2018 Quad Series Samsung Diamonds Team Named

The Samsung Diamonds will travel to London and Johannesburg in January 2018 to contest the Netball Quad Series, with 14 athletes selected.

Paige Hadley and Sharni Layton return to the Diamonds team, after both missing the Netball Quad Series and Constellation Cup. Layton’s inclusion is subject to medical clearance. Gretel Tippett has also been included in the team.

Head Coach Lisa Alexander and National Selectors Anne Sargeant and Michelle Wilkins have opted for five goalers and five midcourters, with a final 12 athletes named 24 hours prior to each test.

Alexander said, “the selectors and I are ensuring all options are explored prior to selection of the Commonwealth Games team in February, hence the changes from our Constellation Cup team, and continuing our focus on the high performance process.

“Sharni has been named for the upcoming Quad Series subject to medical clearance after taking a leave of absence over the last three months. She is looking forward to getting back into training and joining her teammates for the upcoming training block,” said Alexander.

The entire Diamonds squad will gather at the Netball Centre of Excellence at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra from 11 – 14 January for a Commonwealth Games Simulation Camp, before the 14 Quad Series athletes travel to England.

“Although this is the final tour prior to the Commonwealth Games, the door is still open for all squad members to put their best foot forward for a position in the Commonwealth Games team of 12,” explained coach Lisa Alexander.

“We have had an initial conversation with Laura Geitz, who is progressing well in her training. We will look at making a decision later this year around whether she will be invited into the January Simulation Camp as a training partner.”

The Netball Quad Series is the final test series for the Samsung Diamonds before the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.

Netball Quad Series Team

Name – test caps (state of origin/2018 Suncorp Super Netball team)

Caitlin Bassett – 73 caps (Western Australia, Sunshine Coast Lightning)
April Brandley – 18 caps (New South Wales, Collingwood Magpies)
Courtney Bruce -7 caps (Western Australia, West Coast Fever)
Paige Hadley – 18 caps (New South Wales, NSW Swifts)
Sharni Layton – 46 caps (Victoria, Collingwood Magpies)*subject to medical clearance
Kate Moloney – 2 caps (Victoria, Melbourne Vixens)
Susan Pettitt – 61 caps (New South Wales, GIANTS Netball)
Kim Ravaillion – 47 caps (New South Wales, Collingwood Magpies)
Gabi Simpson – 22 caps (New South Wales, Queensland Firebirds)
Caitlin Thwaites – 31 caps (Victoria, Collingwood Magpies)
Gretel Tippett – 15 caps (Queensland, Queensland Firebirds)
Liz Watson – 12 caps (Victoria, Melbourne Vixens)
Jo Weston -8 caps (Victoria, Melbourne Vixens)
Stephanie Wood – 6 caps (Queensland, Sunshine Coast Lightning)

Quad Series Fixture

(Photo Getty Images)