Home

Australian Diamonds coach Stacey Marinkovich backs veteran shooter Caitlin Bassett for Constellation Cup

Headshot of Mitchell Woodcock
Mitchell WoodcockThe West Australian
VideoNetball: Fox Sports has secured the rights to the Super Netball for five years starting in 2022.

New Australian coach Stacey Marinkovich has backed star goal shooter Caitlin Bassett to perform at her best in next month’s Constellation Cup series, despite limited court time in the past 12 months.

Bassett, 32, played just one full game for the Giants in Super Netball last year and has since made the move to New Zealand side Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic as she seeks more game time.

Marnkovich says she doesn’t have concerns about the Perth-raised shooter’s lack of court time ahead of the upcoming four-match test away series against New Zealand.

“When you actually look at the performances Caitlin put out on court, the quality is still there. (She’s) a high volume shooter and definitely has a high shooting percentage” she said.

Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE

Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.

READ NOW
West Australian Sophie Garbin is a chance to make her Australian debut in the upcoming four-Test series against New Zealand.
Camera IconWest Australian Sophie Garbin is a chance to make her Australian debut in the upcoming four-Test series against New Zealand. Credit: HAMISH BLAIR/AAPIMAGE

“It’s about what you do when you get those opportunities and I know that she’s been working in this off-season to make sure she’s in good shape coming into camp.

The Game AFL 2024

“I’m really looking forward to seeing what she does combining with the girls.”

Regular goal attacks Steph Wood (knee) and Gretel Bueta (maternity leave) are unavailable for the series, opening up the opportunity for West Australian Sophie Garbin as well as Kiera Austin and Cara Koenen to make their international debuts.

Garbin has been training with Bassett after the latter joined in the NSW Swifts pre-season this summer, but Marinkovich says the Kalgoorlie-product doesn’t necessarily have an advantage over Austin and Koenen.

“All the girls have got some sort of resemblance of combinations within their own club environments,” she said.

“Obviously Caitlin was training with the Swifts and it certainly gives Sophie the opportunity to understand her strengths and vice-versa, that Caitlin can understand the movements and the patterns that Sophie likes to run.

“When I was in Queensland over Christmas I got to work with the Diamonds’ Firebirds girls, so there’s been opportunities for everyone to embrace and make the most of.

“We really want to explore our combinations, particularly over these three days in the camp before we go into our hotel quarantine period.”

The Diamonds will fly to New Zealand on Monday before serving two weeks quarantine, which ends the day before the opening game at Christcurch Arena on March 2.

Marinkovich admitted their quarantine stint meant it wasn’t “an equal playing ground”, which would likely see them not train until the second week.

“Our ability to interact with each other and train is limited, but that’s what we take on,” she said.

“This might be what we have to face when we go into a Commonwealth Games or a World Cup, so I think it gives us an opportunity to see how it is.”

Get the latest news from thewest.com.au in your inbox.

Sign up for our emails