By Ben McKay
The Diamonds have closed ranks after a week of on-court defeats and off-court controversy, heading home on the brink of losing a second-straight Constellation Cup for the first time.
Stacey Marinkovich’s side will swap New Zealand for Melbourne on Monday, snapping a long run without the support of gold-clad stands.
The Diamonds head back to Australia on the verge of losing the Constellation Cup.Credit:Getty Images
The Australians will play their first home Tests since 2019 when the Constellation Cup concludes in Melbourne on Wednesday and the Gold Coast on Sunday.
After losing the opening two matches to a sharper and more precise Silver Ferns outfit, the Diamonds need two strong wins to claim back the trophy.
But beyond the netball, the sport also needs to address a ruction between the players and the sport’s managers that threatens the code.
The ABC has reported players are boycotting uniforms with the logo of new sponsor Hancock Prospecting, the mining company of multi-billionaire Gina Rinehart.
The Diamonds are reportedly siding with squad member Donnell Wallam, who has raised concerns with the company’s record on Indigenous issues.
Hancock has agreed a $15 million sponsorship deal over four years with the cash-strapped governing body – and Netball Australia has suffered losses of more than $7 million in two COVID-affected years.
Former Diamonds captain Sharni Norder (née Layton) also opposes the sponsorship due to Rinehart’s climate record, and spoke to the team in the build-up to this series.
As of Sunday night, the Diamonds had not publicly addressed the issue beyond a written statement acknowledging the need to work through “certain sensitivities”.
Netball Australia says the issue will be resolved at the end of the series.
Netball Australia media manager Georgina Cahill said Marinkovich had ordered a ban on interviews until Tuesday, when the coach planned to conduct a media call.
The issue was tacitly addressed after New Zealand’s 52-48 win in Tauranga, when Marinkovich was asked amid her post-match duties whether she’d been able to maintain focus this week.
“When we’re together as a group, it’s all about high performance,” she said.
“It’s about improvement. It’s about our game plan. It’s about our connections and culture.
“I’m really pleased with how we’re able to be in our little bubble and be able to focus on what we need to do out on court.”
The controversy could yet spill over into other sports.
Rinehart and Hancock sponsor the Australian Olympic Committee, Volleyball Australia, Rowing Australia, Synchronised Swimming Australia and Swimming Western Australia.
In the centre of the storm, the Diamonds also have a trophy to win, and netball-starved fans that need re-introducing to their national team.
“We haven’t [played at] home for over 1000 days, so we’re very excited to be in front of our home crowd,” Marinkovich said.
“As coach, I haven’t actually coached Australia on home soil. There’s a lot of girls that haven’t even played in front of their family and friends.
“Playing at home is a huge advantage … it’ll be nice to be in a normal routine.”
AAP
