Diamonds raring to go in Bendigo

AS the Australian Diamonds brace themselves for an exciting three-match home series against South Africa, kicking off this Saturday at Red Energy Arena in Bendigo, midcourter Kate Moloney can sense something special building within the playing group.

The Diamonds will enter the series off the back of a pair of training camps and not far removed from the excitement of a pulsating 2025 Suncorp Super Netball season.

Busy preparing in Bendigo since last Saturday for game one, Moloney declared the Diamonds ‘ready to go’.

“The combinations and connections have been building; we’ve come off the back a really strong Super Netball season and the girls have come together really well,” she said.

“We’re just excited now. We have done so much training that we are excited to just get out on the court and play.

“Obviously, we would like to get three wins on the board, but it starts here in Bendigo, and we’ll continue into that Constellation Cup, which we start in a few weeks’ time.”

The Diamonds will have history on their side in Bendigo. The Proteas have yet to register a win over the Australians in 46 attempts.

But the visitors have arrived in Australia well prepared off the back of a tough three-match Taini Jamison Trophy series against the New Zealand Silver Ferns.

While they were defeated 3-0, the Proteas saved their best for last, beaten by only one goal in game three, denied a chance to tie the game up in the dying seconds by a Maddy Gordon intercept.

Moloney is anticipating that game three form being on show in Bendigo, as the Proteas aim to smash their Diamonds hoodoo.

“They are a great side and have been growing over the years,” she said.

“They are such a fast-paced side – they play a different style of netball that we don’t always get here in Australia.

“There is going to be different battles at different times, but we will have the game plan that is ready to go and we are really excited about the challenge.”

The South Africa series will carry extra significance for Moloney, a Commonwealth Games gold medallist in Birmingham in 2022.

It’s the three-time Melbourne Vixens premiership star’s first as the Diamonds’ vice-captain, reigniting her prosperous leadership partnership with skipper Liz Watson.

The pair previously served as co-captains at the Vixens from 2020-23, which included a premiership together in 2020.

Moloney – a Vixens captain since 2017 – is excited by the opportunity.

“I’ve got big shoes to fill,” she said in acknowledgement of the pivotal role played by former vice-captain Paige Hadley, who announced her pregnancy in August.

“But I have been loving the role and loving being able to work back with Lizzy again.

“That combination has built over the years and I think we really complement each other, whether that is off the court or on the court.

“I’m just excited to get back onto the court and see what the girls can do.

“They have been training so hard and we’re really looking good.”

Part of the Diamonds team, which clinched a 2-1 series win over England last year by winning game three in Bendigo, Moloney was rapt to see international netball back in one of the sport’s Victorian strongholds.

“We know Bendigo is such a massive netball community. It’s so exciting to bring international netball to the regions,” she said.

“The more we can get netball out to the regions and grow our sport, the better it’s going to be.

“We can’t wait to get out on to the court for game one.

“We have no doubt the stadium will be packed with green and gold. We have so much support here.”

Saturday’s Vixens-Proteas clash starts at 7.30pm, get your tickets here.