Commonwealth Games: Laura Geitz’s comeback confirmed

Former skipper Laura Geitz has won selection in the Diamonds for their Commonwealth Games gold medal defence in April.

Laura Geitz has won her way back into the Diamonds for the Commonwealth Games.

Laura Geitz’s Australia Diamonds comeback was made official yesterday when she was selected in the 12-strong team tasked with defending gold at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in April.

The former captain still has plenty of catching up to do before the Games, but head coach Lisa Alexander said she was confident Geitz will be ready after strong form at a training camp last month.

Geitz’s inclusion did come at the cost of Magpies Netball star Sharni Layton, who was expected to own the goalkeeper’s bib once Geitz stepped away, but has struggled with exhaustion and has not played since August. Squeezing both veterans into a defensive end that has been stifling opponents in their absence was always going to be a tall task for selectors.

The other surprise pick was wing attack Madi Robinson, who hadn’t played for the Diamonds since being dropped last September. According to Alexander, selectors used the intervening matches as a chance to explore other midcourt options, but ultimately settled on Robinson.

“At the end of the day, Madi went away and was given very specific feedback on what she needed to improve upon. A whole list of things. And that’s what we saw back in her game in camp in Canberra.”

Robinson joins Liz Watson, Kim Ravaillion and Gabi Simpson, who finished January’s Quad Series as Australia’s form midcourt combination. The exclusion of Vixens captain Kate Moloney in particular will raise many eyebrows after her stellar form last year.

“Kate Moloney’s form at centre court has been very strong, she is very unlucky to miss out,” Alexander said.

The Diamonds’ shooting circle for the Commonwealth Games will look much the same as it has for the past year: captain Caitlin Bassett and her Lightning teammate Stephanie Wood joined by Caitlin Thwaites and veteran goal attack Susan Pettitt.