In the world of elite sports, the ability to quickly bounce back from defeat is a crucial skill. And for Kate Moloney, the Melbourne Vixens captain, the transition from a devastating Super Netball grand final loss to the high-stakes Commonwealth Games camp has been a testament to her resilience.
The record-breaking 21-goal defeat to the Adelaide Thunderbirds was a bitter pill to swallow, but Moloney had little time to dwell on it. As she told ABC Sport, the allure of the Commonwealth Games, which only comes around once every four years, provided the perfect motivation to leave the disappointment behind.
"Coming straight into camp with the short turnaround hasn't allowed me to dwell on it for too long, and the Commonwealth Games only comes around every four years, so it's not hard to find the motivation to go again," Moloney said.
But the road to recovery wasn't without its challenges. Reuniting with opposition players just days after the grand final, especially those who had dealt her team such a heavy blow, could have been awkward. However, a light-hearted sledge from Thunderbirds captain Georgie Horjus helped break the ice and set the tone for the upcoming campaign.
"Georgie Horjus threw a few sledges at me the other day — she's going to die that I told you this. I was rebounding for her and Kiera Austin at practice and mentioned she'd missed a few shots. I said, 'I wish you could've done that during the grand final', and she let me know that by the time she was in goal attack in the third quarter, there wasn't too much pressure left in the game. It was funny because that's not Georgie's personality at all, so I actually loved hearing it from her, and it's a fair comment. I'm excited to be playing with her and not against her now," Moloney revealed.
As the 12-strong Diamonds team prepares for their journey to Glasgow, the focus shifts to the broader implications and challenges they'll face. The competition from other countries is shrouded in uncertainty, with key players missing and coaching disruptions. New Zealand, Australia's historic rival, has seen its head coach Noeline Taurua reinstated after a 51-day stand-down, while England will be without their star shooter Helen Housby due to injury. Jamaica, Australia's biggest hurdle in Birmingham, will be without two key shooters.
One team that could pose a significant threat is South Africa, especially with the return of veteran defender Karla Pretorius and the electric debut of Thunderbirds import Elmeré van der Berg. The four Vixens players who faced van der Berg in the grand final will no doubt be eager to redeem themselves.
"One of the great things is we've seen her play a lot this year. We know the way she likes to play. I'm sure we'll do a lot of homework on her and make sure that not only are our defenders ready to go, but that we're also putting enough pressure out in front of her in the midcourt," Moloney said.
Despite the challenges and the aging squad, Moloney remains optimistic. She believes that the increasing professionalism in the sport will allow women to play at the top level for longer, and she sees this as a positive rather than a negative.
"For me personally, my body feels better than it did 10 years ago, so I'm extremely lucky in that sense, but while you're still enjoying your netball, while you're still contributing, it probably doesn't matter how old you are. Age is just a number, and the players in this squad that are older are still playing incredible netball and haven't been too affected by injuries," she added.
As the Diamonds gear up for their opening pool match against Tonga, the pressure is on, but so is the potential for glory. The Commonwealth Games, with its grueling schedule and high stakes, will be a true test of this team's mettle and resilience.
