The coach of the all-conquering Australian Diamonds has sent a warning to the netball world ahead of the Quad Series in Cape Town, saying her side wants to “raise the bar” in 2023, despite sweeping every major trophy last year.
Speaking to Fox Netball from Cape Town, Stacey Marinkovich said the series against England, New Zealand and South Africa – the last before the World Cup in the city starts in July – is about her side “growing” and “dominating”.
“We hit a really good standard of play last year and got some success, but we know that standard won’t be successful at the World Cup. We have to raise the bar,” she said her team, which won the Quad Series, Commonwealth Games gold and the Constellation Cup last calendar year.
“As a Diamonds group, we have no other expectation than to win every tournament we go into. There’s no complacency.”
Watch the 2023 Quad Series, beginning Jan 21 Live & Free on Kayo Freebies. Join now and start streaming instantly >
Marinkovich has prepared her 14-woman squad – which is missing superstar Gretel Bueta, who wasn’t available after suffering a miscarriage late last year and starting goal defence Jo Weston, who is out with a calf injury and has been replaced by potential debutant Tara Hinchliffe — to face several distinct different game styles.
“We took some incredible lessons out of 2022. We had losses, like to Jamaica (in a pool match at the Commonwealth Games) and New Zealand (in the Constellation Cup), but we were able to figure out what went wrong, bounce back and take learnings.
“This series is about … Can we produce from the very first whistle, without those learnings about a team? Can we play the way we want to play, from the very first whistle, whatever combination we put out there?
“That’s the challenge, to have the ability to adapt and shift when different things are coming at you, especially when we know we’ll see some vastly different game styles in this series. We want the way we play to be the most dominant out on the court. Then the results will come.”
Here are the other big talking points ahead of the series, which begins early Sunday morning AEDT.
Injury to ‘formidable’ Weston not all bad
When news broke that defender Jo Weston wouldn’t travel to Cape Town because of a minor calf injury she picked up in camp, it sent a ripple of worry through the Diamonds’ fandom.
One of the squad’s most experienced players and a stand-out in October’s Constellation Cup, 28-year-old Weston is all but impossible to replace at goal defence. But coach Stacey Marinkovich sees opportunity in adversity.
“Jo’s a formidable defender. She’s been in the combinations for a long time and provides leadership across that transverse line, but (her injury) provides another opportunity.”
Rather than opt for Maddy Turner, viewed as the next-best defender by most pundits, Marinkovich added 24-year-old Tara Hinchliffe, who is yet to debut, to her squad. She said Hinchliffe’s recent performance in a recent Fast5 tournament in New Zealand had helped her secure a spot.
“We’re exploring our depths across that goal keeper position, as well as who can swing to goal defence (in the absence of Weston).”
Former Diamond turned Fox Netball commentator Madi Browne, part of the series broadcast team on the ground in Cape Town, said she was surprised Marinkovich didn’t go with Turner, given her connection with fellow Swift Sarah Klau and her previous stints in the squad.
“I think lots of people are asking ‘where’s Maddy?’. She hasn’t been given many opportunities even though she’s been around the squad for a while now, so it’s surprising to see Tara in there, given she hasn’t even debuted yet.”
Hinchcliffe thrust into Diamonds squad | 00:54
‘Plenty of time’ for missing Bueta
While Marinkovich has five shooters at her disposal this series, Commonwealth gold medallists Steph Wood, Kiera Austin and Cara Koenen, as well as Sophie Dwyer and Sophie Garbin, she is without arguably the world’s best netballer, Gretel Bueta.
After suffering a miscarriage late last year, the 29-year-old didn’t make herself available for selection for the Quad but she’s still “very much” part of the Diamonds’ program, according to coach Stacey Marinkovich.
She hasn’t announced if she’ll play for the Queensland Firebirds, where she’s contracted, this Super Netball season and therefore be eligible for World Cup selection.
“She certainly hasn’t retired or anything like that. Obviously, she’s having time out with the family. That’s where her priority is right at the moment and she is being well supported and is constantly in contact with myself and the girls,” she said.
“As she works through things, we’ll be there to support her and she’s got plenty of time to prepare for the World Cup if that’s the case. There is a time and place for everything and there’s a long time (before then).”
Browne said Bueta, who she understands “hasn’t got back into that much netball yet”, is a lock for the World Cup if fit.
“It’s pretty simple. She’s the best goal attack in the world. We saw that at the Commonwealth Games. She can dominate any defence and do things not many players can,” Browne said.
Silver Ferns mean ‘bloody business’
The January Quad Series always gives a good indicator of how the big nations are tracking, especially in a World Cup year, and former Diamond turned Fox Netball commentator Madi Browne thinks the Cape Town tournament will see New Zealand signal it means “bloody business”.
The Silver Ferns won the last World Cup in Liverpool in 2019, but have lost several key players since through retirement, injury and pregnancy. After failing to make the Commonwealth Games final and walking away with bronze, Dame Noeline Taurua’s side lost the Constellation Cup in October.
But with several key players, namely defenders Karin Burger and Jane Watson, returning from injury and a baby respectively, back for the Quad, Browne tips the Diamonds’ old rival to be on a mission.
“In that Constellation Cup, Noeline had what she had, player-wise and it was a real, ‘okay this is where we’re at, we know we’re missing some players’ moment.
“Noeline tried some things, she stuck to her guns about having different squads for the New Zealand and Australian legs, even though Peta Toeava’s combination with Grace Nweke was on fire but she didn’t play all four. Maybe the way they were beaten in the last two Tests was a bit embarrassing?” she said.
But with what most view as a full-strength, super-fit squad in Cape Town, Browne said they “mean bloody business”.
“The way Noeline operates, I don’t think she would have picked those returning players unless they’re absolutely fit and ready to dominate.
“For me, the way she has changed the fitness and strength and conditioning requirements since she became coach is starting to pay off. They’re going to be raring to go.”
QUAD SERIES FIXTURES (AEDT)
January 22
1am – Proteas vs Silver Ferns
3am – Diamonds vs Roses
January 23
1am – Proteas vs Roses
3am – Diamonds vs Silver Ferns
January 25
1am – Roses vs Silver Ferns
3am – Proteas vs Diamonds
January 26
1am – 3rd & 4th play-off
3am – Final
