ash Brazill may bring the player, known affectionately as “Parmy”, into the Diamonds team on a permanent basis but Vixens midcourter Kate Moloney grabbed that opportunity and while she won’t play against South Africa was as reliable as ever against the Silver Ferns.

Amy Parmenter will have the chance to step into the fold in the absence of Kate Moloney. Picture: Getty

Wallam, a travelling reserve for the World Cup, made a famous debut against England last year after withstanding a whirlwind of publicity over Hancock Prospecting’s decision to withdraw their proposed $15 million sponsorship of Netball Australia.

She finished with two caps at the end of last year and after righting a few injuries at the end of the Super Netball season, is likely to be used extensively against the Proteas where her battle against veteran goalkeeper Phumza Maweni and goal defence Karla Pretorius will be a highlight.

“She’s had a season that towards the end has had a few niggles, so she’s been working hard to make sure she’s ready to be out on court.”

With the Diamonds playing for the first time in Cairns – and then in Hobart, where games two and three of the series will be held – the crowd will also play a key role if those involved in the earlier series are flagging.

And then there’s the players’ families.

While Garrett has several relatives and friends in Cairns ahead of a possible debut and Wallam will be a crowd favourite in the far north, the “Parmy Army” are again expected to cause a ruckus whenever Parmenter takes the floor.

Originally published as Surprise turns to shock in Diamonds debutant’s Matilda Garrett’s big selection moment