Layton to miss big series in England

DEFENDER Sharni Layton has been omitted from the national netball squad to play next month’s Quad Series in England after failing to gain medical clearance.

Layton, 29, has been a highprofile absentee from the world champion side in recent months because of exhaustion.

She has begun pre-season training with Collingwood and was provisionally named to return for the Diamonds’ final hitout before April’s Commonwealth Games.

Coach Lisa Alexander said Layton remained in the frame for next April’s Games, but playing in the Quad Series was deemed too risky.

“She’s progressing really well, but she wasn’t able to complete the full rigours of training that we require at the time we require,” Alexander said. “She could put herself at physical injury risk if she’s not at that level.”

Vixens defender Emily Mannix comes into the 14player Diamonds squad.

Collingwood skipper and recent automatic selection Madi Robinson has again been left out of the side, but will join Layton in a four-day Games simulation camp in January before the squad departs to press her case for a late call-up.

“That mid-court race is wide open, but it would be hard to leave anyone out [from the current squad],” the coach said.

Alexander said former captain Laura Geitz, returning to the sport after having her first child, was an outside chance of attending the camp.

“We’ll keep monitoring her ... you would never count her out,” Alexander said.

The Diamonds squad will meet in Canberra from 11-14 January before leaving for England for games against New Zealand, South Africa and the host nation. AAP