Wallam caps incredible rise with Diamonds call-up
Donnell Wallam’s unconventional path to elite netball has been crowned with a call-up to the Australian Diamonds squad for the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham this July.
The only addition to the squad that won the Quad Series in January, the West Australian is set to become the first Indigenous player to represent Australia in more than 20 years.
Donnell Wallam lines up a shot.Credit:Getty
Diamonds head coach Stacey Marinkovich said Wallam had been selected “after showing great accuracy and strength around the post” in her debut Super Netball season.
“Selection definitely hasn’t been an easy task,” Marinkovich said. “This squad showcases an incredible breadth of experience and emerging talent.”
Wallam, a Noongar woman from Harvey, south of Perth, becomes only the third Indigenous player to represent the Diamonds after Marcia Ella-Duncan and Sharon Finnan-White, who retired in 2000.
The milestone caps an incredible rise for the 28-year-old, who wasn’t even playing state league netball four years ago and had to move to the other side of the world to kickstart her career.
Wallam only made her top-flight debut last year, playing the 2021 season with Leeds Rhinos in the UK before moving back to Australia to play for the Queensland Firebirds as cover for Romelda Aiken-George, who is on maternity leave.
Giants youngsters Sophie Dwyer and Amy Parmenter will pull on the green and gold once again alongside teammate Jamie-Lee Price, who has continued her dominance in mid-court to start the 2022 season.
NSW Swifts premiership-winning trio Paige Hadley, Sarah Klau and Maddy Turner return to the Diamonds fold, while former teammate Sophie Garbin retains her spot after crossing to the Collingwood Magpies in the off-season.
The squad of 18 was chosen by a selection committee consisting of Marinkovich and former Diamonds Anne Sargeant and Michelle Wilkins.
The Australians will travel to Birmingham ranked No.1 in the world and looking to improve on their silver medal at the 2018 Games on the Gold Coast.
A team of 12 will be selected from the squad of 18 to contest the 2022 Commonwealth Games from July 29 to August 9.
Australian Diamonds squad (2022-23)
Sunday Aryang (West Coast Fever/WA), Kiera Austin (Melbourne Vixens/NSW), Ash Brazill (Collingwood Magpies/NSW), Courtney Bruce (West Coast Fever/WA), Gretel Bueta (Queensland Firebirds/QLD), Sophie Dwyer (Giants/NSW), Sophie Garbin (Collingwood Magpies/WA), Paige Hadley (NSW Swifts/NSW), Sarah Klau (Swifts/NSW), Cara Koenen (Sunshine Coast Lightning/QLD), Kate Moloney (Melbourne Vixens/VIC), Amy Parmenter (Giants/NSW), Jamie-Lee Price (Giants/NSW), Maddy Turner (Swifts/SA), Donnell Wallam (Firebirds/WA), Liz Watson (Vixens/VIC), Jo Weston (Vixens/VIC), Stephanie Wood (Lightning/QLD)