Former Swifts teammates Hadley, Pettitt and Thwaites to reunite on court

Former NSW Swifts teammates Paige Hadley, Susan Pettitt and Caitlin Thwaites are set to reunite in late October as members of the Australian team to contest the Fast5 Netball World Series from October 29-30 in Melbourne.

The past week has been a turbulent one for the Swifts, with Thwaites and Sharni Layton announcing they would be leaving the strong Sydney-based side to join the new for 2017 Collingwood Magpies.

A day later Pettitt and Kimberlee Green announced they would move to cross-town rivals the GWS Giants.

Among the raft of changes, Hadley recommitted to the Swifts, and will be among the players leading the team into an exciting new era.

Club changes aside, the NSWIS trio will be hoping to assist Australia to unequivocally become the best netball nation in the world, and add the Fast5 world title to the Commonwealth Games and Netball World Cup gold medals won over the past two years.

The tournament will see the Aussies shape up against top netball nations New Zealand, England, Jamaica, Malawi and South Africa. Each of the six teams will play six 24-minute games across the two-day series, with each team featuring on both days. Finals will be held on Sunday October 30.

Aussie coach Jane Searle said she was confident in that her team had the talent to again prove they are world-beaters.

“We have selected a strong team, boasting impressive talent and versatile combinations, our players are primed and ready to take on the world,” Searle told Netball Australia.

“The Diamonds are reining Commonwealth Games and Netball World Cup gold medallists and we are working to join them as Fast5 Netball World Series gold medallists.”

The event will takes placed from Saturday October 29 to Sunday October 30 at Melbourne’s Hisense Arena.

Fast5 Netball Explained

It’s like netball…but faster, flashier and fiery.

Fast5 netball has a number of dynamic rule changes to the traditional form of the game, including: five players a side, shortened quarters, multiple point shots and double point power plays.

It’s similar to Twenty20 cricket or the burgeoning Fast4 tennis, and is a show built for a high-energy and excitable crowd who like their sport fast and furious.

On top of the blistering on-court action, the world series in Melbourne will see Hisense Arena come alive with dazzling light shows, pumping music and an array of food and drinks.

Let’s hope the Aussies can soak up the energy and deliver a gold medal!

Australian Fast5 Team (* denotes current Australian Diamonds squad member):

Erin Bell (NSW, 29)
Courtney Bruce (WA, 22)
Paige Hadley (NSW, 24)*
Kate Moloney (VIC, 23)
Caitlyn Nevins (VIC, 29)*
Susan Pettitt (NSW, 32)*
Kate Shimmin (SA, 24)
Caitlin Thwaites (VIC, 29)*
Gretel Tippett (NSW, 23)*
Jo Weston (VIC, 22)*