Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
Donnell Wallam is back in the Diamonds fold with the sharp-shooter earning a recall to the Australian squad ahead of the Commonwealth Games.
Wallam, who played her last Test in 2024, and Melbourne Mavericks defender Jessie Grenvold are the two new faces in the 18-strong squad announced on Sunday.
Captain Liz Watson and vice-captain Kate Moloney are set to lead the side in Glasgow, with the squad to be trimmed to 12 before the Games starting in July.
Wallam was surprisingly overlooked by the Queensland Firebirds for a 2025 Super Netball contract and spent the season playing in New Zealand.
But she was lured home by the Sunshine Coast Lightning this year and the dominant holding shooter has impressed as the leading Australian scorer in the competition.
One of only three Indigenous players to have turned out for the Diamonds, Wallam made a memorable debut in 2022, coming onto the court in the final minutes and scoring the match-winning goal against England with just a second remaining.
The 32-year-old was a travelling reserve at the last Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, when the Diamonds clinched their fifth title, but was left out of the 2023 World Cup.
A squad training “invitee” last year, Wallam is back in the mix to add to her six Tests.
South Australian Grenvold is a squad bolter, making the most of her increased court-time after her Mavericks teammate Tara Hinchliffe suffered a season-ending knee injury.
The 23-year-old, who leads the league for intercepts, is hoping to make the final 12-player cut for the Games which will be made late June.
Ash Ervin, Rudy Ellis and new mum Paige Hadley are among players who missed squad selection.
All players are all in the running to play in the Constellation Cup against New Zealand later this year with coach Stacey Marinkovich looking to build for the 2027 World Cup in Sydney.
Australia open their Commonwealth Games campaign on July 26 with a tough pool clash with England, who upset the Diamonds to win gold in 2018.
“The depth of talent across Australian netball continues to raise the bar every year, and that’s reflected in the quality and competitiveness of this Diamonds squad,” Marinkovich said in a statement.
“We have so many athletes pushing strongly for opportunities, which is exactly what drives growth and sustained success within our program.
“We know what’s ahead with a Commonwealth Games gold medal on the line and a home Netball World Cup approaching.
“While it’s only 54 days until the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games and we’re fully focused on winning gold, this squad is also about driving growth and building on our foundations for success into the future.”
Selectors have included four invitee athletes in Giants wing defence Amy Sligar, Mavericks defender Charlotte Sexton, Swifts shooter Grace Whyte and Firebirds centre Macy Gardner, whose mother Rosalee Jencke was the long-time Queensland coach.
Diamonds: Sunday Aryang (West Coast Fever), Kiera Austin (Melbourne Vixens), Courtney Bruce (Sunshine Coast Lightning), Sophie Dwyer (Giants), Sophie Garbin (Melbourne Vixens), Matilda Garrett (Adelaide Thunderbirds), Jessie Grenvold (Melbourne Mavericks), Georgie Horjus (Adelaide Thunderbirds), Sarah Klau (NSW Swifts), Cara Koenen (Sunshine Coast Lightning), Kate Moloney (Melbourne Vixens), Hannah Mundy (Melbourne Vixens), Amy Parmenter (Melbourne Mavericks), Jamie-Lee Price (Melbourne Mavericks), Alice Teague-Neeld (West Coast Fever), Donnell Wallam (Sunshine Coast Lightning), Liz Watson (Sunshine Coast Lightning), Joanna Weston (Melbourne Vixens).
