EXCLUSIVE: ‘Spooky’ extra-time moment triggers netball icon Liz Ellis’ call for change to ‘weird’ format

It was a moment that spooked Liz Ellis as she watched Australian Diamonds defender Sunday Aryang suffer the exact injury that she herself had fallen victim to 20 years to the day ago.

In fact, the timing of the incident is even spookier, given both anterior cruciate ligament injuries occurred just months out from a major tournament – the Commonwealth Games.

The race against the clock to be selected for netball’s showpiece tournament may prove an impossible task for Aryang – and her clear her pain took an emotional toll on her teammates.

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Aryang’s intercept inside the circle marked the end of a thrilling Constellation Cup battle that saw the first-ever edition of extra-time played to decide the series.

A 14-minute period was played out after regular time had been completed, after the Silver Ferns had won the fourth Test to tie the series result at 2-2.

Each team was given a 12-minute break before returning to the court for two seven-minute halves of extra-time, with several changes made to both starting line-ups.

In the end, Australia played the clock down inside the goal third for the final minute of the match before sending it in to Sophie Garbin to slot the match-winning goal.

Seconds later, Aryang went down with an ACL injury.

Sunday Aryang is injured. Getty

While it was a sour end to what was an epic 14 minutes of action, Diamonds captain Liz Watson conceded it was a “bit weird” and “confusing” to play the new extra-time format.

“It’s a weird format to play that extra 14 minutes, to be honest,” Watson said post-match.

“It was a really weird way to win. Going back out there, zero, zero – almost like the start of a new game. It felt clunky and stop-start.

“You could see players cramping; it wasn’t pretty play. Not ideal as a player.”

Watson was not the only one confused, with the umpires not officially calling time on the game until Aryang went down injured.

That confusion has since prompted calls for a fifth Test to be added to the series – a topic that Ellis also agrees would be beneficial for all.

“Ideally, it would be great to have a fifth match,” Ellis, chair of Netball Australia, told Wide World of Sports.

“That is something that is being explored about how that would happen. There are a number of things that would have to be taken into account to get there.

“That extra time was difficult for the players, and it is a tough one to do, but all those players, hand on heart would say, this is what we train for, these moments.

“It is an invaluable learning experience for the players and it is not in the pressure of a Commonwealth Games or a World Cup final.

“I love having a result, but I do understand, we saw at the end with that injury to Sunday, there is a physical toll and we have to take that into account.”

Australian players comfort Grace Nweke of New Zealand after Sunday Aryang got injured. Getty

Players were seen running in to help Aryang before team medics and physios helped her off the court and onto a wheelchair. It muted the celebrations after the Diamonds had retained the COnstellation Cup in dramatic circumstances.

In that moment, Ellis admits that her own dark memories came rushing back.

“I know exactly what she is going through,” she said.

“I missed a Commonwealth Games with a knee injury that I suffered in New Zealand.”

Ellis was also representing Australia in a Test match against the Silver Ferns at the time of her injury, with the green and gold also ahead on the scoreboard.

The former Australian captain was challenging Irene Van Dyk for the ball on the left side of the goal third when she missed and landed on advertising boards around the court.

“When I saw this happen, I was like, ‘Oh my goodness, this is spooky’,” Ellis continued.

Irene Van Dyk of New Zealand shoots for goal as Australia’s Liz Ellis defends. Getty

“You could see the toll that it took on the players almost immediately in the aftermath. Her injury was devastating, her value to the team as a player is outstanding … I thought she was one of the best players for the Diamonds across that Constellation Cup series.

“I am confident that the wellbeing processes that we have in place – both for us and (her club) the West Coast Fever – are supporting her really well.

“I know [Diamonds coach] Stacey Marinkovich will already be plotting the next step.”

Aryang’s next chance at a major tournament could end up being the 2027 Netball World Cup if she is not to make a full recovery in time for the Commonwealth Games in July.

In her absence, Marinkovich has a depth of talent to choose from to slot into defence, including Matilda Garrett and Jo Weston.

“Every time something like this happens, it gives an opportunity for someone else to step in,” Ellis said.

“There is a number of brilliant defenders – we are blessed with depth across all positions. Losing Sunday is devastating and I am devastated for her.

“I am genuinely excited about the [selection] headache that Stacey is about to have … what a nice headache to have.”

Australia and New Zealand huddle following game four in the Constellation Cup series. Getty

While the Diamonds will not meet the Silver Ferns again until the Commonwealth Games, the team will be able to develop from the learnings that have come from the series.

Ellis is proud to see the Diamonds back to their winning ways, given the team had entered the final Test cursed by a 10-game losing streak on New Zealand soil.

“What we saw was just a Diamonds team that was just so determined to not lose,” she said.

“I was just in awe of all of them, digging so deep at the end of a series where they were absolutely exhausted. We saw the best of our athletes in terms of the way it ended.

“Sometimes when you are outside, you go, ‘Oh, there’s a curse’, but when you are inside, you are actually not thinking about that in the slightest.

“There is no doubt that playing in New Zealand is challenging. I’ve learned the excruciatingly hard way that any time a New Zealand athlete puts on that black dress and steps out onto the court, they grow 10 feet tall and become bulletproof.

“Every time our team goes there, they come back with new ideas, new learnings and a new understanding of what it is like.

“There is no such thing as a curse in their minds 1762162648 … off they go on to bigger and better.”