By Stephanie Smarrelli
For the Origin Australian Diamonds, 2023 couldn’t have gone much better.
Of the 19 international matches they played, they came away with the win in 16 of those battles.
Among the most notable wins included being crowned Netball World Cup champions.
Having lost the 2019 Netball World Cup, the trophy was the only item missing from the cabinet and the team was determined to get it back.
While the Netball World Cup victory is undoubtedly the highlight of the year, the Origin Diamonds set the tone early at January’s Quad Series before carrying that momentum through until the final whistle of October's South Africa Series.
Here we relive the headline grabbing efforts on court.
FINISHED BUSINESS
In 2019, the Origin Diamonds lost the Netball World Cup in a thriller to New Zealand. The heartbreak of that loss and the desire to stamp their authority spurring the Australians on for the next four-year cycle.
A cycle that reached its climax at this year’s Netball World Cup.
The Origin Diamonds celebrated winning netball's most prestigious competition. It wasn’t an easy journey to be crowned World Champions, international netball is the most competitive it’s ever been, and the Origin Diamonds had eight matches standing in their way.
Recording wins against Zimbabwe, Tonga, Fiji, Scotland and Malawi, the Origin Diamonds started their campaign strongly with an average winning margin of 47 goals.
But then came the England Roses.
The first big hurdle on the path to World Cup glory, the Origin Diamonds stumbled.
The Australians lost by a goal, putting them in a do-or-die clash against Jamaica to earn their spot in the gold medal match.
The match against Jamaica was tough with both sides pushing each other every step of the way.
The Diamonds treasured possession successfully limiting the impact of the Jamaican defenders known for their damaging reach.
The Origin Diamonds defeated Jamaica's Sunshine Girls in the semi final clash.The Australians ability to weather the storm and continue under pressure enabling them to win by three-goals and earn a chance at redemption.
Facing England for the World Cup trophy, the Origin Diamonds finished business in the match that mattered most, blitzing the Roses by 16 goals while moving across the court like a well-oiled machine.
TROPHY CABINET FULL
The Origin Diamonds have won every series they’ve played this year. The side dominating the international stage to sweep the Quad Series, Netball World Cup, Constellation Cup and the South Africa Series.
Overseas in Cape Town, the Origin Diamonds started the year with the Netball Quad Series.
The series a dress rehearsal of sorts for what would come with Cape Town also playing host to the Netball World Cup.
The Origin Diamonds were slow starters throughout the Quad Series, only winning one of their opening quarters.
Despite this, the Australians defeated the England Roses by six goals, New Zealand by two and South Africa by 17 in the opening rounds.
In the final match of the series against New Zealand, the Diamonds again bounced back from a slow start to power home claiming the series' trophy by six goals.
The Origin Diamonds started 2023 with the Quad Series Trophy in their hands.Next up was the Netball World Cup in July and we’ve already touched on how that went. The Origin Diamonds starring in the gold medal match to reclaim the crown of World Champions and cement their place as World Number One.
October rolled around in the blink of an eye and the Constellation Cup hit Australian and New Zealand shores.
The Diamonds started strongly on home soil with a 10-goal win in Melbourne and a nine-goal win in Brisbane before crossing the Tasman.
In Australia, Koenen dominated the baseline, her slick movement escaping the illustrious talent of New Zealand's best defenders. While Watson and Bruce continued to inflict damage on the visitors.
But then the Silver Ferns struck once the home crowd advantage was on their side.
Invercargill and Auckland delivered two tough, physical battles with the Origin Diamonds losing both matches but successfully retaining the Constellation Cup.
It was a challenging end to the series but the Origin Diamonds kept hold of the Constellation Cup.The Origin Diamonds then capped off the year with a stellar three-match outing against South Africa winning all three games against a determined Proteas outfit.
THE CHALLENGES
Comfortable and in control on home soil, the Diamonds need to address their inability to win across the Tasman in enemy territory.
The Constellation Cup this year was a tale of two halves with the Diamonds dominant on Australian soil but completely in their shell on New Zealand's turf against an energised and confident Silver Ferns.
The Diamonds have now not defeated the Ferns across the ditch since March 2021.
With a wealth of talent throughout the squad the other challenge for the Diamonds is working out which players are the best choices in each position against different opponents and forming those combinations.
There's still plenty of time to work that out before the next Commonwealth Games and Netball World Cup roll around but Diamonds head coach Stacey Marinkovich is already testing new combinations and moving the players around to find the most lethal combination.
The international netball retirement of Steph Fretwell (née Wood) leaves the door open for another shooter to seize the goal attack bib.Every player will need to perform at their best to keep their place in the squad with talent continuing to come through the Australian pathways and put their hands up for selection.
BREAK OUT STARS
The Origin Diamonds welcomed two defenders to the national team in 2023.
First, Tara Hinchliffe made her debut in the green and gold during the Quad Series. Unfortunately, Hinchliffe tore her ACL during the Suncorp Super Netball preseason and was not available for Diamonds duties for the remainder of the year.
Fast forward a few months and another defender lined up for her green and gold debut...Matilda Garrett. The 25-year-old making her debut in the South Africa Series, adding fresh legs to the Diamonds defence end while working hard one-on-one to wear down her opponents.
Debutants aside 2023 delivered more opportunities for the Diamonds to flourish.
Amy Parmenter put her hand up for the wing defence bib during the South Africa Series with seven gains to her name following the retirement of Ash Brazill.
Amy Parmenter was a stand out against South Africa.While Cara Koenen continued to go from strength-to-strength no matter the goal circle pairing with the shooter only missing one goal attempt during the test series against South Africa proving she can still perform without retired Diamond Steph Fretwell (née Wood) by her side.
There were also exceptional performances from Kiera Austin, Sophie Garbin and Donnell Wallam who are all looking to earn regular time in the Diamonds starting seven.
While stalwarts such as Courtney Bruce, Jamie-Lee Price, Paige Hadley and Liz Watson continued to do what they do best.
With the trophy cabinet full, the World Number Ones will now get a rest ahead of 2024 with the side then preparing for their next challenge, the Netball Nations Cup.
