Sexton’s meteoric rise leads to Diamonds squad

A whirlwind first SSN season with Melbourne Mavericks has taken Charlotte Sexton all the way to the Australian Diamonds squad.

The Bendigo-born 22-year-old has been selected as a Diamonds squad invitee, providing her with her first opportunity within Australia’s national team environment.

Complementing the 18-player squad, the inclusion of four invitee athletes reflects Netball Australia’s ongoing commitment to growing squad depth and fostering emerging elite talent.

Sexton’s selection continues her meteoric rise since crossing over to the Mavs’ environment from Melbourne Vixens ahead of the 2026 season, being promoted from training partner to 11th player to permanent replacement player in the Mavs’ match day squad of 10.

The obvious bolter in the extended squad, Sexton’s appearance in the Mavs’ 60–57 win against West Coast Fever on Saturday night was just her sixth at SSN level.

Sexton, who hails from Bendigo Football Netball League club Sandhurst, is pinching herself after landing in the Diamonds program.

“It was so surreal to me,” Sexton said.

“But I’m so grateful for the opportunities I’ve had this year and the support from Mavs in getting me to that position, as it wouldn’t have been possible (but) for their belief in me.”

Sexton’s selection comes just over a month after she was named as a permanent replacement player for Mavs 2026 season recruit Tara Hinchliffe, whose season ended prematurely following a devastating ACL injury sustained in round 3.

She initially joined the Mavs’ senior program as a training partner in November last year following an outstanding 2025 season in which she won gold with the Australian 21-and-under team at the Netball World Youth Cup in Gibraltar, starting at goal keeper throughout the tournament.

A two-time championship best and fairest with Bendigo Strikers in 2024–25, Sexton’s elevation to the Diamonds program was greeted with elation by her Victorian Netball League (VNL) club.

“On behalf of everyone at the Bendigo Strikers, I want to congratulate Charlotte Sexton on her incredible achievement of being selected as an invitee to the Australian Diamonds environment,” Strikers president Melinda Keighran said.

“We are enormously proud of Charlotte and everything she has achieved.

“Her decision to join the Melbourne Mavericks was a real sliding-doors moment in her career and one that has clearly paid dividends.

“When the opportunity arose earlier this year to step up as the Mavericks’ 10th player, Charlotte embraced it with both hands.

“She has made the most of every minute of court time and every opportunity presented to her.

“Through hard work, professionalism and a genuine love of the game, she has immersed herself in the team and the culture they are building.

“To now see her rewarded with an invitation into the Australian Diamonds squad is a testament to her dedication, resilience and commitment to continual improvement.

“While the Strikers have played only a small part in Charlotte’s journey, she deserves enormous credit for the way she has seized every opportunity throughout her pathway.

 

“Her success is a reflection of years of hard work and determination.

“Charlotte’s influence continues to be felt strongly at the Strikers through her role as assistant coach of our Victorian Netball League Reserves team alongside Jody Richards.

“The knowledge, experience and leadership she brings to our program are invaluable, and our athletes benefit greatly from her willingness to give back to the next generation.

“We are all thrilled to see Charlotte recognised on the national stage and cannot wait to see what comes next.

“She is a wonderful ambassador for the Bendigo Strikers, regional netball and the wider Bendigo community.

“We wish her every success and look forward to watching her continue to thrive.”

Sexton appeared in three games for the Strikers early this season before her Mavs commitments took over.

Boasting an enviable blend of world-class experience and rising talent, the national squad is the starting point for selection in the Diamonds’ 12-player teams for July’s Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and October’s Constellation Cup against the New Zealand Silver Ferns.

The Mavs are well represented in the national program with three squad members – captain Amy Parmenter, midcourter Jamie-Lee Price and defender Jessie Grenvold – and invitee Sexton.

National selection for Grenvold is reward for a breakout season for the Mavs in what is her first season as a fully-contracted SSN player, while Parmenter and Price have been consistent members of the squad in recent times.

Mavs head-coach Gerard Murphy hailed the selections as a reflection of both individual performance and the growth of the club’s program.

“Three players in the squad and Charlotte being added as an invitee is a terrific indication of the growth and performance of the girls this year,” he said. “The relationships have really built. They’ve really put the work in and (they) just continue to improve as the season has gone on.”

Five Vixens players have been named in the squad, including current Diamonds vice-captain Kate Moloney, Kiera Austin, Sophie Garbin, Hannah Mundy and Jo Weston.

More sport from page 27.

2026–27 AUSTRALIAN DIAMONDS SQUAD

Sunday Aryang (West Coast Fever/Western Australia)

Kiera Austin (Melbourne Vixens/New South Wales)

Courtney Bruce (Sunshine Coast Lightning/Western Australia)

Sophie Dwyer (GIANTS Netball/New South Wales)

Sophie Garbin (Melbourne Vixens/Western Australia)

Matilda Garrett (Adelaide Thunderbirds/Victoria)

Jessie Grenvold (Melbourne Mavericks/South Australia)

Georgie Horjus (Adelaide Thunderbirds/South Australia)

Sarah Klau (NSW Swifts/South Australia)

Cara Koenen (Sunshine Coast Lightning/Queensland)

Kate Moloney (Melbourne Vixens/Victoria)

Hannah Mundy (Melbourne Vixens/Victoria)

Amy Parmenter (Melbourne Mavericks/New South Wales)

Jamie-Lee Price (Melbourne Mavericks/New South Wales)

Alice Teague-Neeld (West Coast Fever /Victoria)

Donnell Wallam (Sunshine Coast Lightning/Western Australia)

Liz Watson (Sunshine Coast Lightning/Victoria)

Jo Weston (Melbourne Vixens/Victoria)

2026-27 INVITEES

Macy Gardner (Queensland Firebirds/Queensland)

Charlotte Sexton (Melbourne Mavericks/Victoria)

Amy Sligar (GIANTS Netball/New South Wales)

Grace Whyte (NSW Swifts/New South Wales)