Donnell Wallam has fronted the media for the first time since making national headlines six months ago, regarding her involvement in the Aussie Diamonds and Hancock Prospecting sponsorship saga.
Appearing on the ABC Sport Daily podcast, the Noongar woman labelled her experience at the centre of the controversy as "tricky" and "tough", and said she is only now ready to speak after taking a lengthy break from media commitments.
Netball Australia signed a $15 million deal with the mining company in late September amid huge financial pressure, after reporting a $7.2 million loss during the pandemic and owing $4.2 million debt in bank loans.
The high-performance partnership, set to run until the end of 2025, required the national sporting body to display Hancock signage at match venues and for Diamonds players to wear the company's logo on their playing dresses in the Constellation Cup and England Test series.
But when Australia took the court for their first trans-Tasman match in New Zealand against the Silver Ferns, less than a fortnight after the ink had dried on the sponsorship deal, the logo was nowhere to be seen.
Diamonds players – including Wallam – had appeared in a dress featuring the logo at a media day on October 3, but between then and their Test on October 12, issues had emerged behind the scenes.
The players hadn't been consulted throughout the negotiation process and only found out about the deal once it had already been signed off. In the days after that match, a multitude of rumours swirled as to why there was a conflict between the group, Netball Australia and Hancock.
Ultimately, the real reason was revealed to be the attitude deceased company founder Lang Hancock had expressed towards First Nations people in the 1980s, which didn't sit right as the team's third Indigenous Diamond in 80 years was set to make her debut.
Wallam asked for an exemption to wear a dress without the logo when she entered the set-up for the England series, but eventually agreed to go ahead and wear it amidst mounting pressure.
Before she could do so, Rinehart pulled the sponsorship. Four days later, Wallam took the court in the final 10 minutes of Australia's opening match against the Roses and scored the winning goal.
Since then, the sport has picked up a variety of other sponsorships to help with its financial struggles, including a $15 million deal with Visit Victoria that saw the state secure this year's Super Netball grand final as well as several Diamonds matches and camps in the lead up to the 2026 Commonwealth Games.
Meanwhile, Wallam has continued to let her netball do the talking, starring for the Queensland Firebirds in recent weeks as she kept a quiet profile off court, out of the media eye.
Wallam has also secured individual sponsorship deals since the saga and earned praise amongst her peers for her strength to stand tall during such a tough time.
From her rookie season of Super Netball in 2022, to a clutch Diamonds debut and where she is now, Wallam has packed more into 12 months than some players do throughout their entire careers.
"It's been a crazy ride, I remember just being kind of no one, and no one knowing who I am," she said.
"I was so new to Super Netball and now there's a bit of pressure to back up that breakout season.
"A lot of people have reached out to chat and I sort of just needed to take a break; it was a tricky time with so much going on, so I kind of just needed to distance myself a little bit."
Reflecting on her first experience in the national set-up and the way her teammates and family supported her throughout the sponsorship turmoil, Wallam said she appreciated the support.
"When I was in the Diamonds program, we were in a bit of a bubble because we were travelling and it's easier to block out the outside noise because you're so busy with training and team meetings.
"The team get around you, so that was very helpful, and they were amazing, honestly, I can't thank my teammates enough to know that they stood up for me and made me feel safe and like I belonged.
"When it comes to family, I was just letting them know what's happening and it was a tough time for them as well to see everything in the media and read everything that was out there.
"They supported my decisions all the way, so I knew whatever happened that my family had my back and mum came over to watch the games, so it was nice to have her in the stands for my debut."
Wallam understands that she has played an important part in the conversation regarding the treatment of Indigenous Australians, and says she is keen to keep fighting despite the heavy burden.
"Anytime I find myself struggling I just think back to that period and the resilience I showed.
"I feel like I draw on the strength of my ancestors all the time and going into those games after everything that went on, that's where I drew my strength from … even when I'm just playing Super Netball, I remind myself that I'm doing it for my mum.
"You do get a sense of pride being able to educate people, but at the same time, it's still shocking that so many people don't know the history and sometimes I feel it is a burden.
"It's not my job to educate but in those moments, you really have to, because if not me it's going to be the next Indigenous sports star that is going to have to do it.
"As a First Nations athlete with a platform, you do have to use your voice.
"You feel a responsibility to be that for your people, so it's something that I am willing to do but it's also something that the whole of Australia needs to educate themselves on."
Wallam missed out on selection for the Diamonds' successful Quad Series campaign in January but is closely being watched by head coach Stacey Marinkovich in the lead up to the Netball World Cup.
As the leading Australian shooter four rounds into the 2023 Super Netball season (177 goals, 18 offensive rebounds), Wallam is in a promising position three months out from the major tournament.
"[Stacey and I] have had feedback sessions and she's told me the things I need to work on, so that's been my focus, trying to implement that and doing what I can to help the Firebirds win a game.
"I'll just keep playing my role and hopefully that pays off for me for World Cup."
You can listen to the ABC Sport Daily podcast with Donnell Wallam here or via the ABC Listen app.
