The Diamonds completed a dominant series sweep against South Africa with a crushing 23-goal win in Adelaide on Sunday.
Three debutants were unearthed as a new-look side posed plenty of questions about the make-up of the team going forward with the Constellation Cup starting against New Zealand in Melbourne on Friday.
One of them also created an incredible slice of history when she stepped onto the court in the second quarter.
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Here are the biggest talking points from game three between Australia and South Africa!
ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA – OCTOBER 12: Australia Diamonds pose for a team photo after winning the series during the International Test Match in the series between Australia Diamonds and South Africa Proteas at Adelaide Entertainment Centre on October 12, 2025 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Mark Brake/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
‘COULDN’T STOP CRYING’: MOTHER DAUGHTER DUO MAKE AUSSIE HISTORY
Hannah Mundy was the first of Australia’s three debutants to hit the court when he was introduced to the game during the second quarter.
By taking the wing attack bib from Alice Teague-Neeld, Mundy not only became the 195th player to represent Australia, but her and her mother Shelley O’Donnell became the first mother-daughter pair to play for the Diamonds.
O’Donnell was the 107th capped Diamond and played 94 times for Australia throughout the 1990s as a mid-courter.
She was beaming with pride as her 24-year-old daughter followed in her steps, and she told Fox Netball that the occasion got the better of her emotions.
“Oh my god, when she came out, I’ve got my sister and my friend with me, and it was just so emotional,” O’Donnell said.
“Couldn’t stop crying. Such an amazing moment and I’m so, so proud of her.”
ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA – OCTOBER 12: Hannah Mundy of the Diamonds celebrates sliding through the confetti during the International Test Match in the series between Australia Diamonds and South Africa Proteas at Adelaide Entertainment Centre on October 12, 2025 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Mark Brake/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
She added: “Well, that’s history isn’t it? Wow, to be the first mother/daughter is pretty amazing in Australian netball.
“I’m just really stoked that she’s got the opportunity to get out there and show what she’s got.
“She’s worked really hard and I think she deserves her spot there.
“I’m just really excited.”
But O’Donnell also made it clear that she did not have too many words of wisdom for her daughter before her national team debut.
“She never ever takes anything from what I say,” she said with a chuckle.
“But I spoke to her last night when she told me she was in the 12, and I said ‘if you get the opportunity to get out there, you’re good enough to be there. Just have confidence, and let it go, and enjoy it because it’s a great feeling’.
“And what a great moment for her to step out in the green and gold dress.”
Diamonds demolish South Africa | 01:35
‘THEY LOOK GOOD’: GEN NEXT IMPRESS
Mundy was joined as a debutant by Lucy Austin and Ash Ervin.
The pair came on together at the start of the second half, at opposite ends of the court with Austin stationed at goal shooter and Ervin at goal keeper.
They both impressed with Austin shooting 18 of 22 and grabbing a rebound, while Ervin nabbed four rebounds, six gains and an intercept.
They weren’t the only Diamonds registering first in the Australian dress with Georgie Horjus and Alice Teague-Neeld earning their first start for the national team.
At times on Sunday, it was like looking into the future for Diamonds fans.
“This renewed energy. This is the next generation of the Diamonds we’re seeing,” former Adelaide Thunderbird Emily Beaton said on Fox Netball’s post-match show.
“We talk about the Olympics, we talk about the way the game is growing.
“Now, we see the future of it on court, and gee, they look good.”
World champion and Commonwealth Games gold medallist Bianca Chatfield was also mightily impressed with what she saw.
“It wasn’t all perfect either and that’s never going to happen when you have lots of different combinations out there,” Chatfield said.
“But I think what Stacey and all the team will be proud of is that when things did go wrong, they found a way to fix it. They found a way to get back on track.
“They got behind each other and to me, that’s what signifies a really strong team, a great team.
“If someone made a mistake, it was straight up to them, giving them the pat on the back, ‘it’s okay, you’ve got this next one’.
“At one stage even Lucy Austin did that to Hannah Mundy and Jamie-Lee Price.
“I love that. Doesn’t matter who you are, how old you are, whether it’s your first game or your hundredth game, they’ve got each other’s back and that’s what Australian Diamonds is all about.”
‘We got no protection from the umpires’ | 01:21
‘SHE’S REALLY PUT THAT TO BED’: BREAKOUT STAR SILENCES DOUBTERS
In her first series for the Diamonds, Alice Teague-Neeld won player of the series despite not starting until game three.
Sunday’s display was so eye-catching however, that it no doubt pushed her over the line with the voters.
From wing attack, she provided 25 goal assists and 38 feeds, including 18 in a blistering first term.
She certainly made the most of her first appearance in a Diamonds starting seven, and also silenced her critics in the process.
Before making her debut in national colours, Teague-Neeld’s talent was questioned because she plays with Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard at the West Coast Fever.
The thinking was that feeding the legendary shooter is not hard to do, but the 29-year-old showed that she is a better player than someone who simply lobs up high passes to a tall shooter.
“There were so many questions around would she be able to perform in this environment because she’s got such an easy target playing at home with Fowler-Nembhard, and I think she’s really put that to bed,” Catherine Cox said.
“I think she has and don’t forget too, she started as a goal attack and she moved over to West Coast Fever to get an opportunity at wing attack,” Chatfield replied.
“And yes, that’s who she was feeding, Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard, she’s tall and she found how to make the best out of that opportunity.
“Playing in that wing attack position, it’s all about adjusting to whoever is around you.”
“Also, as a tall wing attack, you can see things differently and you do need to have a change in what they’ve got in their structures as well,” Beaton responded.
“You know what Liz Watson can do. Hannah Mundy can do something really similar for you. Horjus is short.
“But when you need a change up, you’ve got a tall Alice Teague-Neeld that moves differently, that feeds differently and that’s what they’re going to need in tournament situations.”
Diamonds super subs don’t miss a beat | 02:55
‘WHAT A DOUBLE THREAT’: ANOTHER BREAKOUT STAR SHINES
Georgie Horjus also grabbed her opportunity with both hands.
Despite giving up 12cm in height to her opponent, and Thunderbirds teammate, Sanmarie Visser, Horjus shot 12 of 13 and dished off 11 goal assists from goal attack.
The undersized 23-year-old added an exciting dynamism to the Diamonds’ goal circle in an electric display that brought great delight to the Adelaide crowd.
“She thrives on pressure. We see it time and time again when she steps out on court,” Chatfield said.
“I think she almost wants it to be a really tough moment for her, a really tough game.
“She wants to be responsibly for making sure the ball goes through that ring and for Georgie Horjus, she is really opening up a pathway for her to be a goal attack in this team.
“And then to play wing attack as well, what a double threat.”
Beaton added: “She’s incredible. She just takes absolutely everything in her stride.
“Whatever she is faced with, whether it’s being a short person playing at this elite level or coming up against someone whose really tough in Visser, she takes everything and always delivers.”
Diamonds win first test vs South Africa | 02:02
‘A VERY DIFFERENT TEAM’: AUSSIES READY FOR KIWI CHALLENGE
Three thumping victories against South Africa was an ideal confidence boost for Australia ahead of the four-match Constellation Cup against New Zealand starting in Melbourne on Friday.
Still hurt from last year’s defeat, the world champion Diamonds have displayed an added hunger in recent times, and Bianca Chatfield is liking what she is seeing.
“I think that the Australian Diamonds that we have seen in the last three games is a very different team in terms of their demeanour, and the way they’re playing than what we saw last year,” Chatfield said.
“So, whatever’s been going on behind the scenes seems to be working.
“But the proof is really going to be in the pudding, what happens game one next week.”
Debutant Lucy Austin will go out of the squad of 15 to face New Zealand, making way for Sophie Dwyer.
But after such a series of flexibility, the remains an element of mystery to what the Australians team will be to take on the Silver Ferns.
“I just can’t believe after the performance, you look defensively, you’ve got Sunday Aryang to still come in and what an incredible Super Netball season she had,” Chatfield said.
“I think it’ll be interesting to see how Stacey Marinkovich plays it.
“Obviously a squad of 15, she’ll pick a 12 every game.
“Whether she has the flexibility and freedom to continue to rotate like she has, or if we’ll see her start to refine who might be in that 12.”
Chatfield later added: “Who is even in the starting seven? Everyone’s been performing,”