Fever Athletes Named in Diamonds Squad
The West Coast Fever has been rewarded for an undefeated start to the ANZ Championship season with five players selected in the Australian Diamonds‘ 18-player squad ahead of the Netball World Cup Sydney 2015.
Diamonds coach Lisa Alexander has included three new players in the squad with the uncapped Ashleigh Brazill (WAIS) and Khao Watts, along with April Letton, joining Fever teammates Caitlin Bassett (WAIS) and Natalie Medhurst (WAIS).
Team performances have underlined the squad selections with 10 of the 18 players coming from the top two teams in the Australian Conference of the ANZ Championship with five players each from the West Coast Fever – the only undefeated team after seven rounds – and Queensland Firebirds.
“We’ve assembled a strong 18-player squad at this time that we believe gives us the best chance of selecting a team capable of winning the Netball World Cup title on home soil,” Australian Diamonds coach Lisa Alexander said.
“Along with ANZ Championship performances, the panel has considered the Diamonds International High Performance requirements, Netball World Cup opponents and past international performances into squad selections.”
New inclusions Letton has one international appearance to her name after playing against England on Australia Day in January 2013 while Brazill was named in the Diamonds team in 2012 but was forced to withdraw through injury.
Watts, one of just four uncapped players in the squad alongside Brazill, Karyn Bailey and Gabi Simpson, was plucked from South Australian State League by the Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic in 2012 before joining the Fever last year.
Alexander has named five invitees to join the Diamonds at a three-day camp at Netball Australia’s Centre of Excellence in Canberra from May 5-7 with Carla Borrego, Shae Brown, Gretel Tippett, Liz Watson and Amy Steel to provide additional support for match play sessions.
Players not initially included in the 18-player squad may be elevated to squad status, therefore available for World Cup team selection, at the discretion of selectors.
The 12-player Australian Diamonds team to contest the Netball World Cup from 7-16 August in Sydney will be named following the conclusion of the ANZ Championship season.
– In other netball news:
The Western Australian 19/U state squad has made a good start to their national championship campaign in Sydney, winning three matches, drawing one and losing their other.
The WA side opened their campaign with a 33 goal win over NT (53-30) on day one and added an impressive 42-33 win over Queensland in the second match. An entertaining 34-34 draw with hosts NSW followed, before the WA girls suffered their first defeat for the tournament, succumbing to South Australia 21-38 before bouncing back with a strong 37-20 win over Tasmania.
WA is still yet to face Victoria and the ACT, before the cross-over and classifications match take place this weekend.
In the 17/U competition, WA has found the going tougher, registering just two wins to date, with successes over NT and ACT, whilst suffering defeat against NSW, QLD and South Australia. They are still to play Tasmania and Victoria.
-with NetballAus