Well, the team is versatile, experienced in certain positions and with Liz it has the size to worry any opponent, hope she can play hard and stay fit for the entire tournament.

Good luck to them, look forward to a medal chance for sure...

Nat burton ahead of Batkovich!!!! Disgusting result and so not our best team!

Bec Allen should be there before people too !

Another Brendan Joyce favoritism at best!

I still think the best player in the WNBL should be on the team. Batkovic's omission is puzzling IMO.

It would be good if they could play against. I know who my money would be on. Anyone I missed? Only 3 bigs, one who cant score, one is foul prone and one coming off an ACL.

Abby Bishop
Belinda Snell
Rebecca Allen
Kelsey Griffin
Tess Madgen
Jenna O'Hea
Sarah Blicavs
Kelly Wilson
Elyse Penaluna
Alice Kunek
Maddy Garrick
Suzy Batkovic

Ok Brendan lol

Umm I would agree slightly about n unselfish role player needed for a season but not for an Olympic tournament.. You need flat out Studs. not feel good stories or role players. All star team

I agree with what someone posted above ^^
Very true regarding basketball knowledge. It is true that every team needs someone like that. There are plenty wanting shots up, plenty wanting to be the one who is everything is set up around. Burton does those things you don't get credit for i.e not scoring. Ever wonder why there are so many teams who appear stacked but can't win? Too many cooks.

A team of studs? Not quite. Studs in the areas they are good at. Don't all have to be get up 20 shots per game studs.

I actually think Burton has a place on the team but off the bench if another teams Big needs some hustle on her but I'm not happy with her as a starter.
I think she is a quality person and probs worthy of a continued project position.She is mobile and looks taller than Tolo.
she needs to develop a more confident and aggressive offensive game and then she would silence us all but until then Brendan .....

Showing lack of basketball knowledge because Burton defends, rebounds, hustles and passes. Ok then for the 15/16 WNBL season:

Rebounding she was ranked 16th in average rebounds behind Batkovic, Bishop, Richards and Blicavs who weren't selected to name a few.
Ranked 51st in Assists not great for someone who passes, again behind the same girls who missed out and more.
Ranked 41st in Steals, a good hustler would have more, again she's behind the same girls. Blocks she's ranked 30th again behind the same girls.
She played on these girls all season who are ranked higher then her in every stat line, so please tell me again why she made the team And is a MUST for the team and how everyone is showing their lack of basketball knowledge by saying Batkovic should be in ahead of her.

Thought this was unintentionally funny:

Burton does those things you don't get credit for i.e not scoring.

Burton should be heavily praised for not being able to score and crowding Liz on every possession in the half court.

Can not believe the Bat Girl missed out.

You do not get gifted MVP's in any league.

Bat misses out. Right.

Can we boot this muppet of a coach out already and throw in Shannon. At least he would make a smart decision for team selection at a minimum.

Scouting notes:

Keep the Opals in the half court.

Trap the double team and leave Burton open to receive the pass and make the play.

Double Liz off Burton.

Don't leave Mitchell, Penny or Erin open at the 3pt line.

Play others straight up, half a step off.

* Edit - trap the pick n roll ball handler with a hard double.

I know full well stats don't tell the whole story, you said she rebounds and is a passer I was making a point that really she isn't a rebounder or someone that will get assists in a game.

Also as a coach I still do not understand what coaches at a national level see in her. Comparing her to a role player like Damien Martin will be in the Boomers team is like comparing night and day, they are completely different. Damo is a known quality defender, I don't think Burton could go out and stop players from scoring or keep them out of the game when she doesn't do it at WNBL level.

I think it's a huge mistake leaving Batkovic out of the team even with Cambage and her being slower players.

If I am remembering correctly her stats for Offensive rebounds and assists per game were quite good in the wnbl.

She's certainly a good athlete.
I hope she has a good tournament.
If she can put her mind to rebounding that would be a huge plus for the team.

Is O'Hea injured? Or did she not put her hand up for the squad? I thought she would have been close to an automatic starter...

Lorenzo you aren't remembering correctly.

Lol well I am getting old so I'm way wrong on the assists but out of the aussies only Gab Richards got more offensive rebounds.
She even got more than kelsey griffin.

If she could up her level in defence that would help lots.

I wondered the same thing about O'hea...
Also, I agree with whoever said Batkovic is clearly the better player individually. But I do see why Burton fits into a specific structure. Hopefully everyone has a great tournament anyway.

O'Hea didn't put her hand up - she is currently playing for the Seattle Storm in the WNBA though.

By the way - I have been trying to articulate all day how I feel about this squad... All I can say, is missed opportunity - especially as Candace Parker was not chosen for Team USA.

Opals: please make a fool out of me and prove me wrong!

Interesting read

http://www.botinagy.com/blog/opals-must-select-best-12-for-rio/

Hey Michelle - that article is spot on. I can't wait to read what Boti has to say after today's announcement!

It is a shame and definately not what most of us would do including me but you would not leave liz out and Mariana is the future centre after liz so I can understand it.
I am definitely disappointed about Bec Allen too.

Penny Taylor has said she loves playing the style Brendan has introduced AND I agree with her but honestly the league mvp at the end of a brilliant career and you can't sit her at the end of the bench in number 12 spot for a proud Goodbye.

#591285

Its a privilege to have a Joyce family member join the forum.

fyi - Burton becomes unplayable at international level for any team that does any form of basic scouting on Burton and her offensive deficiencies and keeps the team in the half court. The offense will grind to a halt any time she is on the floor.

"Bishop didn't make that make that same level of commitment" oh f**k me. Get off it mate. So, she has to stay in a country that doesn't pay enough to prove her commitment? I think she's shown more than enough times she's committed, just like a lot of the other girls in the squad, unlike one particular player we all know of.

Coach got the team he wanted and that's as it should be. He has to coach them to the plan he's formulated that he thinks will be successful so it's only right he should get the players he wants to implement that plan. It's also right that he should live or die in the job on the results he achieves with his team.

Hope they do well and I'll be cheering them on

Duke Fan - after what I saw from this coach I am thinking there should be a committee who makes the final decision on selections or non-selections.

I also think the Opal team members should be able to provide anonymous feedback about the coach and team chemistry, at least 6 months prior to Olympics or the Worlds. claims that the decision was based on unmeasurable skills, like, better Chemistry fit, excellent defence and playmaking skills would not be as possible.

I doubt that any of the above have real basis for the decisions, they appear to be simply excuses, just like the claim that he has the ability to identify quality in a player that none else can see.

I think it's pretty clear that this coach based his decisions on favouritism and not on skill or talent. I think this coach's tactics were to undermine and discredit some players, perplexed to understand why. Most people see through this though.

Anonymous (the one saying that we need to suck it up and move on and continuing to defend Brendon Joyce and his ability as a coach to see hidden talents). It's your prerogative. But accept that

1. We do not have to suck it up, we can vent our disappointment with stupid decisions, and there have been a few.
2. comments are not only being made by armchair coach's. If you check the various social media platforms you'll see that decisions made by this coach are being negatively judged by many other coach's, journalists, players (worldwide).

As for Burton, nothing against her personally, I actually feel sorry for her. she may be a little more athletic than some others but being able to run faster up and down the court doesn't win games. You actually need to have better basketball skills to win games.

It's beyond me how he can claim that Burton has proven her defensive skills on an international stage - many other players have actually proven themselves on the international stage yet they were omitted from the team, some were not even given an opportunity to prove themselves.

We should be taking our best to the Olympics, and this time we are not!

You don't take developmental prospects to the Olympics, you develop them through camps.

Regardless of whether I like the coach or his selections, they're still our Aussie reps and I'll be behind them all the way. It doesn't mean that I'll like everything they do, but they're OUR Opals and I wish them all the best.

titan34, will a medal calm you down??

I think all the critics are a bit premature. Positive comments would be welcomed by the team i am sure.

Will a gold medal make joyce a hero?

The Opals are our National team and as an Aussie I will support them through right or wrong, good or bad, win or lose. They deserve that much and have earned the right. Whether winning a medal makes Joyce a hero or not is irrelevant. I assume all the detractors, and self proclaimed experts will be willing to look the coach and every player in the face if the Opals do better than any other national,team has in past Olympics. Stop the crap and get on board

Lauren Jackson on Twitter: "Condolences to @SuzyBatkovic Best player in Australia right now. MVP 4/5 years in WNBL. Devaluing the league?

Titan 34, if the control over selections (and you would have to assume that would extend to playing style as well as the two go hand in hand) was given to a committee you're not going to have too many high quality applicants for the job. The coach should have the final say in both. The Opals are like any team from Under 12 reps. Blind Freddy can pick the top 7 or 8 then the last 4 spots are matters of opinion. The coach's opinion should always be the one that counts

Therefore the committees and experts need to get it right in the appointment of the coach. Joyce has been given that role and he should have the team he wants. If he doesn't produce the goods then his role comes under question.

I think Burton is a quality player. Batkovic is as well. I hesitate to bag too many players unlike a lot on here and I hope the Opals are playing off for gold once again in Rio

Duke Fan - there weren't many high quality candidates for the job.

Sandy Brondello, Brian Agler, etc couldn't commit to a full time role for 4 years as they are all in demand for coaching jobs around the world.

Lemanis is also moving away from the Boomers role to coach in the NBL.

Joyce won't be offered another coaching role, especially in mens basketball due to mess that was created with the Blaze. Dealing with his immense ego is too much on a day to day basis.

There'll be even less if take away the right to coach the team of their choice. Don't get me wrong, I'm no Joyce disciple, but I'm a coach and as such expect any coach to have the right to total control in a position they're appointed to. Every coach has favourite players (or type of player) and I support their right to choose those players......and take the bouquets or brickbats that their choices create

It's sure going to be a test guarding Delle Don and Stewart

Batkovic and Bishop played here one time ago (lightning) Class act. Cayla Francis was pretty good.
Still, if Cambage could play about 30mpg we would win a medal.

Sounds like a good squad
Tolo will be around
Mijovic may never make it
Mansfield is 26?
Fastback for macbegor
Interesting time

Let's get this one over and done with first and see who gets the coaching gig, because if Joyce gets it anything could happen,