Netball news: Australian Diamonds coach Stacey Marinkovich has proved her doubters wrong

Stacey Marinkovich had plenty of critics when she took over as Diamonds coach. Here’s how she answered them and fostered a culture which has Australia dreaming of World Cup glory.

Stacey Marinkovich may have a World Cup selection headache on her hands but there’s one position that is in no doubt - her own.

Questioned early as to whether she was the right woman for the job and slammed by commentators and former players alike for decisions in her first series in charge, Marinkovich headed into the 2022 season under immense pressure in one of the toughest jobs in Australian sport.

But she has emerged from an unprecedented period in the sport not only with her job intact but unchallenged as the person that can lead the sport back to the top of the mountain.

The Diamonds have won 14 of the 18 Tests this year on the way to claiming four titles, their only blemishes a draw with England in the preliminary rounds of the Quad series, a loss to Jamaica at the Commonwealth Games and a pair of defeats at the hands of the Silver Ferns as the sponsorship standoff between Netball Australia, the players and Hancock Prospecting was playing out in the background.

On each occasion, the Aussies bounced back immediately, learning on the hop to beat England in the Quad series final, conquer Jamaica to win gold in Birmingham and overcome New Zealand to snatch back the Constellation Cup.

Her senior players say Marinkovich creates an atmosphere in which everyone can thrive and grow.

“I think it’s probably one of the hardest jobs in netball,” England series captain Paige Hadley said of Marinkovich’s role.

“Whatever Stace does, she gets criticised and everyone has an opinion on it.

“But I think the growth that not only Stace has had but us as a group, the confidence and belief that she has in all the players, she gives you that licence to be yourself and bring those qualities.

“She’s been under pressure in terms of getting that Comm Games (gold medal) back - and we haven’t done the job yet, we’re still only halfway,” Hadley said of the players’ desire to regain the sport’s other pinnacle trophy, the World Cup.

“It’s exciting to see how we can grow together over the next 12 months to that World Cup.”

Liz Watson and Stacey Marinkovich with the Constellation Cup.

Defender Courtney Bruce, who has been coached by Marinkovich for more than 10 years at the Fever and now, the Diamonds, said the coach’s biggest strength was building a culture.

“She’s been able to create that in this Diamonds environment,” Bruce said.

“She’s made us step up a few notches and I think our culture is absolutely thriving and the way that we interact with each other, both on and off the court.

“From that Con(stellation) Cup when she first came in to now, each player is just feeling more and more confident - every training session, every game that we step out there.

“And that’s yet a credit to Stace and the relationships and culture that she’s built.”

She had her doubters but Stacey Marinkovich is leading a Diamonds revolution.

England coach Jess Thirlby and Silver Ferns mentor Noeline Taurua could see the pressure from the outside, but neither had much doubt the Aussies would bounce back, despite the Diamonds retaining their world no.1 ranking throughout.

“An Australian side not holding on to a major trophy is a big deal, right, so there was some soul searching I imagine,” Thirlby said.

“Winning this series (on the back of three other trophies) is obviously a great momentum and winning is a habit that you have to try and create, so real credit to the Diamonds for doing that.”

Taurua, who led the Ferns to the 2019 World Cup title just a year after they failed to snare a medal at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, had no doubt the Diamonds would bounce back after losing the Constellation Cup last year in Marinkovich’s first series in charge.

“I’ve only got massive respect (for the Diamonds), as I think they have for us,” Taurua said.

“I think Stacey has done a really good job and I can only commend her because her entry into being a head coach wasn’t as smooth for her. And she’s quietened a lot of people - so full respect.”

Originally published as Netball news: Australian Diamonds coach Stacey Marinkovich has proved her doubters wrong