DIAMONDS’ DILEMMAS
LOST amid netball’s infamous sponsorship saga is an even greater internal battle at the Diamonds – one that involves a fight for survival, but has nothing to do with the sport’s finances and everything to do with future selection.
The New Zealand series victory and Donnell Wallam’s scintillating Diamonds debut in the series-opener against England in Newcastle on Wednesday are part of coach Stacey Marinkovich’s long selection road to next year’s World Cup.
All up, 18 players in two squads have either had their chance or will get a go in the remaining two games against the Roses to convince Marinkovich they deserve to be taken to South Africa in July.
But who has stood out for Australia so far?
THE NEW GRETEL
WITH Gretel Bueta pregnant with her second child and likely to miss the World Cup, Marinkovich has shuffled her attack.
Sophie Garbin, who has started three matches in a row in a gold dress, has led the Diamonds to their two big wins over the Silver Ferns to clinch the Constellation Cup.
Wallam’s perfect shooting against England did her status no harm, while Commonwealth Games hero Cara Koenen has had time at goal attack and shooter.
With incumbent Steph Wood rested from the Roses series, expect Sophie Dwyer and Kiera Austin to get time to impress in the next two Tests.
MIDCOURT MINEFIELD
SIX Diamonds will play across the three midcourt spots throughout the Constellation Cup and Roses series, while Commonwealth Games squad member Ash Brazill remains a part of the equation, despite opting out of the current internationals to spend time with her family and re-enter the AFLW frame with Collingwood.
And that’s without considering the wealth of talent pushing at Super Netball level.
Marinkovich will have just four midcourters at her disposal at the World Cup next year.
Jamie-Lee Price and Amy Parmenter turned the momentum of the Constellation Cup decider as Australia secured victory, while Maddie Proud was player of the match in the England win in Newcastle.
All three were left out of the Birmingham gold medal squad but are banging on the door of stars like Liz Watson and Kate Moloney, who produced the clutch intercept for Wallam’s match-winning goal when shifted to wing defence in another string to her bow.
Marinkovich said the sisters-in-arms had embraced the squad mentality.
“I’ve always got a headache,” Marinkovich said of her selection dilemmas.
“I’ve got a headache just putting a team on the court at the moment but that’s a credit to the girls.
“The environment is competitive, but competitive in the view of making this team better.
“It’s a really unique situation to be able to have a true squad mentality that everyone contributes in different ways and you get called upon at different moments. That’s something that I’m really proud of the girls (for). You can put things in place but it’s their intent, their decision, their choice as to what they do with it.”