Decider looms for defeated Diamonds

By Matt Fotia 

There is plenty to take out of the Diamonds surprise two goal loss to the England Roses on Sunday afternoon, according to coach Stacey Marinkovich. 

The visitors claimed just their third win on Australian soil, coming from behind to claim a see-sawing tussle at Qudos Bank Arena. 

The result sets up a mouth-watering series decider in Bendigo this Wednesday.  

Marinkovich said the much-improved English performance was to be expected, especially off the back of Thursday’s sizeable defeat in Adelaide. 

“International netball is tough, and we expected them to come out with a great deal of intensity,” Marinkovich said. 

“We got stuck on the body a bit, which stopped our connection and flow, so we’ll take some lessons and learnings.” 

Defensively England shone, claiming 10 gains and 22 deflections, disrupting the exquisite ball movement the Diamonds had put on display a few days earlier. 

Marinkovich said her players failed to read the momentum of the game on occasions, trying to maintain a high-octane style of play, when more risk adverse decision making was required. 

“Sometimes we can’t play as direct as we have been in the previous two plays, and we’ve got to lift our work rate,” Marinkovich explained. 

“It’s okay to go slow and to play back.  

“It’s not our natural style, but we’re very capable of doing it. 

“We’ve just got to find the balance of when to force things and when to actually use all our players in attack to keep possession at the same time.” 

England’s defensive performance was led by dynamo Funmi Fadoju.  

The undersized circle defender was named MVP after a scintillating performance which included eight gains, eight deflections and two intercepts. 

Marinkovich said the Diamonds would look at how they can limit Fadoju’s influence before they meet again in Bendigo. 

“She’s got some great athletic capabilities, she’s a bit unassuming around the body,” Marinkovich said. 

“We need to look at what she did in her movement to adjust (from game one) but also we just need to sight and see and take the extra pass to get a different angle which takes her out of position.” 

Marinkovich also highlighted a change in the way England moved the ball in offence, particularly during the final quarter when the Roses had 11 more feeds than the Diamonds which resulted in a match winning four goal swing. 

“They were getting some good ball speed through the centre pass, and I don’t think we had as much impact as we did in the first game,” Marinkovich stated. 

“They pretty much played a three second release game in the first game, and whether it’s how they played or the pressure we were applying, I think (today) they were a bit more free in the way they were letting the ball go and backing their own connections.” 

Marinkovich lauded her squad’s depth when asked whether she would make any changes for the series decider in Bendigo on Wednesday. 

“The combinations we’ve put out there, whilst we changed it there’s still great strength across it,” Marinkovich said. 

“England adjusted and played a different combination as well. 

“There are things you try and get answers too, but at the same time we never put a combination out there not going for a result. 

“As soon as we put a combination out there, we believe they can get the job done.”