The loss of the pregnant Diamonds star forces coach Stacey Marinkovich to pivot and reassess the whole attack end
his changes everything. That was the netball world’s collective reaction when Gretel Bueta – arguably the best player on the planet – revealed at the weekend she is pregnant, meaning she will miss the World Cup in South Africa later this year and the SuperThe 29-year-old has not played for Australia since last year’s gold medal-winning Commonwealth Games campaign, where she was among the Diamonds’ most dominant players, terrorising defenders with her agility, aggression and accuracy.
An Instagram post on Saturday explained why with the announcement that she and husband Niko Bueta are expecting a brother for their two-year-old son Bobby, prompting congratulations from the Queensland Firebirds, Diamonds, fellow players and fans. It also sent a ripple through the sport. The Diamonds will lack a certain shine without her at the World Cup. She is a quintessential “x-factor player”, equally gifted at goal attack as at shooter and as an unconventional player, nearly impossible to match-up one-on-one, as Jamaica found in the Commonwealth final.
Stacey Marinkovich knows too that Bueta is not a like-for-like player, someone who can be simply replaced by another. Without her first-picked star, the coach has to pivot and reassess her whole attack end.
Malaysia Latest News, Malaysia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Val Guseli stuns snowboard world in historic World Cup firstAustralian teenager Valentino Guseli claims silver medals in the halfpipe and slopestyle World Cup events on the same day at Deer Valley to cement a world first medal record.
Read more »
WPL auction the 'elephant in the room' for Aussies ahead of T20 World CupAustralia's cricketers are dealing with a familiar favourites tag as they prepare to defend their Women's T20 World Cup title — but players are also aware of the upcoming WPL auction, which could be life-changing for those who make it.
Read more »
Australia battles to win over India in T20 World Cup warm-up matchAlyssa Healy keeps wickets but cannot bat in Australia's first Twenty20 World Cup warm-up match against India — a low-scoring affair on a worn Newlands pitch.
Read more »
World Cup star found under rubble of fallen building in Turkey earthquakesA former World Cup and English Premier League star has been found by rescuers following twin earthquakes that flattened a number of cities in Turkey and rocked a second country.
Read more »
Colours of the world come out to show their PrideThe rain held off, it was not too hot and crowds were treated to the huge feast for the senses that is the annual Midsumma Pride March in St Kilda on Sunday.
Read more »
Liam Wilson wants instant rematch or all-Aussie blockbuster following world title blunderAfter his controversial loss to Emanuel Navarrete there are only two fights on Liam Wilson's mind and one of them is a clash with one of Australian boxing's biggest stars.
Read more »