Australia name Fast 5 team

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.

Hear Jess Thirlby share more on our team to face the Diamonds here

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.

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.

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