World Cup 2023: Diamonds shooters in Super Netball battle to replace Gretel Bueta
With Gretel Bueta to miss the World Cup after confirming she had fallen pregnant after a devastating miscarriage last year, who fills her shoes for the Diamonds?
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The confirmed absence of Gretel Bueta from this year’s World Cup leaves Diamonds shooting candidates primed for a massive domestic campaign as they try to show Diamonds coach Stacey Marinkovich they are ready to shoulder a starting role.
In an exclusive interview with News Corp, Bueta confirmed she is pregnant after suffering a heartbreaking miscarriage late last year and will miss the World Cup starting in South Africa in July.
As they were last year, when she skipped the Constellation Cup and series against England’s Roses due to her pregnancy, the Diamonds are fully supportive of Bueta, who remained in Marinkovich’s wider squad earlier this year.
“Gretel showed incredible strength during such a challenging time and we are excited she and Niko are expecting a child this year,” Marinkovich said.
“Gretel remains an important part of the Diamonds family and we will continue to support her throughout her pregnancy.”
But there’s no doubt they will miss the big-time performer, who powered their gold medal-winning efforts at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham last year.
While the Diamonds sealed a fifth consecutive trophy and underlined their world no.1 ranking by winning the Quad Series in Cape Town last month without Bueta, Marinkovich and selectors will maintain a close watch on all Super Netball goalers before naming her World Cup squad in July.
We run a rule over the likely candidates to help the Diamonds secure the only piece of silverware in world netball now missing from their trophy cabinet.
THE CERTAINTIES
Steph Wood
Position: Goal attack
Club: Sunshine Coast Lightning
The Diamonds’ vice-captain, Wood is a key cog in the goal circle, reading the play like few in world netball can.
A generally reliable shooter (she criticised her own efforts at times during the recent Quad Series), especially from long range, she helps keep the score ticking over for the Aussies.
But her greatest strength is in assisting into the circle and setting up her shooting partner. While Bueta dominated the Quad Series and Commonwealth Games last year, it was often Wood’s exceptional vision and ability to be three steps ahead of the opposition that helped her shine so brightly.
Has battled niggling knee issues in recent seasons but only a disastrous injury would keep her out of the side.
Cara Koenen
Position: Goal shooter
Club: Sunshine Coast Lightning
Koenen was pivotal to Australia’s success at the Commonwealth Games, subbing in to partner with Bueta as the Diamonds searched for height in the circle to blunt the incredible hops of Jamaican defenders Shamera Sterling and LaTanya Wilson.
Her flawless 15 of 15 attempts helped Australia seal gold and she was key again in the recent Quad Series final, shooting at 97 per cent accuracy while playing with Lightning clubmate Wood as Marinkovich ran what seemed to be her first-choice pair for the entire final.
Koenen’s agility and speed make her the perfect choice in a mobile circle, while her comfort partnering with Wood and experience in international finals will be key if the Diamonds are to retain the World Cup.
THE PROBABLES
Sophie Garbin
Position: Goal shooter/goal attack
Club: Collingwood Magpies
Garbin was outstanding in last year’s Constellation Cup – where she received the nod in place of Bueta – and series against the Roses, showing her growth since making a nervous Diamonds debut in New Zealand in 2021.
The 184cm West Australian product has shown she belongs at the top level, causing headaches for New Zealand, England and South Africa’s top defenders over the past four months with strong performances as a holding shooter.
That’s where she will be considered for the Diamonds, despite playing the Super Netball season for Collingwood at goal attack alongside Jamaican shooter Shimona Nelson.
While it’s not her preferred position, Marinkovich believes an ability to play further from the post has added a string to Garbin’s bow, while her efforts for the Diamonds are likely to put pressure on Magpies coach - and Diamonds assistant – Nicole Richardson – to shift her to goal shooter if Nelson is not firing at any point.
Kiera Austin
Position: Goal attack
Club: Melbourne Vixens
Austin fought back from a knee reconstruction in 2021 to regain her Diamonds spot at the Commonwealth Games last year in a shooting group that also featured Bueta, Wood and Koenen. Lethal from long range when on, she is also a workaholic in the midcourt, doing plenty to promote the ball and set up the play.
Austin also has versatility on her side, with Marinkovich having run the 25-year-old at wing attack in recent internationals given her vision and workrate.
THE BOLTERS
Donnell Wallam
Position: Goal shooter
Club: Queensland Firebirds
Wallam beat Garbin to the reserve spot for last year’s Commonwealth Games after an outstanding debut Super Netball season. She went from strength to strength late last year – despite being under enormous pressure and scrutiny during the Hancock sponsorship breakdown – and had a fairytale international debut, winning the game for the Diamonds with a buzzer-beater against the Roses.
She was overlooked for Garbin in the Quad Series squad though and, after Garbin’s stellar tournament, will need an impressive season with the Firebirds to be in the running to leapfrog the Magpie in the pecking order to head to Cape Town. Like Garbin, Wallam is an exceptional holding shooter and probably more accurate overall from under the post.
Sophie Dwyer
Position: Goal attack
Club: Giants Netball
Like Wallam, Dwyer made her Diamonds debut only recently, getting on court for the first time in last year’s Constellation Cup despite being a member of the successful 2022 Quad Series squad. And having pushed her way into the squad, it’s tough to believe - like Wallam - she’s likely still a bolter for World Cup selection.
Still just 21, Dwyer has a mature head on her shoulders and is ice cool under pressure - an attribute that will be key if she is to force her way into the World Cup squad.
With Giants captain Jo Harten having undergone knee surgery in the past week, Dwyer could yet for forced to take the lead for the Sydney-based club in the opening round, something that would only further enhance her credentials with selectors.
Covid outbreak forces Swifts to call on local NZ netballers
The NSW Swifts have been forced into massive changes ahead of their pre-season trip to New Zealand, with Covid continuing to cause havoc for elite sport almost three years after the start of the pandemic.
Young shooter Sophie Fawns is the only member of the main squad set to travel with the team to Invercargill on Friday after a Covid outbreak forced the club into a mass last-minute reshuffle.
The Swifts will play have to rely on training partners, Academy members and talent from the Invercargill region to field teams to play matches against the Southern Steel and Te Wānanga o Raukawa Pulse (formerly Central Pulse) over the weekend.
The blow comes a year after most of the Swifts squad were struck down with the virus in the 2022 pre-season, with the club also forced to cancel a trip to Adelaide last March due to the Swifts’ and Thunderbirds’ Covid exposure.
The games against the Steel (Sunday) and Pulse (Tuesday), were to be the Swifts’ first against the clubs since the all-Australian Super Netball league replaced the trans-Tasman ANZ Championship at the end of 2016.
NSW Swifts Executive General Manager Kath Tetley said the players ruled out were “gutted” not to be making the trip.
While travel restrictions have now been completely removed - both for interstate travel in Australia and trans-Tasman trips - Covid has not disappeared and is likely to be a factor in the Super Netball season again in 2023.
“With a significant Covid-19 outbreak in our senior setup we cannot, in good conscience, travel and put other teams at risk,” Tetley said.
“We would like to thank the Steel for their understanding. We were exceptionally honoured to receive an invitation to travel to Southland and they have been fantastic to work alongside in what’s been a difficult situation.”
Swifts coach Briony Akle said the team was excited at the challenge.
“We’re not going with any you expectation of winning. I think it’s a really good opportunity that we’ve got some young ones coming with us and just to play some netball again without training,” Akle said.
Steel chief executive Sonya Fleming said it was a tough blow.
“Unfortunately, despite our best efforts, we are still not completely immune to the impact of Covid on our events and we certainly feel for the Swifts having to face this challenge,” Fleming said.
“To their credit, they have remained steadfast in their determination to continue with these preseason games and provide the Steel with a strong opponent for our players to test their mettle against.”
The Swifts also have pre-season matches planned in Adelaide and at the Team Girls Cup on the Gold Coast.
SPONSORS STICK WITH SUPER NETBALL DESPITE DIAMONDS DRAMAS
Netball may have had its sponsorship dramas over the past six months but the sport remains an attractive option for blue chip sponsors.
The NSW Swifts have extended their sponsorship with principal partners QBE Insurance for another three years, bringing the length of the relationship to 18 years by the time the deal expires in 2025.
News Corp understands the “significant” deal, which includes year-on-year growth is among the biggest for any domestic women’s sport codes, showing netball retains its commercial attraction despite the financial frailties of the national body and its ill-fated Hancock deal.
Insurance powerhouse QBE are the longest-serving principal partner of a club in National Netball League history, having started their association with the franchise in 2008 when the club rebranded from the Sydney Swifts to the NSW Swifts.
Swifts Executive General Manager Kath Tetley was at the club in 2008 when QBE came on board.
“To say that they are part of our fabric would be an understatement,” Tetley said.
QBE Australia Pacific CEO Sue Houghton said the long-term relationship with the Swifts recognised the positive impact of the sponsorship on the community and women’s sport.
“This reflects our business philosophy of creating and nurturing partnerships and our
enduring support for netball and the club,” Houghton said.
“We’re proud to be empowering and supporting female talent from the grassroots level,
through to elite amateur and eventually to the professional NSW Swifts team.”
Swifts coach Briony Akle said it was great to partner with an organisation that championed both netball and the club.
“There’s gratitude towards a company such as QBE who not only sponsor the Swifts but our Academy as well,” two-time premiership coach Akle said.
“To do it through Covid, and then still to be able to say, you know what, we’ll put some more money in and we’ll go a bit longer, it’s awesome.
“The sport can keep going as long as these people are with us. The fact that QBE are out there championing us and putting their money where their mouth is, is awesome.”
Netball remains an attractive option for sponsors. Netball Australia rebounded from the Hancock disaster to sign a four-year $15 million deal with Visit Victoria, while the West Coast Fever inked a four-year deal with Fortescue Metals last November worth $2.6 million.
Netball fans have also shown they are willing to put their hands in their pockets to support the sport, with memberships at all clubs highly prized – and sometimes priced.
That does not seem to deter people though, with the Swifts finding a pocket of fanatics willing to join “Club 97”, a $1997 membership celebrating the club’s foundation year.
“That kind of investment by a fan is serious. That’s a huge choice that they’re making and how they feel about a sports club,” Tetley said.
“And I think that’s a really good sign for women’s sport moving forward and particularly the Swifts.”
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