Diamonds coach Stacey Marinkovich has opened up on why West Coast Fever premiership winning stars Sasha Glasgow and Alice Teague-Neeld were overlooked for Australia’s World Cup squad.
Speaking on Fox Netball’s Centre Circle Marinkovich said Teague-Neeld continued to impress and would be someone “that will have a direct connection to the Diamonds in due course”.
But it was the decision to overlook Glasgow – who remains the competition’s leading super shot scorer that fans questioned.
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Interestingly, Glasgow still has the chance to book a ticket to Cape Town for the prestigious tournament, as she remains eligible for England selection due to her grandparents heritage.
Marinkovich admitted Glasgow sat behind the likes of Kiera Austin, Steph Wood, Sophie Garbin and Sophie Dwyer in terms of the goal attack stock.
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“I guess for us, we’ve got to look at it in context of Diamonds, the Diamonds game plan and obvious the depth that we’ve already got,” she said.
“She’s still a strong part of the pathway. We’ve certainly supported that in her Australian development selection and Fast5.
“What we can offer at this point in time is not in the squad right here – there is a vision forward but she also obviously has the opportunity to put her hand up for the Roses.”
England will be without veteran Jo Harten who this week announced her retirement from international netball. Without her in the recent Quad Series and England Series in Australia, the Roses’ attack end struggled.
But it would take a bold call from England coach Jess Thirlby to select Glasgow given she hasn’t trained in that international environment.
Marinkovich said Glasgow’s possible deflection to play for England didn’t impact on the call to overlook her for the 19-player squad announced on Thursday.
“I think we’ve known for a while now Sasha has put her hand up towards playing for both countries,” she said.
“She’s in a very unique situation which is very different to many others.”
Marinkovich backed the decision to select Garbin, who is enduring a tough run of form in Super Netball while out at goal attack.
She failed to score a goal in Collingwood’s Anzac Day loss to the Sunshine Coast Lightning before being replaced.
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“I think we’ve made a selection off her being in a different position before (playing GA for Collingwood) and then we’ve been heavily rewarded when she’s come into the environment, stepped out against New Zealand in the Quad Series and showed her style does really connect with us,” Marinkovich said.
“It’s obviously the volume of shot and being that pinpoint shooter at the end of supply that she doesn’t get in week in week out.
“For us any player in or out of form in SSN, is working through that with the player.
“You don’t want to close doors. You actually want to work with them and empower them to be their best.”
The Diamonds coach said someone like Teague-Neeld was in future Diamonds plans.
“Yeah, I think she’s definitely putting her hand up,” she said.
“She’s having high volume of balls, she’s shown some versatility – there’s certainly things we need to see.
“Whether that’s a Fever style of play, or whether that can actual transfer in different combinations.
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“That’s the responsibility we’ve got to take is providing the environment for them to see what that strength is and whether that transfers and work out what the development plan is … so she can strive to get that yellow dress.”
Marinkovich described the selection debate as “robust” and “challenging” before the squad was announced.
“We’ve got a very short preparation time going into World Cup – it’s not about trying to add so many different things in – we’ve actually got to solidify our strengths,” she said.
“We really need to entrust what we’ve been building and the players that have been involved in that.
“Anyone in that Diamonds squad needs to be ready to put their hand up to be on that plane.”
