Australians want missing netball title

Australian netball is counting on home court advantage helping them secure the Fast5 world crown from arch-rivals New Zealand.

Australian netball is counting on home court advantage helping them secure the Fast5 world crown - the only trophy missing from a bulging cabinet.

Melbourne has been announced as host of the five-a-side tournament which is netball's answer to Twenty20 cricket and sevens rugby.

Games are shorter and goals are worth multiple points.

The last three six-nation tournaments have been played in Auckland and won by New Zealand, with Australia runner-up in the past two.

It wasn't played this year because of the World Cup but Melbourne will host the event for the next three years.

After adding another World Cup title to their Commonwealth Games gold, the Australians have set their sights on the Fast5, to be played in October 29-30 at Hisense Arena.

Melbourne Vixens midcourter Kate Maloney, who played in the 2014 edition, said she thought playing on her home court would give the Australians an edge.

"We always want to beat those Kiwis," Maloney said.

"We've lost the last two but we've got the Comm Games and the World Cup under our belt so definitely Fast5 is the next one we want to get."

The Fast5 side, known as the Flyers, has been a noted pathway for selection in the regular Australian Diamonds line-up.

Kim Ravaillion, Ashleigh Brazill, Clare McMeniman and Gabi Simpson are some of the latest to make the transition to the Test squad.

Maloney, 22, is aiming for similar success and said the Fast5 had been a valuable learning experience.

"It's a great opportunity to get some international experience," she said.

"It's a great pathway with some of the younger girls playing with the older girls so it's great mix and you can learn from the girls already in the Diamonds."


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Source: AAP



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