2016 Netball Quad Series: Caitlin Bassett says Diamonds determined to avoid Boomers’ fate

AUSTRALIAN shooter Caitlin Bassett says the Boomers’ heartbreaking Olympics loss is a timely reminder the Diamonds need to be on their toes for every game of the international quad series.

Caitlin Bassett says watching the Olympics ‘fired me up’. Picture: Getty Images

• Diamonds Netball: Ultimate guide
• Diamonds make perfect start
• Footy women in league of their own
• Netball audition for top guns
• Australian Olympic women: By the numbers

AUSTRALIAN shooter Caitlin Bassett says the Boomers’ heartbreaking loss at the Olympic Games has been a timely reminder the Diamonds need to be on their toes for every game of the international quad series.

The Diamonds have a close affiliation with the Boomers through top international netballer Renae Hallinan who is married to Joe Ingles and is currently on a break from the game following the recent birth of their twins.

“It was heartbreaking watching the Boomers just miss the medal,” Bassett said of the team’s 89-88 loss to Spain.

“It felt quite personal. But just watching the Olympics was exciting. It’s fired me up.

The pain felt by Dave Anderson, Andrew Bogut and the Boomers really hit home. Picture: Adam Head

“It’s made me so excited about pulling on the green and gold. There is something very humbling about doing that. “

But the gun Diamonds shooter said she wishes more people realised netball was not an Olympic sport.

“I can’t tell you the number of people who have come up and asked me how I did in Rio,” she laughed. “I’ve had to explain we are not an Olympic sport.”

While our women’s teams in Rio — the Opals, Matildas, Hockeyroos and Stingers — all fell in the quarter-finals in Rio, the Diamonds are favourites to win the quad series ahead of world No. 2 New Zealand, South Africa and England.

Caitlin Bassett trying to make a difference as WA ambassador for Rethink Role Models.

Bassett is expected to be one of the most-sought after signatures in the off-season as teams rush to sign on talent ahead of the new eight-team national league which will start early next year.

She has already been linked with the new Collingwood-backed team in Melbourne but no players have officially signed with clubs to date as negotiations continue with collective bargaining agreements.

Australia beat South Africa in their first match of the quad series in Auckland on Saturday by 25 goals.

Australia’s next game is against England in Adelaide on Wednesday.