Stacey Marinkovich opens door for more Diamonds call-ups as key details of England series revealed

Diamonds coach Stacey Marinkovich is keeping a close watch on performances during the Super Netball finals as key details of the upcoming three-Test series against England are revealed.

Diamonds coach Stacey Marinkovich has kept the door open to inviting more players to the national squad before this year’s internationals as she keeps a close watch on form during the “pressure cooker” environment of the Super Netball finals.

Marinkovich last month named an 18-player Diamonds squad for 2024-25 plus two invitees, Lucy Austin and Emily Mannix, from which the teams for this year’s internationals against England and the Constellation Cup against New Zealand will be selected.

However, national selectors have not ruled out bringing more players into the fold if performances across the Super Netball finals command attention.

Marinkovich will welcome Diamonds players into national camp in the middle of next month but could add to the squad depth following the Super Netball finals.

“We’re looking and the selectors are meeting regularly as we continue to watch the performances unfold,” Marinkovich said.

Australia coach Stacey Marinkovich during last year’s Constellation Cup series against New Zealand. Picture: Fiona Goodall/Getty Images

“I guess it’s just working out where players are at, where the squad’s at and making sure that when we bring people in that it’s really purposeful.

“We’re keeping our eyes open and keeping a track on things and we’ll have a Fast5 team selection at some point as well, so very much still looking in detail at performances.

“We have got a huge amount of youth in the midcourt sitting under our current squad and it has been refreshing to see them grow throughout the rounds and there are some players going into finals.

“So looking through the midcourt, there is a whole group of them I guess around that 22 to 23 years of age as to what that looks like with our depth and how we progress their development.

“Then we have also had some young defenders stepping up.”

Melbourne Vixens defender Emily Mannix was named as an invitee alongside the Diamonds 2024-25 squad. (Photo by Kelly Defina/Getty Images)

Three debutants were included in the Diamonds’ squad announced last month – Ash Ervin (Sunshine Coast), Georgie Horjus (Adelaide Thunderbirds) and Hannah Mundy (Melbourne Vixens) – and all feature in the Super Netball finals.

Asked about the prospects of the three youngsters earning their first Test caps this year, Marinkovich said she needed to see how their “elite” Super Netball performances translated in the Diamonds’ camp environment.

“I guess traditionally players just don’t walk into Diamonds and go straight on to the court but these girls are putting in some elite performances and all three of them are playing finals, which is even better to be able to see them in that pressure-cooker situation,” Marinkovich said.

“So we will see how they come in and combine with the rest of the group.

“We have a little bit to look at, a little bit to test and try, but the opportunities are there for them to grab and make their mark when they come into the camps.”

Adelaide Thunderbirds young gun Georgie Horjus of the Adelaide Thunderbirds was one of three debutants named in the Diamonds 2024-25 squad alongside Hannah Mundy and Ash Ervin. Picture: Maya Thompson/Getty Images)

Marinkovich said selectors were making decisions now with an eye towards the home World Cup in Sydney in 2027.

“Everything is towards that build,” Marinkovich said.

“For us, it’s not about starting again either … it’s a continuation of the way in which we do things.

“So it’s not about just throwing out the youngsters all in one go to sink or swim kind of thing.

“Any time we put a player out on court we are putting them out there because we have real confidence that they are ready to perform and that they can thrive in that environment.”

Marinkovich will name her squad for the England series following the Diamonds’ camp.

Adelaide will host the first match of the England series at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre on Thursday, September 19, before the Diamonds and Roses battle at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney on Sunday, September 22.

The series will conclude in Bendigo on Wednesday, September 25.

Originally published as Stacey Marinkovich opens door for more Diamonds call-ups as key details of England series revealed