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CAITLIN Thwaites remembers well the wonderful reception she and her Australian Diamonds team-mates received when they visited Bendigo to play England in a Test match in 2014.
The Bendigo born and raised goal shooter is hoping a pre-season tournament next March involving her new Suncorp Super Netball club Melbourne Vixens and two other, yet to be announced teams, will attract a similar response.
A sell-out crowd watched in awe as the Diamonds overpowered the Roses to win 55-37.
READ MORE: Bendigo netball Test trial a winner
Thwaites, who entered the contest at three-quarter time and finished with eight goals from 10 attempts, said the feeling of representing her country in her home town was something she would never forget.
“It was pretty amazing,” she said.
“We quite often get a little bit nostalgic when we get on tour with the Diamonds and start recalling all sorts of different games and situations, and recently we were recalling playing in Bendigo against England.
“Just seeing how packed the stadium was and having everyone swarm onto the court afterwards to get photos and autographs was astonishing.
“And seeing how well sport is supported in Bendigo is really amazing and that is certainly recognised at international level.”
Just seeing how packed the stadium (in Bendigo) was and having everyone swarm onto the court afterwards to get photos and autographs was astonishing.
- Caitlin Thwaites
Thwaites, who has returned the Vixens after two seasons with crosstown rivals Collingwood Magpies and a highly successful stint with New South Wales Swifts, was back where it all started this week at Bendigo Stadium for the announcement of the March 30-31 pre-season tournament.
It comes hot on the heels of her involvement in the Diamonds’ stellar Quad Series and Constellation Cup series wins.
Thwaites was relieved the Diamonds came away with a 3-1 series against an increasingly formidable opponent.
“It wasn’t quite the clean-sweep we wanted, but the Silver Ferns are absolute top quality opposition and were always going to give it to us at some point,” she said.
“They have shown some significant growth in the last couple of tours they’ve had and absolutely took it to us.
“But it was great for us to end our international season on a high, with some quality wins, and retaining the Constellation Cup.”
Thwaites had her best outing for the series in game one in Brisbane, when she shot 21 second-half goals at 100 per cent accuracy, to steer the Diamonds to a 57-42 win.
The 31-year-old former Girton Grammar student only entered the game at half time, but together with goaling partner Gretel Tippett, helped turn an eight goal margin at half-time into 15 goals at full-time.
With captain Caitlin Bassett, and fellow goalers Tippett and Sunshine Coast Lightning’s Stephanie Wood all demonstrating great form, court-time for Thwaites in the Constellation Cup series was hard won.
She insisted the competition for spots had only raised the bar in terms of performances from all four players.
“We are constantly pushing each other to be better and ‘be on’ the whole time,” said Thwaites, who made her Diamonds debut back in 2012 and has been part of their 2015 World Cup and 2014 Commonwealth Games gold medal wins.
“Working with all the different combinations just adds to the strength of what the Diamonds can put out there on court.”
An excellent two-month period during which the Diamonds reasserted their authority at the top of the world netball tree, in the aftermath of a shock Commonwealth Games gold medal game defeat against England, started with three straight wins against South Africa, England and New Zealand to win the Quad Series.
With her international duties for 2019 completed, focus for Thwaites will quickly shift to her new beginning with the Vixens.
Her surprise return to the ‘den’ was unveiled in early September, but by her own admission, the star goal shooter has had little time to settle in due to Diamonds’ and other commitments.
“I guess coming into off-season we haven’t gathered as a group, but I have got to do a few training sessions with the Vixens girls in the lead-up to the previous two international tours,” she said.
“And it was great having a few other of the Vixens girls involved at the Diamonds and being able to build those on-court connections.”
Thwaites, whose career at the top level started with Melbourne Kestrels (2002 and 2004-07) before three years with the Vixens (2008-2010), returns to her former club with 200 games under her belt and more than 40 Test caps alongside her name.
Her two seasons with the Magpies produced a pair of top-two finishes in the club’s best and fairest award, including a win in 2017.
It is with a touch of irony and also a source of pride that her homecoming to the Vixens will be played out in her former home town of Bendigo early next year.
On the North Central region’s unsuccessful application to gain a Victoria Netball Licence, Thwaites – who lent her support to the bid – was naturally disappointed, but was hopeful the door was still ajar for entry at a later time.
READ MORE: Thwaites backs VNL bid
She viewed the Vixens’ visit next year, which will incorporate significant community engagement, including coaching and umpiring clinics, training for junior and senior netballers and other development opportunities, as a sign the sport’s governing bodies were committed to strengthening netball in regional areas.
“I know Netball Victoria look at all the applications in a lot of detail …. it’s close to my heart, Bendigo wanting to be one of those Victorian Netball League teams,” Thwaites said.
“It really would assist the pathway for regional athletes.
“But at the same time I look at things like this (pre-season tournament) as coming off the back of not having that application succeed.
“The fact we have coaching and player conferences attached to the games, those things will add to the development of netball in regional areas.”
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