An 18-strong Australian Diamonds netball squad has been announced ahead of this year’s Commonwealth Games in Birmingham and there is one exciting addition to the 2022-23 squad, with Queensland Firebirds’ goal shooter Donnell Wallam named.
A proud Noongar woman, Wallam burst onto the Super Netball stage this season, shooting 210 goals across the first five rounds, and has clearly impressed Diamonds head coach Stacey Marinkovich.
Exciting youngsters Sunday Aryang (West Coast Fever), Sophie Dwyer (GIANTS Netball) and Amy Parmenter (GIANTS Netball) continue to hold their positions in the squad, alongside Diamonds leaders captain Liz Watson and vice-captain Steph Wood.
Wallam’s selection, after becoming the second Indigenous woman to play in Super Netball earlier this year, continues a remarkable rise through the ranks for the 28-year-old, a journey she has described as a “rollercoaster”.
“I didn’t come up through the traditional netball pathways, I’ve faced some setbacks and hardships. The highs and the lows of the sport,” she told SBS. “Netball has taken me across to the UK and now to the other side of Australia.”
Hailing from Harvey in South WA, Wallam joined Wakka Wakka woman Jemma Mi Mi in the Super Netball ranks this year, and wants to inspire other First Nations athletes to play at the top level. I hope they see my journey. I hope it inspires them to follow their dreams and know that they have the potential to reach those dreams.”
Wallam said her late grandmother had been her inspiration to make it to the top.
“Before I went to England my Nan told me if anything happened to her she didn’t want me to give up on Netball and to keep going,” she said. “When she passed away, it was really hard for me to focus. I just kept telling myself exactly what Nan said and that really gave me the strength to push on.”
The Diamonds were crowned champions at the Netball Quad Series in January and are ranked world number one ahead of the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games from July 29 to August 9.
The 2022 Commonwealth Games team of 12 athletes will be selected from the Diamonds squad. The squad was selected by Marinkovich and national selectors Anne Sargeant OAM and Michelle Wilkins.
A squad of up to 22 athletes can be selected, with Marinkovich declaring positions are still up for grabs. “Selection definitely hasn’t been an easy task,” Marinkovich said. “We have such a great depth of talent within our system across every position on the court and I congratulate those who have been selected.
“After showing great accuracy and strength at the post during her debut Super Netball season, Donnell Wallam has been selected in the Diamonds squad,” the coach told reporters. “We have selected 18 athletes and will continue to closely monitor performances throughout the season, with the potential to add to the squad throughout the year.
“This squad showcases an incredible breadth of experience and new emerging talent. We have our sights firmly set on the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games, and we are also incredibly excited for international netball to return to Australian soil later this year.”
Netball Australia is currently working through the Australian Diamonds international fixtures, including the Constellation Cup.
2022-23 Origin Australian Diamonds squad
Sunday Aryang (West Coast Fever/Western Australia), Kiera Austin (Melbourne Vixens/New South Wales), Ash Brazill (Collingwood Magpies/New South Wales), Courtney Bruce (West Coast Fever/Western Australia), Gretel Bueta (Queensland Firebirds/Queensland), Sophie Dwyer (GIANTS Netball/New South Wales), Sophie Garbin (Collingwood Magpies/Western Australia), Paige Hadley (NSW Swifts/New South Wales), Sarah Klau (NSW Swifts/South Australia), Cara Koenen (Sunshine Coast Lightning/Queensland), Kate Moloney (Melbourne Vixens/Victoria), Amy Parmenter (GIANTS Netball/New South Wales), Jamie-Lee Price (GIANTS Netball/New South Wales), Maddy Turner (NSW Swifts/South Australia), Donnell Wallam (Queensland Firebirds/Western Australia), Liz Watson (Melbourne Vixens/Victoria), Jo Weston (Melbourne Vixens/Victoria), Stephanie Wood (Sunshine Coast Lightning/Queensland)
