Australian netball Diamonds expecting Usain Bolt in Games stands

IT’S not who Australia is facing on the netball court at the Commonwealth Games that worries Diamonds coach Lisa Alexander. It’s who could be sitting in the stands watching.

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IT’S not who Australia is facing on the netball court at the Commonwealth Games that worries Diamonds coach Lisa Alexander. It’s who could be sitting in the stands motivating a rival side.

Australia has avoided arch rivals New Zealand but has been drawn with Jamaica, South Africa, Barbados, Fiji and North Ireland in their pool at the Games on the Gold Coast next year.

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New Zealand, England, Malawi, Wales, Scotland and Games debutants Uganda are in the other pool.

Usain Bolt is a big fan of netball and a former Commonwealth Games athlete.

Alexander believes Jamaica may just decide to call in the big guns for their pools clash with Australia in the form of one of the Sunshine Girls’s biggest fans — Usain Bolt.

“It would not surprise me one little bit if they bring him in,’’ Alexander said.

“They are a very, very proud netball nation and he is their biggest fan.

“With him motivating they will be very strong.’’

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Australia’s toughest pool opponents will be the super fast, high-flying Jamaicans and the rapidly improving South Africans.

Australia has at times in the past struggled against the aerial game and unpredictable nature of Caribbean netball with South African blow being mentored by former Diamonds coach Norma Plummer.

Australia after winning gold in Glasgow at the last Commonwealth Games.

“It’s always going to be a difficult road to the finals, as we are playing in a competition with the twelve best netballing nations in the world,’’ Alexander said.

“There is no ‘draw of death’ – it will be plain, hard work in both pools.

“Both pools will have their tricky moments in the preliminary rounds – England playing New Zealand will be tough, Australia playing Jamaica will be tough, and Australia playing Fiji will also be tough with former Australian captain Vicki Wilson coaching the side.

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“No matter what, every game we play will be challenging.”

In other news Australia’s crucial build-up to the Commonwealth Games will be telecast live and free in Australia.

The great Jamaican athlete Usain Bolt is a known netball lover.

In a major bonanza for netball fans, every game of the upcoming Quad series and then Constellation Cup with New Zealand will be televised by Channel Nine.

The Quad series, involving Australia, South Africa, England and New Zealand, and the annual Constellation Cup are major lead-up events for the Commonwealth Games where the Australians is bidding to defend its crown.