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Australia's National Women's Netball Team

Is this the Greatest Sporting Rivalry Ever?

November 21, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Caitlin Bassett

As someone who was forced to play netball as a child because I couldn’t play football, I’ve a love / hate relationship with the game. Not to mention a lack of tendons in my ankles. Still, you can’t deny that the games between The Diamonds and the Silver Ferns are pretty damn amazing. 

Since 1938 Australia and New Zealand have battle it out in some of the most thrilling and unforgettable encounters. Check out this amazing video package that captures the emotion, drama and theatre of one of the greatest sporting rivalries of all time.

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Geitz grabs major award

November 20, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Laura Geitz

Goal keeper Laura Geitz last night added the sport’s top individual honour, the Liz Ellis Diamond, to her ensemble successes with the world champion national team and ANZ Championship-winning Queensland Firebirds at the Australian netball awards dinner in Melbourne.

Geitz, 24, became the third defender in four years to earn the grand prize – a one-carat diamond and $5000 cheque – following Mo’onia Gerrard in 2008 and Julie Corletto in 2009. Centre Natalie von Bertouch provided the only midcourt moment in 2010.

The Firebirds star was also named Australian player of the year in the trans-Tasman league for her contribution to Queensland’s debut title. At the July world titles in Singapore, Geitz was called from the bench at half-time in the final against New Zealand and played a key role in an Australian recovery that led to a dramatic one-goal overtime win and successful title defence.

2011 Australian Netball Award winners

  • Liz Ellis Diamond: Laura Geitz
  • International Player of the Year: Kimberlee Green
  • Australian ANZ Championship player of the year: Laura Geitz, Queensland Firebirds
  • New Idea Favourite Diamond: Catherine Cox
  • Australian Netball League Player of the Year: Karyn Bailey, Victoria Fury
  • Australian 21/U Player of the Year: April Letton
  • Australian Sports Commission Coach of the Year: Roselee Jencke, Firebirds
  • Lorraine Lea Linen Umpire of the Year: Sharon Kelly
  • All Australian Umpire Awards: Diana Toppi, Tara Warner
  • Tanya Denver Media Award: Warren Partland, The Adelaide Advertiser
  • Service Awards: Amanda Lulham (Journalist News Ltd), Linda Pearce (Journalist Fairfax Media)
  • Hall of Fame Inductees: Liz Ellis, Julie Francou

Via the SMH.  

Top award shocks mum and dad

  Juanita Geitz, who accompanied her daughter to the night of nights in Melbourne on Saturday, is still shocked by Laura’s win.

“It was very special for Laura to win the highest individual honour in Australian netball,” Mrs Geitz said.

“Laura was even surprised to be one of the four nominations for the award.

“I have the envelope with Laura’s name on it. I will treasure it forever,” Mrs Geitz said.

Laura celebrated her 24th birthday two weeks ago.

Mrs Geitz recalls her daughter’s debut for Australia a couple of days before her 21st birthday.

On Saturday night, Mrs Geitz rang her husband Ross after Laura won the ANZ Championship award.

“The Liz Ellis Diamond was presented later in the night and I rang Ross and woke him up,” she said.

“He was surprised. It was one of her dreams but not expected.

“It was special for Laura to be presented with the award by Liz as they are both goalkeepers.”

The highest individual honour in Australian netball is named after Liz Ellis, a former captain and most capped Australian player of all-time, who was on hand to present Geitz with a $5000 cheque and the superb one carat diamond from Michael Wilson Jewellers.

Geitz continues a defenders’ dominance of the award, becoming the third to take home the coveted prize (Mo’onia Gerrard ’08, Julie Corletto ’09).

Laura’s career highlights

  • 2003 – First represented Queensland at 17 and under level.
  • 2005 – Junior world championship bronze in Florida.
  • 2008 – Debut for Australian Diamonds against England in Newcastle.
  • 2010 – Commonwealth Games silver medal in Delhi.
  • 2011 – On-court leader as Queensland Firebirds win ANZ Championship with unbeaten season.
  • 2011 – World championship gold medal in Singapore.
  • 2011 – ANZ Championship Player of the Year.
  • 2011 – Liz Ellis Diamond winner.
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Australian netball captain Natalie von Bertouch to undergo surgery

November 17, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Natalie Von Bertouch

Australian netball captain Natalie von Bertouch requires surgery on a foot injury that has sidelined her since leading the team to the world title in July.

But the good news is that she should be fit to play with the Adelaide Thunderbirds by the start of the 2012 trans-Tasman championships.

The 28-year-old, who took over as Diamonds skipper after a serious injury to Sharelle McMahon, missed Australia’s six Tests since the Singapore title, including the final match late last month when it regained the world No.1 ranking with a series win over New Zealand.

Von Bertouch, who has had her foot in a moon-boot for the past eight weeks, will undergo surgery on Monday with a specialist confirming she needed a Sesamoid-ectamy; an operation to permanently remove one of the two Sesamoid bones in her right foot.

“I will have to wear a foot brace and I won’t be able to walk or drive for at least two weeks but I should be able to start exercising again after that with most things like swimming and cycling but no running,” von Bertouch said.

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Bassett leads Diamonds to No.1 rank

October 31, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Caitlin Bassett

Goal-Shooter Caitlin Bassett is again the toast of Australian netball after leading the Diamonds to a victory over New Zealand that captured the Constellation Cup and restored their world No.1 ranking.

In the deciding match of the five-game series in Melbourne, the 23-year-old nailed 20 goals from 22 attempts in the second half as the Australians delivered further heartbreak to the Silver Ferns.

Bassett also shot the winning goal in extra time of the world championship final against New Zealand in Singapore in July to secure that title for the Australians.

”She’s a very special player, there’s no doubt about that,” Australian coach Lisa Alexander said after the game at Hisense Arena. ”She can bring us home and we have complete confidence in her to do that.”

Bassett said her world championship performance had given her self-belief and she revelled in the cauldron of an Australia-New Zealand encounter.

”That final was a massive stepping stone for me and I think it proved to myself that I can step up and play in those big games and finish strongly,” she said. ”I love being out there.”

Read more at the SMH.

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From the Grandstand: Mo’onia Gerrard

October 29, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Mo'onia Gerrard

From the Australian Diamonds website:

As the Australian Diamonds get set for the deciding match in the Holden Netball Test Series against the Silver Ferns on Sunday, we caught up with one of the most popular Diamonds, Mo’onia Gerrard, for our latest edition of From the Grandstand.

 A dual World Champion, Commonwealth Games silver medalist, an ANZ Championship premiership player, a Liz Ellis Diamond winner, Mo’onia has just about achieved all there is in the sport. She has played 57 test caps for the green and gold and is one of the most respected and feared defenders in the world. With her trademark flair and tenacious competitive nature, Mo’onia is one of the great characters of our sport. 

We were flooded with questions from the Diamonds fans and Mon has answered some of the best ones for this edition of From the Grandstand. 

Head over to the Diamonds website to get all the answers: 

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Diamonds level NZ series in thriller

October 26, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Natalie Medhurst

Updated 27 Oct: Veteran goal shooter Catherine Cox bounced back from a poor first Test to help Australia level its netball series with New Zealand in Adelaide.

Cox was dominant as the Diamonds forced a deciding match in Melbourne on Sunday, the home side finishing strongly in the 51-44 win.

After losing a thrilling opening game 49-48 in Perth on Sunday, Cox was in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons, the 35-year-old hooked at half-time in the match after shooting 14 from 23.

But Cox improved markedly on Wednesday night, scoring 34 from 42 attempts and justifying rookie head coach Lisa Alexander’s faith in retaining her.

“I have been given the job as the captain so I should be out there leading by example, so I was really stoked that Lisa gave me the nod so I could rectify it,” Cox said after the game.

She said the Australians were taught to keep fighting at all cost.

“It doesn’t matter if we are down by 11, we are going to fight to the death.”

Locked at 37-apiece going into the last quarter, the Australians lifted off the back of Cox who had started brilliantly with 11 goals at 100 per cent accuracy in the first quarter.

With talismanic goal shooter Irene van Dyk sitting out the match the Silver Ferns were forced to rely on Cathrine Latu, 24, who was well controlled but managed to shoot an accurate 27 from 31 although she slowed in the last period.

Silver Ferns coach Wai Taumaunu defended her decision not bring on van Dyk, saying it was never their intention sacrificing the game to give Latu a chance.

“It was certainly not the intention and at 37-all at three quarter time, I thought it was something that we had to do,” the coach said.

“It was Cat’s first Test against Australia, the decision was made to leave her out there for a game, to bring her to international level.”

AAP

Via ABC News.

Listen to highlights of the match.

 

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Alexander glows about Diamonds’ hopes despite defeat

October 23, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Susan Fuhrmann

AUSTRALIA’S fighting qualities have given coach Lisa Alexander faith that her charges can level the three-Test series against New Zealand after their thrilling one-goal loss in Perth yesterday.

The Diamonds fought back from an 11-goal deficit in the third quarter to take the lead, with four minutes left, before the Silver Ferns responded to win the first match of the home series 49-48.

Maria Tutaia’s final-minute goal gave the Kiwis the lead before a Kimberlee Green turnover off the restart ensured the visitors took a 2-1 advantage in the best-of-five Constellation Cup series.

Read more at the SMH.
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Diamonds pipped in another thriller

October 23, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Laura Geitz

A brave second-half comeback was not enough for Australia to avoid a 49-48 defeat to New Zealand in the first game of their three-Test netball series in Perth.

The Diamonds fought back from an 11-goal deficit to take the lead with four minutes left, but the Silver Ferns responded to reverse the result of their heartbreaking loss in the final of this year’s world championships.

With the scores tied with less than a minute left, Maria Tutaia hit the shot which put New Zealand ahead before a Kimberley Green’s turnover ensured the visitors held on in front of a sold-out crowd at the Burswood Dome.

Diamonds coach Lisa Alexander said she was optimistic her team could turn the series around in the second Test in Adelaide on Wednesday.

“What I’ve seen in this group is the ability to fight back from an enormous gap in the score and to know that they’ve got that ability to do that is really pleasing,” she said.

“We made a hell of a lot of turnovers today. We gave the ball to them far too much and you can’t expect to be able to do that and not be punished.

“But I thought today we showed great fight in the end, so we’re coming.”

Read more at the ABC.

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Gerrard, Geitz and Corletto return from injury

October 23, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Mo'onia Gerrard

Mo'onia Gerrard

The Australia Diamonds welcome the news that vice-captain Mo’onia Gerrard, Laura Geitz and Julie Corletto have all been named in the team for the first Test against New Zealand on Sunday after overcoming injuries.

The Diamonds’ defensive stocks have been depleted of late with both Gerrard and Geitz missing with calf strains while Corletto limped off the court in the third Test after sustaining a heavy cork to her thigh.

Gerrard, who missed the entire England series, returns to the court for the first time since Diamonds extra-time victory over the Silver Ferns in the final of the 2011 World Netball Championship in Singapore.

“It’s really great being back knowing that my calf has pulled up well after a few sessions,” Gerrard said on Saturday.

“I’m pretty excited but also a little bit nervous.”

The much anticipated rematch against New Zealand in Perth provided the perfect target for Gerrard, who has been treated and monitored on a daily basis by the Diamonds’ medical staff on tour.

“This first Test (against New Zealand) was the goal for me, the hypothetical carrot dangling in front of me,” Gerrard said.

“We’ve got some great physiotherapists on board, so a big thanks to Steve and Alanna.

“It’s been frustrating watching from the sidelines but the girls have done really well to come together with all the injuries we’ve had.

“I’m not the best spectator but you’ve got to do whatever it takes to get back on court.”

Read more at australiannetballdiamonds.com.au.

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New bosses but same old rivalry

October 22, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Catherine Cox

EXPERIENCED New Zealand midcourter Liana Leota admits the championship loss to Australia still hurts.

On eve of the first clash between the world’s two most powerful netball nations since the Diamonds conquered the Silver Ferns by one goal to defend their title, Leota said it was a difficult time after the frustrating defeat.

The Silver Ferns led by six goals at half-time and threw away several opportunities to clinch the win in another exciting chapter of the phenomenal history between the two sides.

But much has altered since that battle. Both teams will be guided by new coaches after former Adelaide Thunderbirds assistant Lisa Alexander replaced Norma Plummer and Waimarama Taumaunu took the reins from Ruth Aitken.

Then there are significant personnel changes. The Diamonds are without captain Nat von Bertouch, sidelined with a foot injury, while the Kiwis are missing skipper Casey Williams following surgery and veteran Temepara George, who has retired from the international arena.

Read more at Adelaide Now.

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