Shooter seals Diamonds comeback for Constellation Cup
Joanna Guelas |
Donnell Wallam will end her two-year hiatus from the Diamonds after being named for the second Constellation Cup match in Auckland.
The Sunshine Coast Lightning goal shooter is joined by vice-captain Kate Moloney, who has recovered from an “innocuous” injury in time for Wednesday night’s match at Wolfbrook Arena.
But midcourter Jamie-Lee Price will miss game two due to a calf injury in another blow to the netball world No.1 outfit, while Cara Koenen makes way for Wallam in the circle.
Wallam, who played her last Test in 2024, had returned to the national team earlier this year after travelling to Glasgow as a reserve for the Diamonds’ Commonwealth Games campaign.
The 32-year-old had been surprisingly overlooked by the Queensland Firebirds for a 2025 Super Netball contract and spent the season playing in New Zealand.
She was lured home by the Sunshine Coast Lightning this year and the dominant holding shooter impressed to earn back her Diamonds spot.
Wallam, who has never played against the Silver Ferns, made a memorable debut against England in 2022.
One of only three Indigenous players to have turned out for the Diamonds, Wallam in 2022 had come onto the court in the final minutes and scored the match-winning goal against England with just a second remaining.
Midcourter Moloney missed last Sunday’s Auckland series opener after suffering a finger laceration in training.
The Diamonds are already without defender Jo Weston (managed out of the series), and the experienced duo were sorely missed as Australia lost 56-50 to the Commonwealth Games champions on Sunday.
New Zealand had stormed to a 15-goal lead in the first of four matches, forcing Diamonds coach Stacey Marinkovich to bench captain and midcourter Liz Watson alongside goalkeeper Courtney Bruce in her 100th game.
Price took over centre duties against New Zealand’s Adelaide Lightning star Kate Heffernan, while Jessie Grenvold was tasked with containing Silver Ferns goalscoring superstar Grace Nweke on debut.
Georgie Horjus was the only Diamond who remained on the court for four quarters, finishing with a game-high 19 gains and 38 feeds as wing attack.
But the midcourt won’t be the only area of focus for Wednesday night’s game in Christchurch.
Looking to end their five-year drought on Kiwi soil, the Diamonds hope Wallam – standing at 193cm – will find a way past the towering defensive duo of Kelly Jackson and Karin Burger.
With goalkeeper Jackson at 192cm and goal defence Burger at 184cm, Australia’s attacking roster of Koenen, Kiera Austin, Sophie Dwyer and Sophie Garbin struggled to fire.
Marinkovich is urging her Diamonds to start with “immediacy” on the court.
“We were slightly off our pace (in game one), and our numbers would show that we weren’t as aggressive as what we needed to be on the ball,” she said.
“When you allow a key defensive opponent opportunity to stay with you, it builds their confidence and puts us on the back foot.”
AAP