Seven Victorian-based players headline the Australian Diamonds team for the Quad Series in January, announced by coach Lisa Alexander this week.
Alexander named her 13 players ahead of the series that will see Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and England face off in a series of Test matches in London and Liverpool from January 13-20.
Jo Weston is one of seven Victorian-based netballers to be named in the Diamonds squad.Credit:AAP
Melbourne Vixens are the most represented side with Kate Moloney, Emily Mannix, Jo Weston, Liz Watson and new signing Caitlin Thwaites all selected while Collingwoods April Brandley and new signing Kelsey Browne are also in the team.
Alexander said her squad featured five centre-court players as she would use the series to test different central combinations ahead of next years netball World Cup.
“Were taking five mid-court athletes to England in January so we can continue to explore and evolve our playing combinations and game plan as we head towards the World Cup,” Alexander said.
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“Kate and Jamie-Lee Price both contributed differently to our mid-court during the Constellation Cup so were keen to explore those combinations a little bit further.
“I was very impressed with how we performed in both the recent Quad Series and Constellation Cup so Im looking forward to January where well again be competing on the world stage, further developing our game plans and starting to really build towards our World Cup campaign.”
The Diamonds will also have a training camp in March and a World Cup selection camp in May, which will mesh into the Super Netball season before Alexander makes a final call on her squad at the start of June.
Diamonds team for Quad Series: Caitlin Bassett (Giants), April Brandley (Collingwood Magpies), Kelsey Browne (Magpies), Courtney Bruce (West Coast Fever), Emily Mannix (Vixens), Jamie-Lee Price (Giants), Kate Moloney (Vixens), Gabi Simpson (Queensland Firebirds), Caitlin Thwaites (Vixens), Gretel Tippett (Firebirds), Liz Watson (Vixens), Jo Weston (Vixens), Stephanie Wood (Sunshine Coast Lightning).
Roy Ward is a Sports writer for The Age.
