Diamonds train in Torquay

THE world’s top netball team, the Australian Diamonds, called the Surf Coast home last week for its annual culture and training camp.

More than 20 players, officials and trainers from the national squad made the journey down to Torquay this week for the five-day event.

The camp, which wrapped up last Friday at Wurdi Baierr Stadium, featured skills, conditioning and culture and wellbeing workshops.

It marked the first time the team has trained together since the squad was announced in June.

Captain Liz Watson, vice-captain Paige Hadle and mid-courter Kate Moloney were among 15 returning athletes from a successful 2023 campaign.

Ash Ervin (Sunshine Coast Lightning), Georgie Horjus (Adelaide Thunderbirds) and Hannah Mundy (Melbourne Vixens) featured for the first time.

Former Drysdale junior netballer Emily Mannix (Melbourne Vixens) and Lucy Austin (Adelaide Thunderbirds) also participated in the camp as the two invitee athletes.

Speaking exclusively to the Surf Coast Times during the week, Diamonds head coach Stacey Marinkovich said the team was thrilled to spend some time down in Torquay.

“There’s quite a strong connection to the area, particularly when you talk to players about friends, family and holidays they’ve spent here.

“I personally hadn’t spent much time here but am loving it.

“We wanted to make sure it felt like a camp and to be outside of the city.

“When the players come together, you want to make it an experience, and what better place to do that than Torquay.”

Seven-year Diamonds player Kate Moloney agreed.

“It’s nice to get down here, get to a different location and have the girls all together,” she said.

“Being from Victoria, I’ve been here a few times. It’s just a beautiful place to be here in Torquay.”

Moloney said the camp was a great launchpad for the Diamonds mission of shooting for gold at the Sydney 2027 Netball World Cup.

“We start a new cycle and it’s about maintaining the number one status in the world.

“We’ve got the Commonwealth Games and World Cup to come, and there’s plenty of excitement to build for those events.”

“It’s a recognition of the foundation that’s already there and what we are about to build upon and the exciting path ahead,” Marinkovich added.

“There’s been such a long-sustained success with the Diamonds, and we want to be able to win and put our sport at the forefront in 2027.

“There’s lots of different steps to get there, but I’m excited about the group we’ve got and the how we can take the next steps.”

The Diamonds will start their competitive season in a three-test series against the England Roses in Adelaide on September 19.