Queensland Firebirds Gabi Simpson, Gretel Bueta and Kim Jenner have been named in a 19-strong Origin Australian Diamonds squad for 2020/21, following the announcement that the Origin Diamonds will play for two Constellation Cup titles in 2021.
The squad features five new names in Jenner, Verity Charles, Sophie Garbin, Cara Koenen and Maddy Proud and one returning squad member in Jess Anstiss.
With the 2020 Constellation Cup postponed until early 2021, the squad will not play any matches this year and the team for the Constellation Cup tour will be announced as the details of the series are confirmed.
Netball Australia is currently working with the Queensland Government with the aim of hosting a camp for the new squad shortly after the 2020 Suncorp Super Netball Grand Final which will be held in Brisbane on Sunday 18 October. Details around the camp will be confirmed in the coming weeks.
Origin Diamonds Head Coach Stacey Marinkovich is excited by the list of names announced today.
“Selection definitely hasn’t been an easy task – we have such a great depth of talent within our system across every position on the court and I congratulate those that have been selected,” she said.
“This squad showcases an incredible breadth of experience and new emerging talent. We have a strong vision towards our marquee events, the 2022 Commonwealth Games and 2023 Netball World Cup, and I look forward to further technically and strategically developing this group and building on our connection and cohesion under pressure.”
“Our Australian Development Squad will be named within the next couple of weeks and this list will truly capture the depth of our elite talent. We will continue to monitor and track players leading into an exciting 2021 international netball calendar.”
The squad was selected by a panel made up of Origin Diamonds Head Coach Stacey Marinkovich and national selectors Anne Sargeant OAM and Michelle Wilkins.
The 2020/21 Australian Development squad, also chosen by the National Selection Panel, will be announced in the coming weeks.
2020/21 Origin Australian Diamonds Squad
• Jess Anstiss - West Coast Fever/Western Australia
• Kiera Austin - GIANTS Netball/New South Wales
• Caitlin Bassett - GIANTS Netball/Western Australia
• Gretel Bueta - Queensland Firebirds/Queensland
• Courtney Bruce - West Coast Fever/Western Australia
• Verity Charles - West Coast Fever/New South Wales
• Sophie Garbin - NSW Swifts/Western Australia
• Paige Hadley - NSW Swifts/New South Wales
• Kimberley Jenner - Queensland Firebirds/Queensland
• Cara Koenen - Sunshine Coast Lightning/Queensland
• Sarah Klau - NSW Swifts/South Australia
• Jamie-Lee Price - GIANTS Netball/New South Wales
• Maddy Proud - NSW Swifts/South Australia
• Emily Mannix - Melbourne Vixens/Victoria
• Kate Moloney - Melbourne Vixens/Victoria
• Gabi Simpson - Queensland Firebirds/New South Wales
• Liz Watson - Melbourne Vixens/Victoria
• Jo Weston - Melbourne Vixens/Victoria
• Steph Wood - Sunshine Coast Lightning/Queensland
