Cover image: Danny Dalton
New faces on court, and leadership off it. A buffed trophy cabinet and record numbers clicking through turnstiles and turning on remotes. There’s a palpable sense of magic in the Australian netball air at the moment, and with the 2024 international season about to commence and planning well underway for the 2027 World Cup, Stacey Marinkovich is up for what she described as a new adventure.
The Diamonds’ head coach said, “It’s an exciting time for netball both on and off the court. With Stacey West’s leadership as CEO, how the players and everyone else are collaborating and moving in the same direction puts a really good level of comfort in what we are all doing. We have front of mind in making the home World Cup something very special when it comes around. There’s a build on the court, but also off the court so we can showcase our sport in the best way possible.”
Training in Torquay
With another successful Suncorp Super Netball (SSN) season done and dusted, the Diamonds’ squad has turned their attention to upcoming series against the English Roses and New Zealand’s Silver Ferns. Players trained in state hubs after their domestic season finished, and were brought together at a recent camp in Torquay in what Marinkovich described as a ‘balancing act.’
“We started working on their off court connections, and some courtwork, without going too hard and heavy given they’ve just come off SSN. It was more of a culture camp launching towards the World Cup, getting down to our vision, our purpose and making sure we all moving in the same direction. Understanding how the programme is built, what’s really important, what we value and how we want to play the game.”
Despite the Diamonds success over the last four year cycle, they didn’t relive past triumphs, but were completely focused on what lies ahead.
“It’s an acknowledgement that this is a new adventure. That the group that had been before had good success, but that already our squad looks different. Some players have had great fulfillment and been able to retire, and now we bring in a new group so in terms of what this group can accomplish, it almost starts from scratch.
“We have to earn everything we go out there to achieve, and that really motivates this group – doing things for the first time with each other whilst building on the foundation that we’ve all laid.
“We have some key things that have held us in good stead and we will continue to have in the programme, but we also have new players and new skill sets, and we need to move our game forwards.
“We need to progress because we know how tight international netball is. Four years is a long way away, and we have work to do.”
Stacey Marinkovich gives instructions to her charges at the 2023 Netball World Cup. Image: Danny Dalton | Tah Dah Sports
The Diamonds’ 2024/25 Squad
With the retirement of Ash Brazill, and Steph Fretwell stepping down from international duties, four new players have been added to the Diamonds’ squad. Ash Ervin, Georgie Horjus and Hannah Mundy were initially included, while Rudi Ellis was upgraded from invitee to squad member. Marinkovich said she was rapt with how they came into camp.
“The first time we ever bring new players in, you are waiting to see what naturally transfers from their SSN environment, where they are challenged, and how they fit in with a different group of players that they might not be on court with, week in, week out.
“We haven’t seen any of the new players in the squad play a game – yet! So there is work for us to do in terms of who they best combine with and what positions they are best suited to.”
One of Marinkovich’s key platforms is giving her new players every chance to succeed, rather than throwing them to the wolves of international netball. They will generally debut with experienced heads around them, and within a combination they are comfortable with.
She explained, “I’m really big on making sure that when a player steps out on court, they understand their role and have had enough work put into them with the group that they can go out there and thrive. We want them to walk away afterwards feeling really confident of what they’ve been able to contribute, and understand where they still need to evolve.
“That’s opposed to just putting them out there to find out where they are at, and for them then not to have the greatest experience.
“So I’ve got some work to do with that connection piece, but they will ready to debut when the opportunity comes.”
Ellis, Ervin and Horjus were all named in the 15 strong squad to take on England and could potentially take the court, while Mundy will have to wait a little longer. Marinkovich said, “Hannah thrived in camp. But the midcourt is really competitive, selection is tough, and it isn’t easy to get the dress.”
Stacey Marinkovich in a previous camp. Image Netball Australia
