Diamonds coach Stacey Marinkovich admits it was a “ruthless” selection camp in Canberra that determined the 12 players named to take on Jamaica in a three-Test series starting next Thursday.
The Aussies have opted to stack their squad against an understrength Sunshine Girls, who head into the matches with just two Super Netball-listed players in Kadie-Ann Dehaney and Latanya Wilson available.
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But with a Commonwealth Games gold medal defence looming later this year, Marinkovich said the Canberra camp – featuring matches against the Sunshine Coast Lightning, Melbourne Mavericks and Australia’s youth squad – was the ideal preparation for what will be a big netball year.
“I think we ended up having 50 players with our SSN teams here. To be able to have our youth come in that are knocking on the door to the Diamonds, and obviously our entire Diamonds squad – it’s set a standard. It’s been ruthless,” she said.
“Selection was incredibly hard.
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“I’ve said it to the players … it’s not that anyone is playing poorly. No one is taking themselves out of selection – it’s just what’s connecting at what particular point in time.
“The effort the entire squad has put in has put the 12 that we’ve got in a really good position.”
For the Diamonds, Matilda Garrett comes into the defensive four in place of injured Sunday Aryang while young Georgie Horjus has been named as a midcourter alongside experienced trio Liz Watson, Kate Moloney and Jamie-Lee Price.
“(Tilly) gets her hand to ball – that’s the thing with our defenders. Their ability to really have a presence out on court but we’re actually giving them the freedom to fly and use their instinct out on court,” Marinkovich praised.
“Tilly has been in the group for a little while now – I think we’re seeing the versatility that she can bring to the line up.
“We’re a real squad mentality and people keep continuing to step up.”
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The selection process saw the likes of Liz Watson and Courtney Bruce go up against fellow Diamonds as they featured for the Lightning in trial matches; as did Jamie-Lee Price and Amy Parmenter at the Mavericks.
Australia’s squad has now spent a couple weeks together in preparation for not just the Jamaica series, but the trip to Glasgow for a possible gold medal.
“I think any time you put this uniform on, we’re going for gold,” Marinkovich said.
“We recognise international netball is the closest we’ve ever been.
“We’ve seen through Super Netball the international flavour that’s there … and how competitive, they’ve increased skills, and it’s improved the international environment.
“It’s going to be tough (in Glasgow) – we’re going to have to play at our best.
“(It’s) who turns up on the day. The beauty of Comm Games, you’ve got to be able to do it day after day after day. Turn up when it really counts.
“That’s why this camp (in Canberra) has been incredible for us.
“Comm games is not starting 7 and it sits all the way through – you rely on your entire squad.
“The stronger we are collectively, the more of a force we are.”
The Jamaica series begins in Adelaide on Thursday, February 5 before heading to Perth for game two on Sunday February 8.
The final match of the series will be played in Melbourne on February 11.
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