A 10-strong Australian side will head to New Zealand next month to compete in the first FAST5 Netball World Series in four years.
The Fast5 Netball World Series will see the world’s top six ranked teams play netball’s five-a-side condensed version across Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 November at Christchurch Arena.
The 2022 series marks the first time the competition has run since 2018, when Australia placed third and New Zealand secured the series win.
As well as the reigning premier, Australia will come up against Jamaica, England, South Africa and Uganda.
Double premiership-winning NSW Swifts head coach Briony Akle will coach the 2022 Australian Fast5 team, with Cathy Fellows from the Adelaide Thunderbirds supporting as assistant coach.
The selected Australian Fast5 team boasts a breadth of ability, comprising of experienced and emerging national talent, all of which play in Australia’s national Suncorp Super Netball League.
NSW Swifts coach Briony Akle has been named to coach the Australian Fast5 side.Eligible athletes were selected by the Origin Australian Diamonds selection panel, with the opportunity of selection offering valuable competition experience to current and emerging Diamonds.
2022-23 Origin Australian Diamond squad members Sophie Dwyer (GIANTS Netball) and Sophie Garbin (Collingwood Magpies) will join Adelaide Thunderbirds’ goalers Lucy Austin and Georgie Horjus.
Jess Anstiss (West Coast Fever), Kelsey Browne (Collingwood Magpies) and Hannah Mundy (Melbourne Vixens) have been selected in the midcourt, alongside defenders Matilda McDonnell (GIANTS Netball), Kim Jenner (West Coast Fever) and Tara Hinchliffe (Sunshine Coast Lightning).
Reilley Batcheldor (Sunshine Coast Lightning) was selected in the squad but will not compete after sustaining an ACL injury.
Performance analyst Justin Weise and physiotherapist Amanda Simmonds will travel with the team as support staff.
Netball Australia Executive General Manager of Performance Stacey West said she was looking forward to seeing the Australian Fast5 team come together.
“We are very excited to have the opportunity to return to the Fast5 stage in the upcoming Series in Christchurch,” West said.
“The Fast5 competition offers a dynamic variation of our game that gives a unique competition development experience to our selected athletes, coaching and support staff, and umpires.”
The squad of 13 athletes will travel to Canberra’s Australian Institute of Sport ahead of the Fast5 Netball World Series for a training camp.
Further details on how to watch will be available soon.
2022 Fast5 Australian Team
Lucy Austin GS/GA - Adelaide Thunderbirds/South Australia
Jess Anstiss C - West Coast Fever/Western Australia
Kelsey Browne C - Collingwood Magpies/Victoria
Sophie Dwyer GA/GS - GIANTS Netball/New South Wales
Sophie Garbin GS/GA - Collingwood Magpies/Western Australia
Tara Hinchliffe GD/GK - Sunshine Coast Lightning/Queensland
Georgie Horjus GA/GS/WA - Adelaide Thunderbirds/South Australia
Kim Jenner GD/GK - West Coast Fever/Queensland
Matilda McDonell GK/GD - GIANTS Netball/New South Wales
Hannah Mundy C/WA - Melbourne Vixens/Victoria
Reserve athletes
Matilda Garrett GD/GK - Adelaide Thunderbirds/Victoria
Matisse Letherbarrow GS/GA - GIANTS Netball/New South Wales
Tayla Williams C - Adelaide Thunderbirds/South Australia
