West Coast Fever’s Most Valuable Player Award has been re-named the Stacey Marinkovich Medal to honour the former captain and coach’s significant legacy at the club.
After arriving from Queensland to play for the Perth Orioles in 2002, Marinkovich was appointed as West Coast Fever’s inaugural captain in 2008 and celebrated her 100th elite level game before retiring at the end of the following season.
She returned to coach 104 West Coast Fever games from 2015-2021 and lead the team to two Grand Finals in the most successful period in club history.
After almost 20 years at West Coast Fever, she departed earlier this month after being appointed full-time Origin Australian Diamonds head coach.
Her ability to engage, influence and inspire people both on and off the court with her genuine, down-to-earth approach has made her a favourite at West Coast Fever, where her name will now forever be enshrined on the Medal for each season’s Most Valuable Player, as voted by the coaches.
West Coast Fever CEO Simone Hansen congratulated Marinkovich on the honour leading up to tomorrow night's presentation dinner ‘The Net Ball’ at Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre.
“Stacey is highly deserving of this recognition for her outstanding contribution to West Coast Fever as a player, captain and coach,” Hansen said.
“There is no doubt that she has positively impacted everyone that she has worked alongside throughout her career to-date and that the Diamonds program will greatly benefit from her involvement.”
Marinkovich said she felt extremely honoured and privileged to have the Medal struck in her honour.
“To have this award named as a reflection of the contribution I’ve made to the club is extremely humbling and will be forever in my heart,” she said.
“This club means so much to me and this is a huge honour and an absolute privilege to be recognised in that sort of standing. It means so much, because I feel like the club has been home for such a long period of time.
“I would like to thank everyone at West Coast Fever and Netball WA for this honour. I’m really excited for what the future holds for the club and netball in WA. It’s in such a great place.”
Watch Stacey's reaction to the news below.
