Last chance to impress

Natalie Medhurst

SUNDAY’S three-test opener against New Zealand will be the last chance Mission Queensland Firebirds Laura Geitz, Lauren Nourse, Natalie Medhurst and Amy Steel will have to impress selectors in the final selection trial for Australia’s Commonwealth Games team.

With a team list still not announced on Friday, it is not known if all four Firebirds will take to the court as Australian Netball Diamonds in Adelaide and have one last chance to impress selectors.

Diamonds coach Norma Plummer trimmed the 22-player squad to 15 prior to the start of the Holden Test Series and before the trip to Delhi, the squad will again be reduced to 12.

Even though this is her fourth year in the Australian Squad, Natalie Medhurst knows her position is something that can’t be taken for granted.

Throughout the Holden Test Series she has been giving it her all to impress the selectors and secure a position in the team to travel to the Commonwealth Games.

“To represent Australia at the Commonwealth Games, along with all the other amazing athletes that this country represents, for us as netballers, is the pinnacle of our sport and something that would be a honour to be a part of,” Medhurst said.

Both Lauren Nourse and Laura Geitz have taken to the court as Diamonds prior to 2010, but debutant Amy Steel has only just received her first Test Cap this year.

“Last year I came in to the squad at the last minute and I hadn’t really earned my spot in the team, I just came in as a response to people’s injuries,” Steel said of her selection in the squad in 2009.

“This year I feel that I’ve earned my spot a bit more and I’ve had to work really hard to get my time on court.”

Tonight the Australian Netball Diamonds will have a pre-match dinner hosted by San Remo at the Adelaide Zoo.

Following Sunday’s clash with the Silver Ferns, the Diamonds will head to New Zealand to complete the Test Series.

The Commonwealth Games team will be announced on Monday morning.