Australia’s ‘gutsy’ Sophie Garbin selection vindicated in ‘special’ World Cup performance

Australia’s most contentious selection going into the Netball World Cup has proved all her critics wrong on the biggest stage of all.

Sophie Garbin has been praised for her performance in Australia’s victory in the World Cup final against England, as she reminded everyone of her prowess in the goal shooter position.

Garbin’s selection in Australia’s 12-player squad was the most contentious, given she was picked over Donnell Wallam despite a lacklustre Super Netball season for her club.

The 26-year-old helped Australia win the Constellation Cup against New Zealand last year but looked a shadow of herself playing out of position at goal attack for Collingwood in Super Netball.

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It prompted calls for Wallam to be picked instead, but Diamonds coach Stacey Marinkovich stuck to her guns and selected Garbin.

The decision paid off in the final when Garbin came on early in the second quarter played out the game, shooting 27 goals from 33 attempts to help Australia build an unassailable lead.

Diamonds legend Cath Cox said she was “absolutely rapt” for Garbin and Kiera Austin, who came off the bench to replace Steph Wood and Cara Koenen in the shooting circle.

It was a “gusty move” to inject Garbin into the World Cup final given she hadn’t played in Australia’s previous two games including the loss to England in the preliminary stage.

Sophie Garbin showed why she’s one of the best goal shooters in the world. (Photo by RODGER BOSCH / AFP)

“I said before the game they can’t win it without her,” Cox said of Garbin on Fox Netball.

“I knew she had to come on to mix it up today because everyone would have done their homework on the Koenen-Wood combination.

“You saw Sophie Garbin dominating anything that was underneath the post.

“To get on the court in a World Cup when you haven’t played in four days, that is massive.

“You needed her. To see her step out and have such a great game and the team immediately confident with her being out on the court to let it go to her and that just grew across the game.

“It is a gutsy coaching move to do though because if it doesn’t work, is like ‘Well you were up, what were you thinking?’. Well done Stacey Marinkovich, huge.”

Austin was named player of the match despite playing less than three quarters.

Wallam travelled to South Africa as one of three non-playing reserves along with defender Ruby Bakewell-Doran and midcourter Kate Moloney. All three players received gold medals.

The entire Diamonds squad and coaching staff celebrate the World Cup win. (Photo by Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images/Netball World Cup 2023 via Getty Images)

Garbin’s performance at goal shooter for Australia will only intensify calls for her to leave the goal attack bib well and truly behind her at domestic level.

She will be looking for a new team after Collingwood axed its netball program. The Magpies have been replaced by a team based in South East Melbourne owned by Craig Hutchison’s Sports Entertainment Network.

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World champs, all 15! https://t.co/lixhBbYals

— Jessica Currie (@Jess_M_Currie) August 6, 2023

It's hard to imagine that the Magpies had Soph Garbin at their disposal for 2 bloody seasons & we never got to see her dominate in at GS. She just ripped the guts of the WC final & helped the Aussies win back the trophy. One of the first signed for SSN in 2024, surely? #NWC2023

— The Netty Life (@TheNettyLife) August 7, 2023

I am so pleased for Sophie Garbin. I’m not sure who could have had a rockier last year or has copped so much criticism. The girl deserves that medal 🏆#NWC2023

— zaracollings (@zaraacollings) August 6, 2023

Sophie Garbin proving lots of doubters (me included) wrong this quarter after a shaky start in Q3. #NWC2023

— Erin Delahunty (@della79) August 6, 2023

With a Collective Player Agreement not in place, there is sure to be plenty of players who change teams in an Aussie netball off-season tipped to be seriously chaotic.

“Sophie Garbin is surely on the top of the list for many teams going forward with SSN (Super Netball) selection coming up,” Cox said.

Sophie Garbin (left) celebrates with Cara Koenen, Courtney Bruce, Jo Weston and Jamie-Lee Price. (Photo by Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images/Netball World Cup 2023 via Getty Images)

Marinkovich paid tribute to both Garbin and Austin for their ability to perform on the world’s biggest stage when it mattered most.

“Credit to Sophie and Kiera,” said the Diamonds coach, who recently extended her contract to remain with the team until at least the 2027 Netball World Cup in Sydney.

“They’re young players and they’ve had big years in SSN and ups and downs at different points, but to come on in a World Cup final and have to shoot and run and connect when they haven’t been out there for a couple of days … It just shows the character they’ve got.

“I think the way she (Austin) was feeding the ball to Sophie as well, it’s not a surprise to us because they do it all the time in training so we see it in training all the time, but then to come out there and do it on the biggest stage in probably their whole career is pretty special.”