Diamonds coach hails strength of netball’s ‘brand’ with new sponsor secured
Diamonds coach Stacey Marinkovich says the Victorian government’s sponsorship of Netball Australia underlines the sport’s strong brand and how well her team is regarded nationwide.
Marinkovich was speaking for the first time since the $15m deal with Visit Victoria was struck with Netball Australia. The four-and-a-half-year sponsorship arrangement runs through until June 2027 and replaces the same amount that was taken off the table when mining company Hancock Prospecting withdrew its support.
Marinkovich said the sponsorship deal was “important for the entire sport” as she fronted the media ahead of the Diamonds’ final game of the England series at Nissan Arena in Brisbane on Thursday night.
“This is an arrangement that benefits everyone from community all the way through to the high performance area,” she said. “We really value the contribution of the Victorian government and are looking forward to what the sport can continue to evolve into in all areas so we have got continued growth into the Diamonds.
“It just shows that as a sport we have a strong brand and with the way we perform I think we do represent women and communities really well. It is something we are really proud of.”
Diamonds player Donnell Wallam, a 28-year-old Noongar woman, was at the centre of the sponsorship storm after she had raised her concerns about wearing uniforms featuring the Hancock Prospecting logo due to views expressed by Gina Rinehart’s late father Lang on Indigenous issues.
Marinkovich said Wallam, who plays for the Queensland Firebirds, had received great support from the entire netball community through a difficult time.
“While we have had professional support we have also had support from within the group,” she said. “The Diamonds haven’t played here [at Nissan Arena] in maybe four years. I know Donnell loves being in this environment.”
Wallam was a hero off the bench in the first game of the England series, scoring the match-winning goal, and missed the second with a stomach bug.
“She is right to go now,” Marinkovich said. “I am not sure who is starting but we certainly want to make sure there is opportunity for her.”
A lot of criticism has been levelled at the Diamonds during the sponsorship controversy but Marinkovich said the focus of the team was “on what we believe is important”.
Leading the England series 2-0, they have a chance to achieve a clean sweep.
“People have got their opinions but for us it has been about focusing on within,” Marinkovich said. “So we don’t go on social media and go through it because we can’t control it. This group is focused on the things we can control and that is our performance.
“Yes, there has been a lot of noise around, but the commitment we have got in building towards a World Cup [next year] is front of mind.”