Australia Diamonds defeat South Africa 64-53 in Bendigo

The star wing attack was on a high after taking to the court for the first time as a Diamond in Australia’s first Test win over South Africa in Bendigo on Saturday night.

A decade after making her national league debut, the West Coast Fever premiership player finally realised her dream of donning the gold dress at the age of 29.

Teague-Neeld danced in the middle of a circle of her teammates in the dressing rooms after the Test as the Diamonds sprayed her with water while they belted out the chorus of We Are Australian.

She was the celebrity of the Diamonds’ group post-match, with all her teammates lining up to snap selfies with her to mark the occasion on social media.

“It was amazing, Band-Aid ripped off,” Teague-Neeld said of her debut post-match.

“The support of the girls was so good and I felt ready and prepared, I’m so excited.

“It means the world …. I’m just really happy right now.”

The 2022 West Coast Fever premiership player didn’t have to wait too long for her chance to take to the court, injected into the match late in the second quarter when she subbed on for captain Liz Watson at wing attack.

But Teague-Neeld also didn’t have much time to think about the idea either after a short and sharp call-up from coach Stacey Marinkovich on the bench.

“(She said) ‘Alice, wing attack bib’,” Teague-Neeld laughed.

“I was like, ‘Oh my god, now?’ and it was straight into it. So (there was) not really much time to think and I was straight out there.

“I was watching the girls play and felt quite comfy on the bench, but then once you’re out there the girls are so good to play with and I feel like (there are) lots of combinations out there and the squad is so strong, it was so much fun.”

Originally from Victoria where she started her national league career with the Melbourne Vixens, Teague-Neeld made the move west to join the Fever in 2019 and she has since reinvented herself from a goal attack to one of Super Netball’s leading wing attacks.

One of four potential debutants in the Diamonds’ squad for the three-Test series against South Africa, Teague-Neeld found out late on Thursday that she would be in the match-day team of 10 for the opening Test.

“I was obviously really excited and a little bit shocked,” said Teague-Neeld, the daughter of former Melbourne AFL coach Mark Neeld.

“I called the family straight away and everyone was stoked.

“I feel also to have it in Victoria … I had lots of family (at the game). I’m originally from here so it was really special for them to come and watch.

“Most of them are here, I’m from a big family, so lots of people here cheering on for me.”

Teague-Neeld’s boyfriend, Tom, also had to arrange a late dash from Perth to Victoria to watch her debut after learning she was in the team.

“He was on the red-eye from Perth (Friday) night,” Teague-Neeld said.

“So it’s really special to have him here as well.

“We found out late Thursday, so a little bit of time, but just a plane-ride away.”

Teague-Neeld is now hoping to get the chance to build on her debut as the Diamonds’ series against South Africa heads to Wollongong and Adelaide.

“It’s a really exciting start and especially to get the win in my debut so onwards and upwards,” Teague-Neeld said.

Marinkovich praised Teague-Neeld’s immediate impact in her debut.

“It’s something that she’s worked extremely hard for and she’s been in the squad for a little while now and she’s really made the most of those players around her and I thought she transitioned that onto the court,” Marinkovich said.

“She has the strength of that off-circle feeding, so she certainly looks down the court and she knows how to do those quick give and goes so it certainly is a style of play that complements the players around her.”

Marinkovich gave little away about the prospect of any more potential Diamonds debuts against the Proteas with Lucy Austin, Ash Ervin and Hannah Mundy also in the squad, other than to say the others were “putting their hand up”.

“The best thing about this group is that they have really trained hard and well together and there is a real squad mentality,” Marinkovich said.

“It’s something that we have prided ourselves on leading into the last two marquee events and we have done a lot of work on our culture to make sure that we’ve really got that competitiveness, which pushes each other, but it’s really unifying at the same time.

“The three players that weren’t in there, they are certainly putting their hand up and we’ll have a look at how we want to move things around.”

DEBUTANT SHINES AS DIAMONDS ECLIPSE SOUTH AFRICA

Australia blooded another Diamond and defensive veteran Courtney Bruce put a period of injury behind her to star as the national team kickstarted its countdown to next year’s Commonwealth Games with a strong win over South Africa in Bendigo.

In the Diamonds’ first Test match in almost a year, midcourter Alice Teague-Neeld became Diamond No. 194 when she made her long-awaited debut in the gold dress in Australia’s 64-53 first Test win over the Proteas on Saturday night.

Injected into the match late in the second quarter, the 29-year-old was the fourth-oldest player in the professional era to debut for the Diamonds and looked right at home on the international stage with the attacking play and precision feeding that has made her a stand out at the West Coast Fever.

The Diamonds had never lost a Test match to South Africa and they recovered from a tight opening quarter and scratchy start to extend their unbeaten streak against the Proteas to 47-0 in front of a crowd of 3658.

After a frustrating two years with injury, Bruce was back to her competitive best in the defensive circle and hauled in four intercepts and three deflections to be one of the top ranked Diamonds on the court along with goal attack Kiera Austin (16 from 19).

Liz Ellis Diamonds winner Sophie Garbin top-scored for the Diamonds with 34 goals from 38 attempts, while Elmere van der Berg led the scoring for the Proteas.

Testing out her squad’s depth and versatility ahead of two big years of pinnacle events with the Commonwealth Games and home Netball World Cup in 2027, Diamonds coach Stacey Marinkovich utilised her entire bench as she rang the changes in the second half.

The Diamonds were forced to fight through a 14-14 opening quarter as the South African defensive pairing of Jamie van Wyk and Nicola Smith made the Australian attackers work hard for every ball into the circle.

But the Diamonds flicked the switch in the second quarter with some big intercepts from Bruce and Jo Weston helping turn the match

After having the best part of 12 months to pick apart their 3-1 Constellation Cup series loss to New Zealand in October last year, Marinkovich left nothing to chance with a powerful and experienced starting seven — featuring four current premiership Vixens.

After just the one change late in the first half, Marinkovich made full use of her bench with Matilda Garrett, Georgie Horjus and Sarah Klau all getting on court in the second half.

“It certainly feels like ages since we had been out there,” Marinkovich said.

“We thought it would be tight, particularly early. I thought we were getting stuck on the body, particularly early and it was nice to get some movement and you generate your speed and connection.

“We haven’t played anyone except ourselves, so to be able to see something that is a little bit different, it is always going to take a little bit of time to adjust …. I thought we were able to put our foot down when it counted.

“I thought for a first hitout it was a pretty good result.”

Marinkovich praised the work Bruce had done behind the scenes to get back to full fitness.

“Courts has had a long road to be honest to be able to get her body right, to be able to get out there and to be able to have that strength in the contest and to do it for the length of time that she did I think is an absolute credit to the job that she has done behind the scenes,” Marinkovich said.

“It’s nice to see the combinations and I thought all the defenders were getting out there and getting ball and I certainly think she set that standard at the beginning.”

The Bendigo Test was the first of three Tests against South Africa with the series next heading to Wollongong (October 8) and Adelaide (October 12) before a four-Test series against New Zealand.

SPARKLING DEBUT

A decade after making her national league debut, Teague-Neeld finally got the chance to prove herself on the international stage when Marinkovich injected her into the match at wing attack late in the first half, replacing captain Liz Watson.

Teague-Neeld, who has the job of feeding Super Netball’s most dominant goaler Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard on a weekly basis, received a big cheer from the crowd as she took to the court for the first time.

She slotted in seamlessly to the Diamonds midcourt, launching some beautiful balls into Keira Austin and Sophie Garbin in the goal circle.

She finished the match with 12 goal assists and 17 feeds.

TBIRDS TEASER

Thunderbirds fans would have liked what they saw of their new international goaling recruit, Elmere van der Berg, who will join the team for the 2026 Super Netball campaign.

The star of South Africa’s recent Taini Jamison series against the Silver Ferns in which she scored 125 goals in three Tests, van der Berg was a strong target for the Proteas at goal shooter, finishing with 37 goals from 42 attempts.

In the face of relentless defence from Bruce and Jo Weston, the 191cm goaler showcased her athleticism and versatility in the goal circle.

Van der Berg has starred in the UK Super League where she topped scoring this year.