A quintet of Australian shooters find themselves under the spotlight with places in Stacey Marinkovich’s squad limitedLiz Ellis often refers to shooters as the “princesses” of netball; the ponytail-tossing prima donnas who crave the spotlight. While said in jest, there’s some truth in the characterisation by Australia’s most capped netballer. That’s because it takes a particular type of self-assurance and composure to hold the hopes of a team, even a nation, quite literally in your hands.It requires extra-special fortitude, then, for a player to head into a Test series to represent the No 1 side in the world – who won every trophy on offer last year – in the knowledge that their performance may all but determine selection for...
Successes against New Zealand and England have put Australia in a strong position ahead of next year’s tournament in Cape TownGretel Bueta. Ash Brazill. Liz Watson. Steph Wood. The names variously missing from recent team sheets in Australia’s recent back-to-back Test series wins have been conspicuous, but the absent stars are also the reason Stacey Marinkovich’s side should be favourites for next year’s World Cup in Cape Town.The Diamonds – who were in the unfamiliar position of being trophy-less in March last year – have collected titles over recent weeks against New Zealand and England without several of their genuine star players, reinforcing the strength in depth of their squad. Continue reading...
A nine-goal win averts disaster for Australia, but their gold medal rival Jamaica represent a wider threat to the Diamonds’ long-held supremacyBruised, battered and wounded – not in body, but in pride – the Diamonds hobbled into Saturday’s Commonwealth Games semi final against the host nation England. The historic loss to Jamaica cast its shadow over the upcoming match. A loss was not necessarily a concern in itself – in 2015 the Diamonds lost a pool match to New Zealand and went on to win the gold medal match against the same opposition.But a loss to Jamaica was emblematic of a new world order. It was the first time Australia had lost to Jamaica at a major tournament. No longer...
Across the seven shooters on Australia’s extended list, the only constant in Super Netball has been inconsistencyWith just over two months remaining until the first whistle blows at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games, the time for selectors to name the final team is inching closer. Decisions in the defence end are clear cut with only five players named in the wider squad to be reduced to four before the Games begin. The issue in the mid-court is an over-supply of talent, with the Swifts’ Maddy Proud and the Magpies’ Kelsey Browne demanding selectors take notice despite sitting outside of the named squad.But it is at the shooting end where cracks are beginning to appear. Across the seven shooters in the 18-player...