Sophie Garbin’s journey from fringe Diamond to shooting star

A player battling to hold her place in the Diamonds squad just a year ago, Solphie Garbin is now one of the brightest stars in international netball, EMMA GREENWOOD writes.

Sophie Garbin has elevated herself from fringe Diamond to an irreplaceable spearhead in the Australian netball team after another outstanding performance in a benchmark final showed just how crucial she has become to the team’s push into a new era.

Garbin won a close battle with Donnell Wallam for the final position in Australia’s World Cup squad less than 12 months ago but her showing in the World Cup final and player of the match effort in the Netball Nations Cup decider in England on Monday morning have shown just how crucial she has become to the Diamonds’ continued success.

While she was injected into the World Cup final in South Africa last year, Garbin started the Netball Nations Cup decider against England’s Roses on Monday and turned in a dominant performance in combination with goal attack Sophie Dwyer.

Australia celebrate during the trophy presentation after their victory during the Vitality Netball Nations Cup Final at First Direct Arena in Leeds, England. Photo: Getty Images

The 26-year-old, who made her debut at the Constellation Cup in 2021 but battled for almost two years to cement regular court time with the Diamonds, finished with 31 goals from 32 attempts in three quarters to notch MVP honours in Australia’s 69-49 victory in Leeds.

With Steph Fretwell (nee Wood) now retired from international netball and Gretel Bueta on a sabbatical from the game following maternity leave, Garbin is part of a new generation keeping the Diamonds at the top of the netball tree.

Asked after the match if she felt the pressure of wearing the famous goal shooter’s bib for Australia, Garbin conceded there was expectation but was buoyed by the support of her team.

“Obviously all shooters probably feel the pressure at times but I think just the support from the team (is a boost),” she said.

“I’m sure to miss one right under the post like us shooters always do but I think there’s great confidence from the whole team, which helps.”

That’s an extremely humble assessment from Garbin, who once struggled for accuracy - especially in high-pressure situations - but has shown in the past 12 months she’s a bankable option for coach Stacey Marinkovich.

Sophie Garbin has become a matchwinner for the Diamonds in the international arena. Photo: Gallo Images

Diamonds 100-gamer Cath Cox said she “could not be more on the Sophie Garbin bandwagon”.

“Honestly the way she has reinvented herself, her shooting accuracy, only the one miss at 97 per cent today,” she said following Monday morning’s final.

“I’m surprised I’ve got to say about what I saw with Garbin and Dwyer today, I didn’t know or didn’t think Dwyer would give us as much as she did.

“So I’m absolutely pumped to see that as well. It was really balanced in terms of how much they attacked the posts together probably until about half time and then Sophie Garbin took a bit more of that load.”

Dwyer’s performance in England would have thrilled Marinkovich given the retirement of Fretwell, one of the savviest players in the game.

The 22-year-old Giant made her first Diamonds squad as a teen but has served plenty of time as a squad member, outside the match-day 12.

After making her debut during the Constellation Cup in 2022, Dwyer missed last year’s World Cup squad but stood up this campaign, playing well enough to earn a starting role in the final alongside Garbin in a combination that could become a regular for the Diamonds.

Expect to see more from Garbin this Super Netball season too now that she will slot back into a goal shooter’s role at new club, the Melbourne Vixens following a testing period playing out of position at goal attack at Collingwood.

Sophie Garbin of Australia in action during the Netball World Cup 2023 final - another match in which she made a matchwinning contribution for the Diamonds. Photo: Gallo Images

Vixens coach Simone McKinnis has been impressed, although not surprised, by Garbin’s efforts in England.

“I have been impressed. I think that she’s been just really solid, she’s so strong but also has the smarts and the positioning where she can set up others as well,” McKinnis said.

“So it has been really impressive. It’s good for her to be able to consistently play goal shooter as well.

“I think that goes a long way in her being able to put her best stuff out there.”

That will be the case at the Vixens, with McKinnis confirming Garbin was recruited specifically as a strong holding shooter to play in combination with Diamonds teammate and goal attack Kiera Austin.

“In recruiting Sophie, it was all about her and her ability to be a dominant, strong goal shooter.

“Her capacity to play goal attack if needed, that’s a bonus as well but it is about her strength and ability to own that goal circle and I think that’s going to be great for us.”

The protracted Super Netball contracting dispute meant teams had little time to train together ahead of the Christmas break and McKinnis said it was a bonus that Garbin and Austin had been able to strengthen their combination in the international arena while away with the Diamonds.

“It’s a bonus for us then, for them to come back and they’re really quite familiar with each other,” she said.

“Kip (Austin) is another one who’s quite smart and clever with the ball as well, so that excites me, the combination - and the flexibility is still there.”

Originally published as Sophie Garbin’s journey from fringe Diamond to shooting star