Netball Australia confirmed on 30 October 2026 that Georgie Horjus won the Liz Ellis Diamond at its Melbourne awards night. The Australian international also took the International Player of the Year prize after a season with Adelaide Thunderbirds and the Diamonds.
Horjus takes the leading Australian netball honour
The Liz Ellis Diamond recognises performances across domestic and international netball. Horjus was Adelaide's co-captain during its premiership season, while her play for Australia extended into the Constellation Cup against New Zealand. Netball Australia's awards report placed Sophie Garbin second and Kate Moloney third for both the Liz Ellis Diamond and International Player of the Year.
Netball Australia's 30 October report credits Horjus with a league-leading 331 goal assists for the Thunderbirds and an average of 29 feeds per match. Horjus also played at goal attack during the club season, giving Adelaide another attacking option alongside her usual midcourt work. Netball Australia's 30 October report also records 309 feeds for the Diamonds during the international season and names her player of the match in Australia's final Constellation Cup Test victory.
Horjus, co-captain of the Adelaide Thunderbirds, said in Netball Australia's awards report: “I didn't expect it at all, so it's a real honour.” The comment followed recognition for her performances in both Adelaide's title run and Australia's international matches.
The awards also recognised other members of the Adelaide set-up. Elmeré van der Berg, the Thunderbirds' shooter, received the Super Netball Player of the Year award. Head coach Tania Obst took the Joyce Brown OAM Coach of the Year award. Horjus was selected at wing attack in the league's Team of the Year alongside four Thunderbirds teammates.
Melbourne Test provides a separate check on international form
SportsRivo checked Netball Australia's separate 28 October match report against the awards account. The report records Australia's 68-58 win over New Zealand in Melbourne and identifies Horjus in an attacking combination with Sophie Garbin and Liz Watson. It specifically describes the Horjus–Garbin connection as a difference in Australia's second-half attack. That match evidence gives a concrete example of the international contribution recognised at the awards.
The domestic record has a similarly clear reference point. Netball Australia's July grand final report records Adelaide beating Melbourne Vixens for the Super Netball title and describes Horjus's work in midfield. The award therefore follows a completed club title campaign as well as an international season with Australia. The Liz Ellis Diamond's stated criteria consider both parts of a Diamonds player's year, according to Netball Australia's awards guide.
What the awards confirm
- Horjus holds the Liz Ellis Diamond and Australian International Player of the Year honours from the same awards night, recognising her work across club and national-team netball.
- Adelaide has Horjus in the Team of the Year at wing attack, van der Berg as the league's player of the year and Obst as coach of the year.
- Garbin and Moloney finished behind Horjus in both individual award rankings, while the separate Melbourne match report documents the Horjus–Garbin partnership for Australia.
Source: Netball Australia