Matilda Garrett never thought she’d go on to play for Australia after being left without a contract at the Collingwood Magpies back in 2020.
But since taking the risk to head to Adelaide, the 26-year-old has enjoyed a “crazy” ride to Super Netball’s top – first as a two-time premiership Thunderbird before that dream Diamonds call up from coach Stacey Marinkovich.
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Garrett can only laugh as she explained exactly how her Diamonds opportunity came about – and the moment she almost ignored Marinkovich.
“I was doing a placement at the time with the Adelaide Crows – at placement my phone normally just goes away,” she explained to Fox Netball.
“One of the staff members came upstairs – our old team manager had rung someone at the Crows to say ‘can you please go tell Tilly to go and answer her phone’ – so he came up and my first thought was ‘oh my god what have I done wrong?’ I had heaps of missed calls!
“I went to the bathroom and Stace was like, ‘I’m so sorry I’m just getting a coffee – can I call you back in a couple of minutes?’. And I said, ‘Oh Stacey I’m just at placement, is it OK if I just call you back in a few hours?’
“I had no idea what the phone call was – I didn’t know the Diamonds selections were coming out! It was pretty exciting, she turned around and said ‘No, you’ve got to take this call in two minutes’.
“So I found out at the Crows. I remember taking the call in the toilet, looking in the mirror like ‘Oh my god, what is happening?’ That was pretty cool.”
Garrett would go to become Diamond #191 and debut against South Africa at the end of 2023.
“It’s been a crazy two years, probably the best two years of my career and the Thunderbirds for a long time,” she said.
“Every single year I’ve always just been trying to do my best and hope that equals another contract the year after.
“To think I started at the Pies, got the opportunity to come over here to Adelaide – it’s been one of the best moves I’ve ever made.
“I’ve now been in a team where we’ve won two premierships – Diamonds was never something I thought was on the cards. I can definitely say that’s a dream come true – but it’s not one I ever thought would happen.”
Garrett’s career turnaround is stark – from being left without a club before Thunderbirds coach Tania Obst got in touch.
The duo had previously worked together in Garrett’s junior years – and there’s no doubt Obst brings out the defender’s best.
“I think one of the biggest things I felt when I moved over here (to Adelaide) was she had confidence in me,” Garrett said.
“When someone has confidence in you, you just play better because you play with freedom, instinct.
“Tania cares – she really cares about her athletes. We know she puts in so much work behind the scenes to have the perfect game plan for us.”
Garrett is now part of the best defensive unit in Super Netball, together with Jamaican imports Shamera Sterling-Humphrey and Latanya Wilson.
But can the Thunderbirds create Super Netball history and become the first club to ever win three-straight titles?
“I hope so!” Garrett said.
“We know that we’ve got to keep growing. We know we can’t stay the same, as everyone is striving to win the premiership.
“We think we’ve got the personnel to do it, we’re just hunting for more. We want to be better. If that ends up being a three-peat that would be amazing.”
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