Australia names FAST5 squad, new coach Nicole Richardson, selection, when is the FAST5 Netball World Series , Lucy Austin, Tippah Dwan, what is FAST5

Australia names FAST5 squad, new coach Nicole Richardson, selection, when is the FAST5 Netball World Series , Lucy Austin, Tippah Dwan, what is FAST5،

A who’s who of emerging talent – including six leading Adelaide Thunderbird players – will represent Australia at next month’s FAST5 Netball World Series in New Zealand, led by new coach Nicole Richardson.

Netball Australia this morning named the 10-woman squad for the two-day tournament, which will be held in Christchurch from November 11.

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Thunderbirds’ Lucy Austin and Tippah Dwan have been named in the Australian FAST5 team.Source: Getty Images

It includes 2023 Thunderbird shooters Lucy Austin and Tippah Dwan, as well as current Diamonds team member Georgie Horjus, defender Matilda Garrett and midcourters Hannah Petty and Tayla Williams.

Also named are shooter Sophie Fawns, defenders Teigan O’Shannassy and Ashleigh Ervin and midfielder Hannah Mundy. Defender Rudi Ellis and shooter Matisse Letherbarrow were named reserves. Mundy, Austin and Horjus were part of the Australian team that won the series last year.

Invented in 2009, FAST5 features “wingless” teams of five instead of the usual seven, continuous substitutions, shorter matches, three goal zones, where goals are worth one, two or three points and a “power play” each quarter with double points.

Unlike traditional netball, center passes are not alternated, but rather given to the team that did not score the last goal.

A sort of netball’s Big Bash, FAST5 features brightly colored courts, pyrotechnics, neon uniforms, loud music and even choreographed team dances.

Next month’s tournament will feature women’s teams from New Zealand, England, Jamaica, South Africa and Malawi, as well as Australia, while the men’s teams from New Zealand, Australia and South Africa will play a separate competition.

Nicole Richardson was named coach.Source: Getty Images

Richardson, currently touring with the Diamonds as Stacey Marinkovich’s assistant, is looking forward to finishing a “remarkable and difficult” year – which saw her Super Netball club Collingwood fold, before helping Australia win World Cup gold – guiding an “exciting” team. group in an exciting format.

“FAST5 is something I’ve never been a part of before and I love the opportunity to be able to represent my country and the green and gold…so any opportunity you have to have that experience is something I cherish and that I really, really love. It’s exciting, that’s for sure,” she told Fox Netball.

Richardson and his assistant coach, former national teammate Natalie Avellino, will brainstorm together to see what they can “strategically offer in this FAST5 shape.”

“As a Super Netball coach, I hate the super shot, but the scoring aspect is definitely interesting in this format,” she said.

“Looking at the lineup we have, it’s exciting to see what we do in the last 90 seconds on the power play of each quarter.

Diamonds shine in fierce battle with New Zealand | 01:52

“The challenge will be: strategically, what are we going to do in those 90 seconds and what should we do in that moment? Is it still trying to score on the scoreboard or are we looking to attempt bigger shots? ” said Richardson, emphasizing that long bombs are not always necessary for FAST5’s success.

With a “post-up option” in Austin and long-range shooters in Dwan, Horjus and Fawns, the Australians will have no shortage of firepower.

Richardson is looking forward to working with the NSW Fawns product. “She’s like a little kid in a lolly shop on the field… which is similar to how I always talk about Ash Brazill.

“They are the type of players who jump on the field and play with the biggest smile. Sophie definitely always looks like she’s having a lot of fun and she’s also like a character, so I’m excited to work with her,” she said.

“Then we have speed and experience on center court with Mundy, Williams and Petty. Defensively, we have people who like to fly for the ball, so that will be exciting.

“It’s a young group, but they’re going to be very excited to get their opportunity on the field wearing the green and gold,” Richardson said of the aspiring Diamonds.

The FAST5 team

Lucy Austin GS/GA

Tippah Dwan GA/GS

Sophie Fawns GA/GS

Georgie Horjus GA/GS

Ashleigh Ervin GK/GD

Matilda Garrett GD/GK

Teigan O’Shannassy GD/GK

Hannah Mundy C.

Hannah PettyC

Tayla Williams C.

Reserves