Netball news 2023: Liz Watson’s four-year plan for Diamonds domination

Diamonds captain Liz Watson is hoping to see out another four years in the top job and take Australia to the next World Cup. Here’s how she will do it.

Ahead of the final game of the Diamonds’ World Cup-winning international season, captain Liz Watson has reiterated her commitment to continuing on for the balance of the four-year cycle that will culminate with an attempted title defence in Sydney in 2027.

“I want to,’’ Watson told CODE Sports ahead of Tuesday’s third Test against South Africa. “I don’t want to be hanging on and just scraping through, though. I want to be thriving in this environment, so if I can, I will, and if I can’t, I won’t.

“It is what it is, so I don’t want to put any time pressure on it. We don’t take any moment in this dress for granted, so whether it’s our first tour or our last tour, I’ve just had that in my mind: just enjoy every bit and we’ll see how long we can go.’’

Appointed as captain in 2021 to succeed Caitlin Bassett, Watson turns 30 around the start of the next Super Netball season and is set to join the Sunshine Coast Lightning after a decade and two premierships with the Melbourne Vixens.

The midcourt jet has already earned 79 national caps since her 2016 Test debut and, under head coach Stacey Marinkovich, has led the Diamonds to both Commonwealth Games and World Cup gold while refilling the trophy room in the past 16 months.

Sydney is a carrot, clearly, as Australia last hosted the latter pinnacle event in 2015, and trumped New Zealand in the final.

“It will be cool, yeah,’’ Watson said. “Even to see the Matildas when they played at home, and the buzz around the town, so that will be really special. But the best team’s gonna be there and Stace will make sure it’s about the best 12.’’

Liz Watson is the beating heart of the Diamonds. Picture: Albert Perez/Getty Images

Watson has featured in all six Tests played over the past month, including the 2-2 Constellation Cup draw against New Zealand determined by goal difference, and the two wins so far against South Africa by 19 and then 15 goals.

“It’s been not just a big tour; a big whole year of netball. But it is really exciting, and we want to finish off this year with a bang,’’ she said.

Donnell Wallam, Amy Parmenter and Matilda Garrett have come into the most recent 12 for Jo Weston, Kiera Austin and Kate Moloney.

“It obviously was a really tough Constellation Cup, but to come in here, I feel like Donnell, Parmy and Tilly just really added that bit of energy that we needed in this group and one game to go. Yeah, it’s really exciting.’’

But are sub-20 margins enough against the world No.5 Proteas, who were relegated to sixth at the World Cup by Uganda, now a netball nation in turmoil.

“I don’t think it’s necessarily the goal score; I think it’s just how we’re playing,’’ Watson said of Sunday’s 67-52 win, after scores were level midway through the second quarter before some new combinations were introduced at half-time.

“I think in the first half we probably didn’t play how we like to play; we were not as fast and speedy onto the ball as we usually are, but South Africa are a great team.

“I think people keep forgetting that they are one of the top nations as well, so any win against them is big. Obviously we want to keep pushing what’s still a really big margin in international netball.’’

The surprise star for the Proteas was young goal attack Kamogelo Maseko, who Watson admitted the Diamonds had thought was behind Nichole Taljaard in the South African pecking order at goal attack, but gained player-of-the-match honours after shooting 20 goals from 23 attempts and using her pace and creativity to create space.

Liz Watson of the Diamonds against South Africa. Pictures: Albert Perez/Getty Images

“I think when we saw five shooters shooting before the game in their warm-up, we weren’t as knowledgeable (about her),’’ Watson said. “But she’s done awesome, and I think it’s something for our defenders to look forward to tomorrow night.’’

Proteas’ coach Norma Plummer expects a tactical change-up from Marinkovich in that regard and perhaps Sunday Aryang to utilise her leg speed at goal defence after Courtney Bruce and Garrett shared the duties on Sunday.

In what will be her final game against Australia, and in Australia, the dual World Cup winning-coach with the Diamonds – who will retire after the England series in December after 166 Tests – says Maseko represents the new breed of Protea now primed to come through.

“Kamo’s only 21, and we’ve had her in the program, developing, and now it’s time to put her out there and there she goes, she’s had a blinder,’’ Plummer said.

“Mind you, we’re very aware that Australia will do their homework, (that) it might be different next time, but we’ve got to be prepared on how we change that up, so that she doesn’t get carried away to think that that’s the only way Australia will play.’’

Watson, who insists she is less sore after a huge year for the Diamonds and in Super Netball than just staring down a little “general fatigue”, admits Australia was “a bit flat” at certain stages in game two.

“I think it’s just going back to how we play and just that enjoyment; to celebrate those little wins, get around each other and actually enjoy what we’re doing because that’s when we play our best,’’ she said.

“I think our Diamonds’ brand of netball was there and thereabouts at some stage, it wasn’t there for the whole 60 minutes. So, yes, we won four quarters, but I think we can definitely just put on a show for our last game and really enjoy finishing off the year here in Australia.”

Originally published as Netball news 2023: Liz Watson’s four-year plan for Diamonds domination