As the Australian Diamonds enter a series against New Zealand, England and Uganda in the UK, the reigning world and Commonwealth champions will be focused on more than merely winning.
According to former Diamond turned pundit Bianca Chatfield, the Test series which begins in London early on Sunday morning, will be about building a legacy.
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“This series will be the next step in this champion team’s evolution,” she said. “No matter the era, Australian team always have a focus on success and winning is of course what you’re there for.
“However, the hardest thing to do is sustain success over a long period of time and to be able to continue to back-up after winning a major … and bringing in new players, letting those who’ve maybe been on the bench to step into their new era of being on the court more,” Chatfield said.
“In the Diamonds, there is always a sense of constant evolution and you want to keep it happening and that’s often the trickiest part, managing that.
“A huge part of this Nations Cup is to make sure they put their foot down … especially against teams like New Zealand, who won the last two Tests of the Constellation Cup series, which they’d be so disappointed about, and England, who beat them in the rounds at the World Cup,” Chatfield said.
With Steph Fretwell and Ash Brazill retired from internationals, coach Stacey Marinkovich will give more time to different combinations.
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“It will interesting to see the different variations she puts out there because she’s very methodical in her approach.
“She seems to have it all very planned out. We might not necessarily be privy to the exact plan, but she certainly doesn’t seem to make rash decisions. It’s clearly not just about what’s happening now, but about what’s happening next year and the year after,” Chatfield said.
THE DIAMONDS MUST …
Australia’s defensive midcourt – with depth other nations can only dream of – must continue to embrace coach Marinkovich’s commitment to versatility in the series, Chatfield said.
“Historically, we’ve had a locked-in wing defence and at some stages I think that is crucial, but Stacey has really proven that it’s not necessarily about having a locked-in wing defence, but versatility in the midcourt,” she said.
“This series every player has to be able to play those multidimensional roles within the game. Whether it’s Jamie-Lee Price at wing defence and she moves to centre and then Kate Moloney comes onto wing or even Sunday Aryang, who I think will get more court time this series.
“Players have to be able to take on whatever bib they’ve got and perform and not work as a player who is in their second position rather than their first,” Chatfield said.
The loss of Fretwell’s tactical leadership will be felt across the court, meaning others will have to step up, Chatfield said. “But the team did really well in the backend of 2023 being able to move with different combinations anyway,” she said.
“Stacey’s got them in a position where they seem quite confident and have a lot of belief with whoever’s out there.
“But now it’s this team’s turn to say: ‘It’s not about just the belief, it’s about actually making sure I can lock myself into a position and show I can produce and not let our standards drop, no matter who we play’ and I’ll be watching for that.”
THE MATCH-UP THAT MATTERS
Australia and Uganda will make history during the series, with the first-ever clash between the two nations.
The Test, to be played in Leeds on January 28, promises a tantalising match-up between 201cm She Cranes shooter Cholhok Mary Nuba and reigning Liz Ellis Diamond Courtney Bruce, who is in the best form of her career.
Standing at 189cm, 30-year-old Bruce will have her work cut out for her against the 27-year-old Ugandan, a scoring machine for Loughborough Lightning in the UK superleague.
“It should be a brilliant contest between them,” Chatfield said. “How great is it that that’s where netball is now, with new rivalries emerging?”
“You never want to talk down an Australia versus New Zealand clash but to know we’re going to see Mary go head-to-head with Bruce is so special. I expect it will be an awesome match-up,” Chatfield said.
The She Cranes delivered one of the biggest upsets of last year’s World Cup in Cape Town by beating South Africa, leaving the tournament as Africa’s top-ranked side, and they now sit seventh in the world rankings.
PLAYERS TO WATCH FOR
English defender Fran Williams and Australian shooter Cara Koenen are two players to keep a close eye on, according to Chatfield.
Williams, who’ll captain the Roses despite having been in and out of Jess Thirlby’s starting seven, recently signed with Super Netball side the West Coast Fever.
“She’s obviously been in that elite training environment for a little while and it will be interesting to see what that has added to her game in such a short time already.”
Chatfield said 26-year-old Williams showed at the World Cup she can win ball.
“She’s maturing as a defender in that she’s now realising as a goal defence, she doesn’t have to chase her player around everywhere … You can smartly put yourself in a position where they’ll get to eventually,” she said.
“Her timing around the body is what generally gets her the ball. While a lot of defenders are so fit and fast they can sit one-on-one for the entire time the ball is in their end, she doesn’t necessarily sit that tight, but she’s there, she’s within striking distance.
“She might not have the power of a Karla Pretorius to be able to pounce on the ball but she tries to anticipate earlier and that is how she comes up with the ball,” Chatfield said.
The pundit is also keen to see 27-year-old Koenen flourish out of Fretwell’s shadow.
“Cara played out of her skin in different moments in 2023. I really like her elusiveness in attack and what she provides, whether she’s in shooter or goal attack,” she said.
“I hope they see her as a player that’s not just a ‘come on and off the bench’ type of shooter for the Diamonds. I really would love to see her cement a starting spot. In what position I’m not sure, but in a combination that she can really build with.
“She doesn’t look like she is going to be a strong holding shooter, but she can do it in ways that work, and then use the speed and timing on the baseline really cleverly.
“I’m excited to see what she can do, as she’s really shown everybody that she can play at this level and take on any defender, no matter who they are.”
THE ‘FREEDOM FACTOR’ FOR DIAMONDS
Chatfield said the Diamonds might play this series with a sense of “freedom and joy” given the end to the well-documented pay war between players and Netball Australia.
“We haven’t got to see the Diamonds play without the mental load of all the stuff that’s been going on off the court with the contracts and the rollercoaster ride of the relationship with Netball Australia,” she said.
“I’m excited to see them be together as a team and not have any of that loud noise behind them,” she said.
The players have done a remarkable job to stay on task with so much up in the air, Chatfield said.
“When you really look at the machinations, you’ve got the support staff of the Diamonds employed by Netball Australia and then the players putting up their fight for what they believe they deserve.
“It’s very hard for those two to be on the same page when they’re in very, very different personal situations; some being paid, some not.
“It’s all been very public and as much as they’ve done a remarkable job, I can’t wait to see them play with the freedom and joy that I hope they get to now because it’s all behind them,” Chatfield said.
NETBALL NATIONS CUP – THE DETAILS
Sunday, January 21, London
2am – Australia v New Zealand
4am – England v Uganda
Monday, January 22, London
1am – New Zealand v Uganda
3.15am – England v Australia
Sunday, January 28, Leeds
2am – Australia v Uganda
4am – England v New Zealand
Monday, January 29, Leeds
1am – Third place play-off
3.15am – Final
*All times AEDT
