{"id":207979,"date":"2025-10-12T14:13:11","date_gmt":"2025-10-12T14:13:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/207979\/"},"modified":"2025-10-12T14:13:11","modified_gmt":"2025-10-12T14:13:11","slug":"australia-diamonds-def-south-africa-proteas-game-three-talking-points-analysis-australian-debuts-mother-daughter-pair-constellation-cup","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/207979\/","title":{"rendered":"Australia Diamonds def South Africa Proteas game three Talking Points, analysis, Australian debuts, mother-daughter pair, Constellation Cup"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Diamonds completed a dominant series sweep against South Africa with a crushing 23-goal win in Adelaide on Sunday<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

One of them also created an incredible slice of history when she stepped onto the court in the second quarter. <\/p>\n

\ufeffWatch every game of the Constellation Cup Live on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1.<\/a><\/p>\n

Here are the biggest talking points from game three between Australia and South Africa!<\/p>\n

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<\/p>\n

\u2018COULDN\u2019T STOP CRYING\u2019: MOTHER DAUGHTER DUO MAKE AUSSIE HISTORY<\/p>\n

Hannah Mundy was the first of Australia\u2019s three debutants to hit the court when he was introduced to the game during the second quarter.<\/p>\n

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\u2019Donnell became the first mother-daughter pair to play for the Diamonds.<\/p>\n

O\u2019Donnell was the 107th capped Diamond and played 94 times for Australia throughout the 1990s as a mid-courter.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh my god, when she came out, I\u2019ve got my sister and my friend with me, and it was just so emotional,\u201d O\u2019Donnell said.<\/p>\n

\u201cCouldn\u2019t stop crying. Such an amazing moment and I\u2019m so, so proud of her.\u201d<\/p>\n

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<\/p>\n

She added: \u201cWell, that\u2019s history isn\u2019t it? Wow, to be the first mother\/daughter is pretty amazing in Australian netball.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m just really stoked that she\u2019s got the opportunity to get out there and show what she\u2019s got.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe\u2019s worked really hard and I think she deserves her spot there.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m just really excited.\u201d<\/p>\n

But O\u2019Donnell also made it clear that she did not have too many words of wisdom for her daughter before her national team debut.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe never ever takes anything from what I say,\u201d she said with a chuckle.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut I spoke to her last night when she told me she was in the 12, and I said \u2018if you get the opportunity to get out there, you\u2019re good enough to be there. Just have confidence, and let it go, and enjoy it because it\u2019s a great feeling\u2019.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd what a great moment for her to step out in the green and gold dress.\u201d<\/p>\n

Diamonds demolish South Africa | 01:35<\/p>\n

\u2018THEY LOOK GOOD\u2019: GEN NEXT IMPRESS<\/p>\n

Mundy was joined as a debutant by Lucy Austin and Ash Ervin.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

They both impressed with Austin shooting 18 of 22 and grabbing a rebound, while Ervin nabbed four rebounds, six gains and an intercept.<\/p>\n

They weren\u2019t the only Diamonds registering first in the Australian dress with Georgie Horjus and Alice Teague-Neeld earning their first start for the national team.<\/p>\n

At times on Sunday, it was like looking into the future for Diamonds fans.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis renewed energy. This is the next generation of the Diamonds we\u2019re seeing,\u201d former Adelaide Thunderbird Emily Beaton said on Fox Netball\u2019s post-match show.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe talk about the Olympics, we talk about the way the game is growing. <\/p>\n

\u201cNow, we see the future of it on court, and gee, they look good.\u201d<\/p>\n

World champion and Commonwealth Games gold medallist Bianca Chatfield was also mightily impressed with what she saw.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt wasn\u2019t all perfect either and that\u2019s never going to happen when you have lots of different combinations out there,\u201d Chatfield said.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut 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.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey got behind each other and to me, that\u2019s what signifies a really strong team, a great team.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf someone made a mistake, it was straight up to them, giving them the pat on the back, \u2018it\u2019s okay, you\u2019ve got this next one\u2019.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt one stage even Lucy Austin did that to Hannah Mundy and Jamie-Lee Price.<\/p>\n

\u201cI love that. Doesn\u2019t matter who you are, how old you are, whether it\u2019s your first game or your hundredth game, they\u2019ve got each other\u2019s back and that\u2019s what Australian Diamonds is all about.\u201d<\/p>\n

‘We got no protection from the umpires’ | 01:21<\/p>\n

\u2018SHE\u2019S REALLY PUT THAT TO BED\u2019: BREAKOUT STAR SILENCES DOUBTERS<\/p>\n

In her first series for the Diamonds, Alice Teague-Neeld won player of the series despite not starting until game three.<\/p>\n

Sunday\u2019s display was so eye-catching however, that it no doubt pushed her over the line with the voters.<\/p>\n

From wing attack, she provided 25 goal assists and 38 feeds, including 18 in a blistering first term.<\/p>\n

She certainly made the most of her first appearance in a Diamonds starting seven, and also silenced her critics in the process.<\/p>\n

Before making her debut in national colours, Teague-Neeld\u2019s talent was questioned because she plays with Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard at the West Coast Fever.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere were so many questions around would she be able to perform in this environment because she\u2019s got such an easy target playing at home with Fowler-Nembhard, and I think she\u2019s really put that to bed,\u201d Catherine Cox said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think she has and don\u2019t forget too, she started as a goal attack and she moved over to West Coast Fever to get an opportunity at wing attack,\u201d Chatfield replied.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd yes, that\u2019s who she was feeding, Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard, she\u2019s tall and she found how to make the best out of that opportunity.<\/p>\n

\u201cPlaying in that wing attack position, it\u2019s all about adjusting to whoever is around you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAlso, as a tall wing attack, you can see things differently and you do need to have a change in what they\u2019ve got in their structures as well,\u201d Beaton responded.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou know what Liz Watson can do. Hannah Mundy can do something really similar for you. Horjus is short.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut when you need a change up, you\u2019ve got a tall Alice Teague-Neeld that moves differently, that feeds differently and that\u2019s what they\u2019re going to need in tournament situations.\u201d<\/p>\n

Diamonds super subs don’t miss a beat | 02:55<\/p>\n

\u2018WHAT A DOUBLE THREAT\u2019: ANOTHER BREAKOUT STAR SHINES<\/p>\n

Georgie Horjus also grabbed her opportunity with both hands.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

The undersized 23-year-old added an exciting dynamism to the Diamonds\u2019 goal circle in an electric display that brought great delight to the Adelaide crowd.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe thrives on pressure. We see it time and time again when she steps out on court,\u201d Chatfield said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think she almost wants it to be a really tough moment for her, a really tough game.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe 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.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd then to play wing attack as well, what a double threat.\u201d<\/p>\n

Beaton added: \u201cShe\u2019s incredible. She just takes absolutely everything in her stride.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhatever she is faced with, whether it\u2019s 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

Diamonds win first test vs South Africa | 02:02<\/p>\n

\u2018A VERY DIFFERENT TEAM\u2019: AUSSIES READY FOR KIWI CHALLENGE <\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Still hurt from last year\u2019s defeat, the world champion Diamonds have displayed an added hunger in recent times, and Bianca Chatfield is liking what she is seeing.<\/p>\n

\u201cI 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\u2019re playing than what we saw last year,\u201d Chatfield said.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo, whatever\u2019s been going on behind the scenes seems to be working.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut the proof is really going to be in the pudding, what happens game one next week.\u201d<\/p>\n

Debutant Lucy Austin will go out of the squad of 15 to face New Zealand, making way for Sophie Dwyer.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\u201cI just can\u2019t believe after the performance, you look defensively, you\u2019ve got Sunday Aryang to still come in and what an incredible Super Netball season she had,\u201d Chatfield said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think it\u2019ll be interesting to see how Stacey Marinkovich plays it.<\/p>\n

\u201cObviously a squad of 15, she\u2019ll pick a 12 every game.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhether she has the flexibility and freedom to continue to rotate like she has, or if we\u2019ll see her start to refine who might be in that 12.\u201d<\/p>\n

Chatfield later added: \u201cWho is even in the starting seven? Everyone\u2019s been performing,\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The Diamonds completed a dominant series sweep against South Africa with a crushing 23-goal win in Adelaide on…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":207980,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[3443,6074,120192,64,128428,63,689,128423,128420,128435,128431,68129,124080,128430,128442,128418,128441,2105,14387,128438,128417,34707,128436,53230,120201,128426,128427,120205,120194,647,128432,11326,85319,1736,677,128439,128440,128434,128421,1183,128422,1124,18780,85,7663,128424,128433,128416,660,128437,128429,128419,128425,2753],"class_list":["post-207979","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-sports","tag-adelaide","tag-africa","tag-alice-teague-neeld","tag-au","tag-aussie-history","tag-australia","tag-australia-and-new-zealand","tag-australian-dress","tag-australian-netball","tag-bianca-chatfield","tag-catherine-cox","tag-centre-court","tag-diamonds-win","tag-dominant-series","tag-double-threat","tag-duo-make","tag-elmere-van-der-berg","tag-getty-images-inc","tag-goal-assists","tag-goal-attack","tag-goal-circle","tag-goal-keeper","tag-goal-shooter","tag-gold-medallist","tag-hannah-mundy","tag-jhaniele-fowler-nembhard","tag-kiwi-challenge","tag-liz-watson","tag-lucy-austin","tag-melbourne","tag-mother-daughter-duo","tag-national-team","tag-national-team-debut","tag-new-zealand","tag-oceania","tag-sanmarie-visser","tag-shelley-odonnell","tag-silence-doubters","tag-silences-doubters","tag-south-africa","tag-south-african-goal-shooter","tag-south-australia","tag-southern-africa","tag-sports","tag-talking-points","tag-tall-wing-attack","tag-team-photo","tag-tournament-situations","tag-victoria","tag-what-a-double-threat","tag-wing-attack","tag-wing-attack-bib","tag-wing-attack-position","tag-world-champion"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/207979","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=207979"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/207979\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/207980"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=207979"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=207979"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=207979"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}