Netball World Cup 2023: Diamonds coach Stacey Marinkovich wins over critics and steers Australia into golden new era
Stacey Marinkovich wasn’t the most popular candidate to coach the Diamonds but, writes LINDA PEARCE, she has succeeded anyway.
Netball
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Imagine it, during this same month just three years ago. Merely making up the numbers for the Diamonds head coaching job, it was widely thought, only for a cocktail of disbelief and dissatisfaction to greet the announcement that Marinkovich had pipped raging favourite Simone McKinnis and another former playing great, Vicki Wilson, for the plum post.
Marinkovich?
Really?
Like her predecessor Lisa Alexander, the then 39-year-old had never represented Australia. But, more than that, the native Queenslander had never played in or coached a premiership team of any kind at the elite level.
There was acknowledgement of the likeable former midcourter’s personal and communication-related strengths, but concerns that she might be a bit beholden and compliant to HQ. And was too stats-driven rather than backing her own judgement and instincts.
And despite some outside appreciation for the challenges involved in leading a West Coast Fever team that had long been an also-ran before Jhaniele Fowler’s arrival transformed it into a contender, her credentials still seemed, on paper, far inferior to that of McKinnis.
Marinkovich?
What was Netball Australia thinking?
This after all, is a sport in which gold is the foundation of an Australian high performance culture and expectation so ingrained that anything less is regarded as failure, and a pair of one-goal finals stumbles was enough to cost Alexander her job.
The initial on-court interview with influential past Diamonds Liz Ellis and Cath Cox in the Queensland hub made for slightly uncomfortable viewing, even if the pair was merely asking publicly the many questions burbling away behind the scenes.
Nor did the initial tour to New Zealand in difficult Covid-impacted circumstances install great confidence, given the 3-1 series loss to the Silver Ferns, a slightly untidy first step in transferring the captaincy baton from Caitlin Bassett to Liz Watson and some disquiet over the injuries with which several key players returned.
Through it all, Marinkovich was personable and measured, reasonable and honest, willing to discuss any subject put to her, including the slightly problematic dual roles heading both the Fever and Diamonds during 2021.
Determined to take the high road.
Now look where it’s led.
*****
Imagine, amid the celebrations on Sunday night in Cape Town, being Stacey Marinkovich.
In the past 12 months alone she had weathered the Hancock Prospecting sponsorship storm that ultimately helped to cement the closeness within the group — albeit with a smidge of disapproval in some quarters for being too willing to toe the NA line.
Her Diamonds had negotiated some stormy seas including industrial delays and disputes that this year have extended to the yellow dress being outrageously used as a bargaining chip, and a delayed team selection announcement as a result.
Her team, including Australian Netball Players’ Association president Jo Weston, had eventually arrived in Cape Town without a new Diamonds CPA, or even team and player agreements in place for the next Super Netball season, adding to the stress and uncertainty for many involved.
Yet, all the while, Marinkovich has fostered an environment in which former Diamonds vice-captain Bianca Chatfield attended the pre-competition training camp in Melbourne wearing her media hat and was so struck by the unity, bond and connection among the inner sanctum that she felt moved to tell her great friend Watson that whatever they were doing was clearly working and was unlike anything she had seen within the current group.
And, indeed, having backed struggling Sophie Garbin and a slightly below-par Ash Brazill at selection, the coach has added a Netball World Cup to the regained Commonwealth Games title, the Constellation Cup and Quad Series, as well as emphatic Test series against England, to make it a perfect set.
At each of the two pinnacle events, Marinkovich had presided over an upset loss in the rounds, and had tactical decisions questioned, only to learn the necessary lessons and make the adjustments required on finals day.
In South Africa, she showed faith in MVP Kiera Austin, despite her wobbly finish when called on late in the earlier loss to the Roses. Brought on Garbin, too, quite early in the second quarter, following two full games on the bench.
Used the defenders, including Watson, Sarah Klau and tournament-best Courtney Bruce smartly. Didn’t even need to call upon the in-form Jamie-Lee Price given that, in this game, others were both better suited and doing the job.
On Sunday night, with the most emphatic margin since 1995, they finished it.
*****
Imagine, then, the next four years for Stacey Marinkovich.
In June, so even before this icing on the proverbial, she inked a new four-year contract to run through until the end of the subsequent cycle that will climax at a home World Cup in Sydney in 2027.
On top of the job security is a trophy cupboard now brimming over, a strong and warm rapport with the playing group and an inclusive style that has inspired loyalty and affection and won respect.
The 15th Australian netball coach, whose tenure started under such a cloud of disapproval, has just led the Diamonds to their 12th world championship.
By being herself, and bringing out the best in others.
Being Stacey Marinkovich is, for all the right reasons, a far more comfortable place than it used to be.
Originally published as Netball World Cup 2023: Diamonds coach Stacey Marinkovich wins over critics and steers Australia into golden new era