Diamonds are for never saying die in race for Commonwealth Games gold

After losing Commonwealth Games gold four years ago, Australia arrived as firm favourites to set the universe straight – but nobody showed the script to Jamaica.

Australia’s Gretel Bueta and Jamaica’s Shamera Sterling. Picture: Matthew Lewis/Getty Images

Four years after the Diamonds lost to England in the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games netball final, beginning the demise of coach Lisa Alexander’s career, Stacey Marinkovich’s seat is starting to feel pretty hot.

That Gold Coast loss caused a disturbance in the netball universe. The Diamonds don’t lose Commonwealth Games gold medals, right? They’re among the ones we put in the bank before the players even start pinning on their bibs.

And yet they did, going down agonisingly by 52 to 51 through a last-minute goal from Helen Housby, who plays club netball in the Australian competition for the NSW Swifts.

Australian netball crept away to lick its wounds. Alexander’s contract wasn’t renewed, and Marinkovich stepped into her shoes, as a host of key players hung up their Diamonds dresses.

The stage was reset and a refreshed Australian team arrived in Birmingham as firm favourites to set the universe straight and claim the gold.

Trouble is, nobody showed the script to England and Jamaica – or even to New Zealand, for that matter.

Housby and her English mates are lying in wait for Australia again, in the semi-final on Saturday night (AEST).

The Diamonds, beset by criticism over selection decisions and with key midcourter Paige Hadley injured and watching from the bench, are reeling after going down to Jamaica in the final pool game. England, on the other hand, are on the up. Bristling with stars who play in Super Netball, the Roses won their place in the semi-finals by vanquishing the world champions New Zealand 54-44 in their final pool game.

And the Jamaicans, who play the Kiwis in the other semi-final, are the ones looking like gold medal material. Led by towering shooter Jhanielle Fowler, the Sunshine Girls stormed back in the final quarter in front of a raucous crowd at Arena Birmingham for a stunning 57-55 win.

Australia’s two-pronged attack of Gretel Bueta (36 from 39) and Steph Wood (19 from 22) did all they could to get Australia home, but costly turnovers led the Diamonds to an unexpected defeat.

It was a big scalp for the Jamaicans, who acted as if they had won the gold medal. Now the Australians have to regroup and focus on a gold medal that is two tough games away.

Alexander, who is now watching from the sidelines and writing a column for News Corp, is urging calm and a little unpredictability. She says Australia needs to change it up.