By: Netball Australia
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 Fast5team 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.
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
| SURNAME | FIRST NAME | POSITION/S | 2022 SSN CLUB & STATE OF ORIGIN |
| Austin | Lucy | GS/GA | Adelaide Thunderbirds/South Australia |
| Anstiss | Jess | C | West Coast Fever/Western Australia |
| Browne | Kelsey | C | Collingwood Magpies/Victoria |
| Dwyer | Sophie | GA/GS | GIANTS Netball/New South Wales |
| Garbin | Sophie | GS/GA | Collingwood Magpies/Western Australia |
| Hinchliffe | Tara | GD/GK | Sunshine Coast Lightning/Queensland |
| Horjus | Georgie | GA/GS/ WA | Adelaide Thunderbirds/South Australia |
| Jenner | Kim | GD/GK | West Coast Fever/Queensland |
| McDonell | Matilda | GK/GD | GIANTS Netball/New South Wales |
| Mundy | Hannah | C/WA | Melbourne Vixens/Victoria |
