Team effort needed from Aussie shooters if Diamonds are to break Silver Ferns hoodoo
The Diamonds have not won a Test in New Zealand for three years but the player of the match from that victory could be the key to turning the tide in Wellington on Sunday.
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Few people have been more affected by the stunning rise of Sophie Garbin than fellow shooter Cara Koenen.
But in a stunning insight to what makes the world no.1 Diamonds such an effective unit, no one could be happier for Garbin’s success than her fellow goaler.
Koenen spent little time on court in the Diamonds’ recent series against the England Roses, with coach Stacey Marinkovich plumping mainly for the cohesive Melbourne Vixens combination of Garbin and Kiera Austin in the first internationals since the Super Netball season ended.
But Koenen - who is a great supporter of the squad mentality driven by Marinkovich, in which “the ‘we’ is grater than the individual” - is likely to be used extensively in the four-Test Constellation Cup series against New Zealand, starting in Wellington on Sunday.
“I think having the gap between the two tours (England and New Zealand) has given us a bit of a unique period of time that we haven’t had in the past. Usually, we’re going from tour to tour and game to game with pretty short turnarounds,” the Sunshine Coast Lightning shooter said.
“Having a couple of weeks off has really allowed me to work with Stacey (Marinkovich) on a few things that I need to improve on my own individual game.
“I think that Sophie and Kip (Austin) had a formidable combination throughout SSN (Super Netball) and that obviously carried through into that England series.
“They’re amazing, and what they did on court was they were a very, very strong combination for us.
“For me, it’s probably (about) working in seamlessly (with either of them), making sure that I’m able to be a versatile option and bringing something different to the court.”
Koenen made her debut against the Silver Ferns in Christchurch three years ago, and since then, has been a key pillar of the successful Australian outfits that have regained the Commonwealth Games and World Cup titles.
She has carried a huge load during that time, especially after the retirement of former Diamonds captain Caitlin Bassett, pregnancy sabbatical of star shooter Gretel Bueta and the post World Cup retirement of her Lightning teammate Steph Fretwell.
The rise of Garbin, who has been one of the Diamonds’ most consistent performers since her breakout performance in the World Cup final last year, has lightened the load somewhat for Koenen but she is no less of a weapon for the Diamonds.
While Garbin can be a strong member of a moving circle as well as a powerful holding shooter, Koenen provides a different option with her outstanding baseline drives and footwork, something that is crucial in helping break down the Silver Ferns’ dynamic box defence.
“We’ve got quite a mobile circle in the Diamonds at the moment, which is a real strength of ours,” Koenen said.
“But Sophie also brings an amazing target at the back there. She’s got an incredible hold and some really cool strength on her.
“For me, it’s probably making sure that I’m sticking to my strengths and bringing something a little bit different, so that when the New Zealand defence start to work something out, I’m able to come on court and create an impact or start.
“Wherever the team needs me at the time, I’m more than happy to play that role.”
Koenen will be a key figure if the Diamonds are to break their three-year hoodoo and win just their second game against the Ferns in New Zealand since the start of Marinkovich’s tenure.
Koenen was the player of the match in that last win and keen to contribute again to breaking the drought.
“Wellington is a great opportunity for us to get our first win in a really long time on New Zealand soil,” she said.
“So that’s definitely what we’ll be looking to do, starting really strong and taking some of the momentum that we had off the back of the those three games against England into this series as well.”
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