It is at once both one of the greatest success stories, and continuing tragedies of Australian sport.
The Diamonds, our national netball team, are our most successful sports team – and yet are habitually denied the recognition they deserve.
In front of a full house in Canberra on Wednesday night, the Diamonds defeated England in a pulsating encounter to complete a 2-0 series sweep against their old rivals.
But the win was just another milestone in what has been a truly incredible year. As well as a Commonwealth Games title, the Diamonds have now completed an undefeated year winning all 13 Tests, taking their streak to 19 since September of last year.
In what was Australia’s 400th international match, the Diamonds held off a fast finishing England to win 54-47.
After getting out to a 10-goal lead early in the match, the English reduced the lead to three in the third quarter. But while the visitors refused to go away, the Diamonds held their nerve – Natalie Medhurst’s sharp shooting proving the difference in the end.
Madi Robinson also completed an impressive campaign, winning her third Player of the Match award in the Diamonds’ past six matches.
The feel good story of the day however, belonged to Clare McMeniman. Retiring in 2011 after losing her mother Anne Marie and father Geoff to illness, the 29 year old returned to the game last year and made her international debut last night – replacing Julie Corletto at goal defence in the third quarter.
Coach Lisa Alexander, however, is not content with being Australia’s best team and has a grand vision for the future.
“It definitely is [Australia’s best team] at the moment, yes. I’m really proud of the girls for that and I’m really proud of the sport,” Alexander said.
“We’ve challenged ourselves not to just be the best netball team, but the best sporting team in the world.
Despite being Australia’s most successful team since Steve Waugh’s ‘Untouchables’, this incredible achievement plays second fiddle in our collective sporting consciousness to a Wallabies team in disarray, an insufferably dull day of Test cricket and a toothless Socceroos team.
Indeed, it’s depressingly fitting that a story about the appalling and misogynistic treatment of a female Wallaby staffer overshadows the remarkable feat of the Diamonds.
Wednesday night’s packed out stadium will encourage netball officials – perhaps we can take some solace in that – but as a country we need to do far better in supporting and recognising our female athletes.
With good sporting news from our national teams becoming increasingly rare, we should take every chance we can get to revel in their achievements.
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Australia's Diamonds have underlined their global netball supremacy
Both sides won their last round-robin matches in South Africa.
