Netball news: Diamonds captain Liz Watson on Commonwealth Games and Super Netball finals

Liz Watson will carry the weight of a nation as captain when the Diamonds chase redemption at this year’s Commonwealth Games. She opens up on netball’s big issues in an expansive Q&A.

Caitlin Bassett of Australia reacts after losing to England in the Netball Gold Medal match.

Diamonds captain Liz Watson has no plans to let a second Commonwealth Games gold medal slip through her fingers – but it isn’t England or New Zealand she is worried about keeping it from.

Watson, appointed captain of the national team this year, was part of the Diamonds team who suffered a heartbreaking 52-51 loss to England at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in 2018.

We sat down with Watson, to talk all things Commonwealth Games and Super Netball finals.

Beth Cobden of England celebrates after her country’s win in the Gold Medal match at the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

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Was it hard to keep the news you had made the Commonwealth Games team a secret?

Yes. We’ve known for about a week or so now. So it’s been a big secret to keep for that long. I think it was hard because we all knew that were getting a call on that day. So it was hard to keep it a secret. But it’s nice that we can actually share with them now. Four of us Vixens got through which is very nice. We can all share, I guess

happy tears together and the rest of the team is really excited for us, which is really special.

Eboni Beckford-Chambers reacts at full-time of the 2018 Gold Medal match between Australia and England.

It is not the first time you have had to wait for a call like that. Was it different though knowing you are the captain of the team?

To be honest, I was actually talking to Steph Wood about this yesterday and you still get that butterfly feeling and you still feel a bit on edge all day waiting for the call. I’m Watson so I’m at the end of the list. So you’ve got to wait all day for it. But yeah, look, I think there’s still that uncertainty at every call to be honest. It’s a special honour and privilege that I get to go away to a Commonwealth Games but to be able to captain the team is very special. I think we’ve got a really good group to do that. I feel like it’s just an easy role to be in because everyone is so on board and so supportive of me which makes it a lot easier for me.

Liz Watson will lead the Diamonds in the Commonwealth Games.

You were there for the last Commonwealth Games. When Australia suffered a heartbreaking one-point loss against England in the gold medal match. Will you use that disappointment as a drive to bring home the gold this year?

There are only four of us who were there last time who were part of the team this year. Obviously everyone felt that disappointment, even if you weren’t there, but I think it’s nice to have a refreshing team this time. They haven’t been to a Commonwealth Games so won’t associate anything with the Games, let along that Gold medal match. We want to be winning and taking that back, whoever we are playing. We just want to go for gold.

What is your goal for this Commonwealth Games?

Obviously we going for gold. That has been the message from the start for everyone. That’s what we’re trying to do. But there are a lot of countries out there now, it’s not just New Zealand England. Jamaica is going to be really strong and South Africa is right there as well. So it’s going to be tough, even just to get into that gold medal match. That’s the aim and that’s what we want to do. But I think you know, our (the Super Netball) competition is showing really good players from an international level and they’re going back to their country and making their team stronger and stronger.

So yeah, we’ll see how we go.

Is there a particular team you think will be the hardest to beat at the Commonwealth Games or is it a level playing field?

I think it is pretty tight at the top. I think Jamaica is probably a team that have been very close, but not I guess in that top, you know, two or three, but I feel like this season they’ve those great players who were playing in SSN. They’re are really strong in defence and with the attack so they’re a team who I think we need to watch out for. We play them in the rounds as well. I think they’ve always been there but this is their time to really take it on.

Liz Watson has been pivotal to Melbourne’s return to Super Netball finals.

Is it an advantage or a disadvantage having so many international players in the Super Netball competition?

Look, you can look at it both ways. I think the advantage is that we do get to see them weekly. We get to train with them. We get to train alongside them. We train against them. So we have lots of practice. Obviously across our team we’ve got inside information about certain players because they could be teammates in SSN level. It is making us stronger because we need to be better at SSN to you know, come up against those sorts of players. It is an advantage because we wouldn’t play against the Jamaican defence style until you get away, so it’s nice to know what we’re coming up against and not have that element of surprise.

With just a two week training camp will it be hard to establish connections within the team?

I don’t think it will be too difficult. Obviously, we’ve got connections within the team, with players who play together. We’ve got two weeks together before we hit the Games, which is great for us. But I think everyone knows their role really well. Stacey (Marinkovich) has got a really great game plan to fit our

strengths, which I think will definitely help with those connections. Everyone is so excited and so on board for this mission that we’re on to get to that medal match

match so I think the connections will come quite quickly for us.

Do you have any superstitions or game day routines?

I’m actually pretty boring. I think that is what has helped me just stay very calm and chilled and sort of not give away anything. As the last few years have shown you can’t really be too superstitious with things because you could be playing here there

and everywhere. Not having your normal routine. So I think the same thing will happen when we’re over there. We don’t really know the protocols of what’s ahead for us. So you just got to run with it. For me, I fully switch on and tune into focus when I step out there for that warm up.

Watson has huge ambitions for the rest of 2022.

Is there anything you always pack in your suitcase for international competitions?

Some players bring their pillows. I’ll always bring a few books and my notebook. We probably will bring in coffee pods or one of the espresso machines there’ll be

some coffee and we do always pack chocolate.

Has it been hard to put the Commonwealth Games selection news aside and focus on the Vixens and upcoming finals series?

The announcement was really exciting and something we wanted to be a part of

and share with everyone. But I think Stacey’s really managed that well and not sort of, I guess contacting the players who are really invested at the moment in finals and sort of having plans in place for when you do drop out. I think there’s been a really nice balance because we do want to connect together as a Diamond squad because we don’t have that much time when the grand final is over before we come together. So I think it’s been a really great balance. When you play for your country, you do anything to win and it’s the same for our state at the moment.

Moving on to the finals. How important is it for the Vixens to get the win this weekend?

We want to win. That is for sure. We want that week off to set ourselves up for a

great final week. It is obviously going to be really hard. I think being at home is nice, obviously playing that Monday game we have a bit of a short week so it’s nice that we get to stay at home for that. But it is a big game for us. We want to finish on top because we’ve been playing some really good netball. Now we just have to show that we can do it in finals and in the pressure moment.

The Vixens are one of the Super Netball title favourites.

The last couple of weeks there have been a few times the Vixens have been ahead and then given up strong leads. Is that something you’ve been focusing on this week?

Yes, that is not part of the plan. I don’t know how that’s happening. But yeah, with a team like Fever you cannot let them back in like that because they can run away with it. So that’s definitely been a focus as well as being able to score off any turnovers we get and put that scoreboard pressure on – that is the biggest thing against a team like Fever. We need to make sure that you know if we do have that lead that we’re able to push on.

Vixens beat Fever both times you met during the season. Does that matter when it comes to finals though?

I think it’s been it’s been good to look back at those games and see what worked really well for us and sort of look at that through a performance analysis lens but finals are so different. Everyone’s got nothing to lose. They just want to go out there and secure that grand final. Last time we pushed it out of the first quarter and then kind of held on where previously we kind of fall back into the game. So it’s nice for the girls’ confidence to see that there’s different ways that we can still come out on top.

What will it take to beat Fever?

I think it’s just that confidence and pressure from the start and not giving them a chance to find their rhythm, settle into the game or play how they want to play because they do have a really nice flow if you let them play their style. It is going to take hard work and non stop running for every single quarter. That’s how you win against these teams – just work right from the start to end.

You missed last season with injury and had to watch your team struggle. How does it feel to be back on the court and in the winner’s circle?

I definitely missed playing last year. I think all the girls were very disappointed with how the season went and their performances as well so it’s nice that we could turn

that around. Everyone’s in a really good headspace for the moment. I think winning

definitely helps that of course, but everyone’s really positive and I’m definitely happy that we are back where we were the year before that as well.

Liz Watson says she missed being involved in Super Netball when injured last year.

Does it matter to you where the grand final is played?

We just want to be that grand final. Obviously we would have loved to play in a grand final in front of the home crowd but we are lucky we get this first one in front of our family and friends which is pretty special. Not every team gets to do that. For us, we just want to get to that grand final. We’re pretty good at playing anywhere at anytime and the Covid hubs have shown that we need to do that. So we are not too worried about having to travel if we had to but I think we’re lucky we’ve got this first final in front of our friends and family and can give the fans that experience.

The grand final is shaping up to be a sell out. As a netball player is it exciting to see the sport growing so quickly?

Yeah, that’s really exciting. I think RAC Arena is a lovely venue. I do love playing there and it’s a great atmosphere when it is full. So fingers crossed we are there and we have a few Vixens fans cheering us on. It is great that netball is becoming this big sport with a big grand final that people want to be at and see what the fuss is all about.

Originally published as Netball news: Diamonds captain Liz Watson on Commonwealth Games and Super Netball finals