WAIS Trio Earn Diamonds Call-Up

In encouraging signs for WA netball, two young WAIS athletes have been selected in the Australian Diamonds team to tour Scotland and England in February.

With a total of three WAIS scholarship holders being selected within the final squad of 12, there are exciting opportunities ahead for Kate Beveridge, Caitlin Bassett and Madison Browne in the lead up to the Commonwealth Games.

With injuries to several senior players, coach Norma Plummer has opted for youth during this series. Opportunities like this are even more worthwhile for these younger players in the lead up to selection for the Commonwealth Games team.

WAIS head netball coach Michelle Wilkins believes nurturing international players early in their careers can provide long term benefits.

“Giving expose to young players provides many benefits to Australian netball,” she said. “Youth can hold many surprises.”

For newcomers Bassett and Browne, this is an exciting and well deserved opportunity. As Wilkins points out, both girls played a significant part in the Youth World Cup which Australia won in the Cook Islands last year.

“These two girls were key players in the recent junior competition so this is an exciting challenge and fantastic opportunity for them to now step up and play seniors,” she said.

For Browne the decision to relocate from Geelong in 2008 to further her time has paid off. Cementing herself as a key position player, Browne is a worthy recipient of selection.

“Maddie is very disciplined and determined. She is very deliberate with her practice and does a lot of extra training and conditioning,” Wilkins said.

Similarly, after playing one game previously for the Diamonds, Basset is looking forward to the opportunity to increase that number. Improving her goal shooting Bassett was the second highest goal scorer in last year’s ANZ Championship while playing for an up and coming team (West Coast Fever). Bassett’s future international prospects look promising.

Beveridge debuted for the Diamonds in 2008. Moving to South Australia to further her court opportunities, Beveridge is still an active WAIS scholarship holder and has flourished when gaining extra court time whilst playing for the Adelaide Thunderbirds.

All three scholarship holders will be hoping to use the up coming series in the UK as a springboard for the 2010 ANZ Championship. Whilst injuries have created an opening in the current Diamonds squad, good performances could guarantee they stay there and with the carrot of Commonwealth Games selection, incentive won’t be lacking.

– Emily Raynor