Netball Nations Cup: Diamonds name full strength side for only multi-team tournament of 2024

The Diamonds have unveiled their squad for the only multi-team tournament of 2024, making just one change for the Nations Cup in England.

The Diamonds have chosen their strongest possible squad for what will be their only tournament-style meet of next year.

Donnell Wallam is the only addition to the 12 players who sealed the Constellation Cup for Australia just two months ago.

Coach Stacey Marinkovich and her selectors have named a 13-player squad for the Netball Nations Cup next month against world No.2 New Zealand, World Cup finalist England and world No.7 Uganda.

A travelling reserve at both the Commonwealth Games last year and World Cup this year, Wallam pushed her case for inclusion with outstanding performances in the three-Test series against South Africa in Cairns and Hobart last month.

Donnell Wallam in action against South Africa in Hobart. Her form could not be ignored by selectors for the Netball Nations Cup. Photo: Getty Images

Her inclusion gives Marinkovich five shooting options; specialist goal attacks Kiera Austin and Sophie Dwyer, holding shooters Wallam and Sophie Garbin and the mobile Cara Koenen, who has become a swing option between goal shooter and goal attack.

At both ends of the court, Marinkovich has players who can move from a shooting or circle defender’s role into the midcourt.

It is one of the reasons why she and selectors opted for 13 players instead of the maximum 15 allowed in a squad.

“We have picked 13 but it’s a very versatile group,” Marinkovich said.

“Both ends can move into the midcourt and support that environment but we also have Nellie (Wallam) who goes into the shooting and our back defenders are pretty robust and flexible.”

Part of the reason for choosing 13 players rather than 15 is to ensure all those selected receive a decent amount of court time in the four-match tournament as the Diamonds work towards the future.

Jamie-Lee Price is among the players putting her hand up for a regular starting gig since the retirement of Ash Brazill. Photo: Getty Images

“It’s a really dynamic group,” Marinkovich said. “We are still working on some combinations with the change of Steph (Wood) and Ash (Brazill, who have both retired from internationals).

“So for a build to our next marquee events, we do things in increments to make sure that we can get a true understanding of performances and solidify things.

“Then we will keep chipping away with what the future looks like down the track.”

While Amy Parmenter added to her international caps in the South Africa series in which defender Matilda Garrett made her international debut, there were discussions about the pair, as well as the four players who were recently invited into camp, as Australia looks to the future ahead of the next World Cup in 2027.

However, Marinkovich said the current group had so many untried and untested combinations that it was not time for significant change.

Matilda Garrett in action during her Diamonds debut in October against South Africa. Photo: Getty Images

“Whenever you integrate people into the squad, you want to have the time to make sure that when they step out on court, they are well equipped with the understanding of the Diamonds way of playing,’’ she said.

“But also that they have had a moment to connect with the players they are playing with.

“We really want to set up the environment that when people are going out there, they are really comfortable and have been given that strength of understanding.

“Our future will come with our youth but I think at this very moment … we still don’t have a huge amount of time going into this series, so we have gone with a bit of familiarity.

“We also have a lot of untested and untried combinations and people in positions that we want to understand what that looks like on a consistent basis.”

Originally published as Netball Nations Cup: Diamonds name full strength side for only multi-team tournament of 2024