Australia Diamonds Commonwealth Games team: Ex-coach Lisa Alexander rates the squad

Former Diamonds coach Lisa Alexander analyses Australia’s Commonwealth Games squad - and where their opponents might test them.

Lisa Alexander says there have been significant omissions from the team

First up, a hearty congratulations to all 12 netball athletes and the three training partners chosen to represent Australia in the upcoming Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. I can only imagine the excitement for each of the 12 young women selected in the team.

On examination of this team, it appears to lack the “Wow” factor.

The selectors must believe that this IS the team to deliver a gold medal based on performance in the Super Netball, International Series and camps.

Though looking more deeply, the team is very heavy in the Wing Defence position across the Centre Court selections, which may point to a lack of decisiveness about who is the world class and best WD to take on England, New Zealand and Jamaica.

Historically, Australia has won benchmark events with a locked in Wing Defence, such as Renae Ingles.

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I believe the selectors have taken a gamble here in the Centre Court to boost up Wing Defence at the expense of the Wing Attack position. It could be argued that Stephanie Wood will provide this cover, although that is untested at international level.

Jamie-Lee Price’s absence from the team of 12 is a huge surprise, especially considering the lack of experience at benchmark events of this current 12. She has already had a benchmark event under her belt and performed well in the recent Quad Series.

Sarah Klau will be crucial to the Diamonds defence.

Her X-factor ability and physical style could have proven to be a “Wow” factor in the Games.

Having seen first-hand the style of play here in England, I know that the English will be physical and will put Australia, NZ and Jamaica to a stern test of intense physicality.

Just go back and watch the first quarter of the Comm Games final at the Gold Coast and see the intensity put on the Australian attacking transverse line.

Someone like Price can compete with this physicality and takes it in her stride. She has both an attacking presence, fine circle feeding skills and defensive capabilities to turn a match.

And while on the selections for the Centre Court, a name missing from most punters picks would have been Kim Ravaillion, a proven world-class Centre with significant international experience under her belt, including two gold medals at the Comm Games in 2014 and World Cup in 2015.

It cannot be underestimated the experience required for victory in a benchmark tournament such as the Commonwealth Games. This team has five benchmark event rookies, including the training partners, that increases to seven.

Sophie Dwyer is a massive omission.

Multi-sport tournaments are very different to a Netball Series for all the staff and athletes, they will need to take this into account with the level of inexperience in the team.

Another missed opportunity for the “Wow” for mine is Sophie Dwyer. She has performed extremely well and consistently across Super Netball season. Sophie has stood up to a stern test for her second season, which is often very difficult for most athletes.

She calmly goes about her craft on the court and sinks the big shots when they matter.

I would have picked her in my 12, most definitely. I cannot understand why she would not be at least a training partner.

The Australian shooting end will be the most inexperienced going to a benchmark event for quite some time. However, the combination of Bueta and Wood in GS and GA respectively is sensational!

The issue will be all teams saw it and will have analysed it closely since the Quad Series in January this year. It will be missing that surprise element that can unsettle opposition defence ends.

Jamie-Lee Price should have made the squad, according to Lisa Alexander.

The addition of Austin is well deserved and could provide an element of “the unknown”.

Many believed the defence end picked itself, however, the non-inclusion of Maddy Turner in the team of 12, and even as a training partner, is puzzling.

Maddy once again goes about her craft in an unobtrusive manner but with the synergy between her and Sarah Klau, does her job setting up others.

It is the unappreciated workhorse approach that is needed in a defence end to win championships and finals.

As we can appreciate, the Australian Diamonds is one of the most difficult teams to be selected in when you run the numbers of 12 spots for the participation of over 1 million. However, the rest of the world is catching up to Australia’s No.1 ranking and this Commonwealth Games will be a true test of that ability of putting a team together very quickly and getting combinations going.

We all wish the best for our Australian Diamonds as they head into the final phase!

Originally published as Australia Diamonds Commonwealth Games team: Ex-coach Lisa Alexander rates the squad