The number one team in world netball. 
The reigning Netball World Cup champions. 
The reigning Commonwealth Games gold medallists. 

Over the past four years, the Diamonds have achieved it all, and now have their sights set on history: becoming the first team in world netball to win consecutive Commonwealth Games gold while holding the title of World Champions. 

While the Diamonds have enjoyed a sustained model of success, other nations are steadily closing the gap as international competition opportunities expand.  

To stay ahead, the Diamonds are pursuing a comprehensive approach supported by Commonwealth Games Australia’s Green2Gold2Great Investment Program. 

This program builds on the Diamonds’ established strengths, with targeted investment in data, coaching, training support, and performance psychology – all areas critical to maintaining a competitive edge. 

With the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games on the horizon, Diamonds Head Coach Stacey Marinkovich is buoyed by the opportunity that the investment presents for the nation’s top netballers.  

“Everybody sees this window, particularly the Commonwealth Games, as an opportunity for success,” Marinkovich said.  

“You can’t stand still, you can’t stay at the top just doing the same thing… Finding a way to innovate the program, to implement what’s cutting edge helps to stay ahead of the opposition.” 

One of the most significant shifts in recent years has been the growing role of data analysis. From preparation to game-day decision-making, the Diamonds now employ a sophisticated data analysis framework designed to identify momentum shifts, inform tactical adjustments and capitalise on key periods in matches. 

Leading the charge in this area is Gary Dawson, the Australian Diamonds Performance Analyst.  

“My role is to look after the technical, tactical side of how we play the game and what we’re doing on the court… making sure that it’s well measured and analysed,” Dawson said. 

Tracking players across the Super Netball season, Dawson compiles a range of data that helps to drive decision making behind the scenes. From individual players, ‘units’ of players and teams as whole, all the way through to conventional statistics such as goal shooting and goal attempts, Dawson is sure to have the data on hand. 

“We want them (athletes) to bring their strengths into our context and make those strengths prominent in our game plan as a Diamonds team.” 

Executing on the court, Diamond’s Captain Liz Watson puts it best in terms of what insights can be offered to players directly in preparation for matches.  

In planning with coaching staff, it’s a process of, ‘this is my direct opponent, what are their strengths, what are their weaknesses, what are my strengths and weaknesses, and how can I combat that’. 

When collecting and applying data on match-day, the circumstances couldn’t be higher.  

As an analytical coach, Marinkovich seeks data throughout matches, and it is the use of this data that ensures she capitalise on key periods of momentum.   

“There can be thousands and thousands of data points behind the scenes, but I get five. It’s things where he’s (Dawson) able to target it that will give me specific knowledge that will help get real clarity in high-pressured moments.”  

Equally important is the investment in performance psychology. With the aim of ensuring players are mentally as well as physically prepared, the Diamonds have embedded support across three core areas: 

• Mental adaptability under pressure 

• Clear and confident communication 

• Access to ongoing psychological support 

This support is delivered through a combination of in-person sessions, online learning modules, and integration within leadership camps – ensuring psychological preparation is treated with the same priority as physical readiness. 

Looking ahead, the Diamonds’ leadership knows that evolving off the court is just as vital as excelling on it.  

Watson, who led the team to gold at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games and will again guide them towards Glasgow 2026, as well as the 2027 Netball World Cup, emphasised the importance of continuing to grow the Diamonds from within. 

“It’s really hard to get into the Diamonds; it’s hard work when you’re here, but then it’s hard to leave,” Watson said. 

“The most important part is that it’s hard to leave because you have so much fun and you love the group, you want to be here and want to get better.” 

In terms of leadership, there’s a sense of ‘shared ownership’ within the squad, ensuring that ‘everyone can be a leader in the [Diamond’s] environment’.  

Having won gold at her debut Games at Birmingham 2022, Sunday Aryang has taken significant steps forward over the past years, and is now seen as an emerging leader within the Diamonds program.  

Evergreen as a leader, Aryang has stepped out of her comfort zone to embrace the opportunity. 

“Leadership is something I didn’t recognise within myself; it’s something that others have brought up and said… you’ve got all these small attributes that we can see that contribute to being a great leader,” Aryang said. 

For Aryang, ‘it’s taking the opportunity to learn as much as possible while I’m in this environment… been able to bring your individual self into the environment and do what you do best’. 

The journey to Glasgow 2026 begins shortly, with two home series against Commonwealth rivals South Africa and New Zealand.  

These contests will not only test the team’s progress but also provide a showcase of how the Diamonds’ program -strengthened by the Green2Gold2Great investment – is setting the benchmark for world netball.