Five GIANTS Netballers will take part in a game full of the best players in the Suncorp Super Netball League for this Sunday’s Bushfire Relief Match at Qudos Bank Arena.
The match will be played in aid of the recent Bushfires that affected Australia this summer and in particular parts of the GIANTS’ home state, New South Wales.
The match will be played between the newly renamed Origin Australian Diamonds and the Suncorp Super Netball All-Stars.
GIANTS will be represented by Caitlin Bassett, Jamie-Lee Price and Kiera Austin in the Diamonds and Jo Harten and Kristiana Manu’a in the Super Netball All-Stars.
Julie Fitzgerald will also join forces with NSW Swifts Coach Briony Akle to lead the All-Stars side.
Super Netball All-Star Coaches Briony Akle (right) and Julie Fitzgerald (left)Diamonds Captain and GIANTS player Caitlin Bassett said she’s looking forward to the special occasion.
“It’s incredible,” she said.
“Us as players we love playing sport and we know how important netball is in communities and in bringing people together, and to be able to help out in some small way by getting out on court and having a really great match is an awesome idea.
“We all have white line fever and every time we get out to play, even if you tell us it’s for fun, we’re always going to take it really seriously.”
“To play against an All-Stars team that’s got so many amazing athletes, it’s going to be a really big challenge for us Diamonds.”
This weekend’s match will be the last time that legendary Diamonds Coach Lisa Alexander will coach the green and gold.
“This weekend’s game is a really special match for a number of reasons,” said Bassett.
“We obviously want to raise as much funds as possible, but we’re also saying goodbye to our amazing head coach Lisa Alexander and also getting another opportunity to farewell Caitlin Thwaites who will play her last game for the Diamonds.
“There’s lots of reasons for us to have fun, but we want to get out there and show what we can do as Diamonds.
Bassett reflected on the time she’s spent playing under Alexander, with the pair starting their international careers at similar times.
“Eight and a half years is an extremely long time to be a head coach,” said Bassett.
“She’s had so many Diamonds play under her and she’s touched so many lives, not only those she’s coached but netballers in Australia.
“For me personally, coming along as a shy introverted player and not having a lot of confidence, she’s given me the confidence within myself not just as a goal shooter but a leader as well.
“What’s she done for Netball Australia and a high-performance program has just been incredible.
“She’s going to be sorely missed but I know she’s always going to be around. She cares about us so much, not just as athletes but as people and I look forward to what she does next in her career.
Sunday’s match will be the first time the Diamonds have played together since they claimed the 2019 Constellation Cup in October.
“I think we finished off so strongly last year and we’ve pretty much retained the same team, just adding in my GIANTS teammate Kiera Austin which is really exciting,” said Bassett.
“The benefit we have is that we’re an established team and we have experience in training and playing together.
“They have a lot of experienced players and a lot of talent – it will be a challenge and I think individual match ups will be really important.”
Qudos Bank Arena kindly donated the venue for the Bushfire Relief match and is expected to host over 12,000 fans this Sunday.
Tickets are still available for the match and can be purchased via ticketek.com.au
