New era to bring in ‘ little’ changes
COACH Lisa Alexander says “little things” have been identified to help the Diamonds return to the winner’s circle but there will be no knee- jerk changes to the way the Australian netball team runs in the wake of their shock loss at the Commonwealth Games.
A new Diamonds squad will be named on Sunday with change expected in the wake of the international retirements of Laura Geitz, Susan Pettitt and Madi Robertson and the emergence of new talent in Super Netball.
With a series of international matches looming – the first since England beat Australia for their first Games gold in history – Alexander said a Netball Australia review has been completed.
“It’s the most thorough review I have ever been part of,” Alexander said.
“But we can’t be knee- jerk reactionary. Keeping it in context we were still four goals up with six minutes to go and should have won the game.
“Everyone has fire in the belly to get back in there.
“There are many little things we have learned. Little details that will be applied. There are things we will make sure do not happen again.’’
Australia has a series of internationals in September and October, including their first rematch with England since their Games loss in Newcastle on April 15.
Alexander has flagged the fact there may be new faces in the squad as she works on retopping her pool of talent ahead of next year’s world championships in the UK. Swifts defender Sarah Klau is one young player pushing for squad selection after a second standout season with the NSW side. Klau will test her mettle against the best shooter in Super Netball, Jhaniele Fowler- Reid, tomorrow when the Swifts host the table- topping West Coast Fever in Sydney.
The Swifts must win all their remaining matches and then rely on other results to fall their way to have a chance of making the top four.
The Giants also face testing times this weekend against a desperate Queensland Firebirds side.
The match will see Diamonds teammates Pettitt and Geitz face each other in the circle in a match the Firebirds need to win to keep alive their semi- final hopes. SUPER NETBALL ROUND Saturday 3pm: Sunshine Coast Lightning v Magpies Netball, USC Stadium, Sunshine Coast
7pm: NSW Swifts v West Coast Fever, Quaycentre, Sydney Sunday 1pm: Queensland Firebirds v Giants Netball, Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Brisbane
3pm: Melbourne Vixens v Adelaide Thunderbirds, Hisense Arena, Melbourne