Off the back of their 2023 Netball World Cup triumph, the Australian Diamonds kickstarted their Constellation Cup series with a big 10-goal win over their Trans-Tasman rivals the Silver Ferns overnight.
The 13th iteration of the Constellation Cup began in Melbourne on Thursday October 12 as Australia took their first step towards an 11th series win. This time however, a new Era of Netball will start with the Australian Men’s Netball team debuting under their new national identity.
The Kelpies will participate in a three test match series against the New Zealand Men’s Netball team. Australians would be very familiar with the Diamonds, but the majority would have little to no idea who the Kelpies are. So, let’s explore who the Kelpies are, and the rich history Australian Men’s netball has on the international stage.
The National Men’s netball team will be debuting a new name at the upcoming international series. Having previously been known as the Australian Sonix, the men’s national team will be participating in their second joint tour with the Diamonds after playing in a historic tour in 2022, which saw the first International Men’s Netball series to be covered by Australian TV networks. Since its inception, the Australian Men’s netball team have been the envy of the Men’s Netball world, having consistently demonstrated their talents and prowess on the international stage.
In the public eye netball has been seen to be a female sport for most of its existence, however since the mid 1980’s Men’s Netball has been gaining popularity amongst young males across the country. Having been a part of the Men’s netball scene myself as a junior player, this tournament marks something many had been hoping to see for a long time. For those involved in the sport, the National team’s rebrand marks a shift in identity to a more professional nature. Personally, having played in the junior age categories for Victoria and Australia between 2017–2021, being able to see players I watched play for State open sides and National sides in those years now getting the opportunity to ply their trade alongside the National Women’s side is something truly special.
Men’s Netball has been building for years now but it is finally going to be showcased under a national brand for the first time, however many of the faces playing for this team will be known to those that have seen the Men’s team before with 10 internationally capped players taking part in this year’s series against New Zealand. The Kelpies will again be led by inspirational Captain Dyaln Nexhip during this year’s series. Nexhip earned the Chirs Carroll medal in 2022 which is awarded to the international player of the year.
Players were selected into the national squad after the 2023 Australian Men’s and Mixed national championship in Perth earlier this year. The final team of 12 was announced on August 12 by national coach Nerida Stewart. The Kelpies will see representatives from New South Wales, Victoria and Western Australia with Jack Vandervelde and Victor Nikoloic the only two members of the twelve-man squad not having an international cap to their name.
For those who have watched the Men’s national team before will know there is elite talent up and down the court. The perfect blend of tactical high-speed netball will feature again for the Kelpies in 2023 as they look to take apart the New Zealand zone and strive for ultimate Trans-Tasman Cup success in the upcoming series. Australian Men’s Netball has a rich history that is only going to get richer as the Kelpies are given a more national stage to showcase the elite talents Australian Men’s Netball has to offer.
Australia and New Zealand are set to reignite their rivalry on October 12 in Melbourne before a further 2 games in Brisbane (October 15) and Auckland (October 23). Be sure to tune into Kayo sports to watch the Kelpies bring netball into a new era and put men’s netball on the map.
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