By Paddy Regester
We’re just days away from the Netball Bushfire Relief match between the Origin Diamonds and the Suncorp Super Netball All-Stars, which will take place at 1pm this Sunday at Sydney’s Qudos Bank Arena.
The match will see 28 of the world’s best netball players, representing five countries coming together to help raise funds to support those affected by Australia’s bushfire crisis.
For the last time in her illustrious coaching career, Lisa Alexander will lead the Diamonds as the Head Coach.
Alexander said she’s proud of how the world’s leading netballers have come together to help and support netball communities that have been impacted by the bushfires.
“This will truly be a spectacle for netball fans right across the globe. To have the world’s best netballers all taking to the one court in a game is going to be a sight to behold,” she said.
“I’m honoured to be part of this match and so proud of our elite netball program and netball in Australia in being able to pull this brilliant event together in such a short timeframe to support our communities who have been affected by these devastating fires.”
NSW Swifts Head Coach Briony Akle and GIANTS Netball Head Coach Julie Fitzgerald will co-coach the SSN All-Stars, while New Zealand Silver Ferns and Sunshine Coast Lightning superstar Laura Langman has been selected as captain.
“It’s an honour to be involved in this incredible event and I am honestly humbled to be nominated captain of the All-Stars,” Langman said.
“It has been special to watch the netball community rally together to help those affected by the bushfires and I jumped at the chance to put my hand up for selection.”
Alexander will be surrounded by familiar faces for her last match as the Diamonds Head Coach, naming an unchanged team from the one that won the 2019 Constellation Cup in October.
Most notably of all is the inclusion of goal shooter Caitlin Thwaites, who announced she would be retiring from international netball after the Constellation Cup win but will be representing her country for one last time on Sunday.
They’ll come up against a stacked All-Star team that includes huge names like Geva Mentor, Jhaniele Fowler, Shamera Sterling, Karla Pretorius, Sam Wallace and Gabi Simpson.
Two additional rules will be introduced to add some extra flavour to the match – The Suncorp Super Shot and rolling substitutions.
The Suncorp Super Shot will give shooters the opportunity to score two goals and raise funds when they make a shot from a designated area in the final five minutes of each quarter.
Fans can be assured that all 28 superstar players from across both teams will be taking to the court throughout the match, with the introduction of rolling substitutions throughout all four quarters.
Tickets for the match are still available, with adult prices starting at just $20.
If you can’t make it to the match on Sunday, it will be televised at 1pm AEST through Channel 9 and fans from all around the world will be able to live-stream the game through the Netball Live App.
If you wish to find out how you can help support those affected by the bushfire crisis, head to our bushfire relief information page.
