Diamonds coach explains surprise call to overlook Wallam for World Cup
Diamonds coach Stacey Marinkovich said selection for the upcoming Netball World Cup involved hard decisions, including the choice of Collingwood’s Sophie Garbin over Queensland’s Donnell Wallam as Australia’s fourth shooter.
The 12 players and three travelling reserves chosen will head to Cape Town next month for the major tournament, which will run from July 28 until August 6.
Donnell Wallam and Sophie Garbin.Credit: Getty Images
Wallam, who has starred for the Queensland Firebirds in their disappointing Super Netball season after a memorable international debut, is among the reserves, with the selectors opting for vice-captain Stephanie Wood and fellow goalers Kiera Austin, Cara Koenen and Garbin.
“It’s been a hard call to make any decision across this Diamonds selection. It’s probably the toughest one I’ve been involved in,” Marinkovich said.
She explained that international exposure played a significant role in selection and Garbin had “shown that she knows how to play against the international opposition that we’ve come up against”, while Wallam is less experienced at that level.
Garbin helped reclaim the Constellation Cup from the Silver Ferns in late 2022, while Wallam sank the match-winning goal against England in her Diamonds debut in a Test series last October, a series in which Garbin was also influential.
Marinkovich said another reason for Garbin’s selection was her ability to bring her shooting partner into the play while also being a target.
“We need to have double threats in the circle, but we need to also have the presence that can manipulate defenders particularly if they’re on a two-on-one as well,” she said.
Marinkovich said Wallam would still benefit from the experience of being a reserve, who can only replace a squad member if a serious injury or illness strikes.
“Donnell’s shown incredible growth. She’s new onto the scene [and] she’s certainly taken her opportunities within SSN [Super Netball] and evolved her game, and I think that’s the part where we will continue to work with Donnell. She is the reserve, so we have every confidence that she can step into the role in the event she’s called upon,” she said.
The call to leave out Wallam wasn’t the only difficult one, as the Giants’ Jamie-Lee Price was chosen over Melbourne Vixen Kate Moloney, also a reserve, in centre court.
That is the only change to the middle group from the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games gold-medal winning campaign.
“Kate played a great role for us at the Commonwealth Games and Jamie has been playing some key roles throughout the Constellation Cup and England series. So, there’s been a lot of opportunity for our mid-court and I guess it’s looking at the opposition, looking at what we need to be able to adjust to, and we just think we’ve got a change up in that dynamic for this series.”
Kate Moloney in full flight for the Diamonds in Melbourne last year.Credit: Getty Images
“They’re two completely different players. But they have incredible skill sets and two players that, again, are true team players and are there to maximise an environment for the betterment of the group.”
Magpie Ash Brazill was also named in centre/wing defence and will get a well-earned farewell lap after the 33-year-old veteran announced her retirement from Super Netball this year.
The squad announcement was delayed by a week due to an impasse in Collective Player Agreement negotiations.
Last week, players were told if they did not sign a new three-year deal, the team would not be named. However, on Friday Netball Australia rolled over the existing CPA, which they said would provide certainty to the Diamonds squad.
Marinkovich said the upheaval - which the Australian Netball Players’ Association said caused player anger, confusion and sadness - did not change her focus.
“And certainly when I made the phone calls, it certainly didn’t diminish the emphasis on the moment, the emotion that was involved, and I guess the appreciation to be named in representing our country at a World Cup,” she said.
“I know that when I’ve spoken to each of the girls, there is an intent, there is a commitment, and there’s a unity amongst the group that they’ll be ready to go.”
The Diamonds are favourites for the World Cup, having lost the 2019 final to New Zealand by a goal. They have won every trophy on offer since.
Diamonds World Cup squad
Shooters
Kiera Austin (Melbourne Vixens/New South Wales)
Sophie Garbin (Collingwood Magpies/Western Australia)
Cara Koenen (Sunshine Coast Lightning/Queensland)
Steph Wood (VC) (Sunshine Coast Lightning/Queensland)
Reserve: Donnell Wallam (Queensland Firebirds/Western Australia)
Mid-court
Ash Brazill (Collingwood Magpies/New South Wales)
Paige Hadley (NSW Swifts/New South Wales)
Jamie-Lee Price (GIANTS Netball/New South Wales)
Liz Watson (C) (Melbourne Vixens/Victoria)
Reserve: Kate Moloney (Melbourne Vixens/Victoria)
Defenders
Sunday Aryang (West Coast Fever/Western Australia)
Courtney Bruce (West Coast Fever/Western Australia)
Sarah Klau (NSW Swifts/South Australia)
Jo Weston (Melbourne Vixens/Victoria)
Reserve: Ruby Bakewell-Doran (Queensland Firebirds/Queensland)