Hard to imagine that O'Hea shouldn't be part of this squad. While the WNBA players are unavailable, is Liz missing due to travel duties with her DJ career?

O'Hea didn't go to the selection camp - perhaps she is injured? same goes for Jarry. I doubt they would just not attend for no reason. Liz chose to DJ instead of making herself available for the camp/tournament - as a side note I think that's a pretty ordinary decision, but fortunately for her she can afford to put the opals to the side as she'll always get picked if she chooses to be available.

IMO that 12 is pretty spot on, bar 1 or 2 selections. I would've thought someone like Mijovic, Kunek or Tomlinson would get a look in ahead of Griffin purely based on the fact that come any other tournament where WNBA players are available that naturalised spot would go to either Mitchell or Whitcomb.

I think I read somewhere ages ago that Batkovic was giving the opals a break for a bit after what happened with Rio selection.

IMO I think the squad needed at least one of Hodges/Snell, personally I'd go Hodges before Snell but anyway, for their leadership and experience at international level. Most of the players in attendance at the camp were very inexperienced at international level.

http://www.theherald.com.au/story/4683613/batkovic-yet-to-make-call-on-opals-future/

here is the article re Batkovic

I'm all for having some vets in for tournaments like this. If you just have nothing but youngsters I think it can be counterproductive.
It does seem like having both Hodges & Bishop is a bit of overkill though. I'd probably prefer to have Mijovic in there.
I'm fine with the team though. Certainly enough talent there to get the job done.

Any chance we'll get to see these games live?

Yep, I vote for vets too, the younger players will get more out of it because Hodges and Snell are around sharing their experience on and off court.

I'd prefer to see the following Opals team:

Mansfield
Tupaea
O'Hea
Ebzery
Cumming
Murray
Blicavs
Griffin
Bishop
Mijovic
Tolo
Batkovic

You're right, Tupaea, only plays as a PG

Whitcomb & Allen both play in the WNBA & so aren't available & Liz is too busy at Glastonbury!

You can add Talbot to that list too!

So you think Whitcomb is more value than Mitchell?

Not to mention Bunton & Magbegor over George & Batkovic!?! Bahahah

Magbegor over George. Ok mate. Jog on!

Mitchell
Mansfield
Allen
Ebzery
Cumming
O'Hea
Blicavs
George
Bishop
Tolo
Batkovic
Cambage

There's no point even worrying about Team USA if we don't get out of the quarters. That was Joyce's theory by picking Burton as well. The reality is, George is a long way advanced of Magbegor right here and right now. Magbegor has the potential to be a world class player, but she's not in our best 12 as we speak.

Her D hasn't improved, and this season she's not hitting her shots either unfortunately, so Phoenix recently picked up Angel Robinson as a free agent. Cayla didn't even hit the floor in yesterday's game.

Bec Allen is having a disappointing season too.

Mitchell & Whitcomb are earning their keep, and Steph Talbot is doing very nicely - holding her starting spot all season despite the Mercury recently adding Mo Currie to the roster.

And yes, I fully agree that the obsession with the USA needs to stop. We are nowhere near them right now, and need to focus on beating the beatable teams.

No, what is not a great attitude is constructing a team for the specific purpose of beating the USA, and then not advancing anywhere close to them in the tournament.
Aiming for the best is exactly what we should be doing. As in, aiming for our best possible result, as opposed to aiming to win one particular match (and then not having a clue how to even do that)

How about we just pick our best possible team & worry about where we finish after that? Picking players based on who we may or may not be able to beat is fraught with danger. Recent history has shown us that.

At least we attempted to pick the best available Head coach this time, as opposed to appointing ( essentially) the only one who was prepared to move and live where BA wanted them to.

I don't know if we will do better than the last two under-performing (IMHO) head coaches, because we don't have the same exceptional caliber of players peaking as we had then, but just challenging for a medal in both WC and O's for the next 6 years would be appreciated and a step up. That is, I hope that this coaching group helps the team perform well as opposed to holding them back like the last two lots, I'll be very happy

It sounds to me like Brondello is unable to make it to India, so she brought in 2 people who know her system back to front.

So the BA appointed assistant coaches who are supposed to take the reins when the head coach can't, have been shoved out the way by two coaches the absent head coach prefers.

It's actually become a comedy act , what the hell is happening in BA/Opals, think it's time Sterling was moved on, along with a few others.

Cambage should be dropped permanently, only excuse for not attending or making yourself available is injury or illness, and that includes those playing WNBA.

The USA players are always able to make their commitments because the WNBA allow for that, but won't fit other countries schedules in

Same as allowing players to attend just two days because their college won't let them go, or slotting in a replacement who was never even in the squad when those already listed should have been called upon.

Holding camps overseas, costing huge amounts from a budget already struggling, so a coach who's going to be unavailable can attend, Christ the WNBA team she coaches was on a break hence why they could use the facilities, so why the hell could they not just fly her over.

Absolute circus

Noticed on the press release it has Alex Bunton as ENG as her nationality, does that mean she's taken the one "naturalised" player spot.

omen's Asia Cup Team:

4 Lavey Tessa Swan Hill AUS
5 Bunton Alexandra Lincoln ENG
6 Mansfield Lauren Elizabeth Vale AUS
7 Garrick Madeleine Shepparton AUS
8 Blicavs Stephanie Dandenong AUS
9 Griffin Kelsey Anchorage USA
10 Ebzery Katie Noble Park AUS
11 Hodges Laura Ashford AUS
12 Snell Belinda Mirboo North AUS
13 Bishop Abby Booleroo Centre AUS
14 Tolo Marianna Mackay AUS
15 Blicavs Sara Melbourne AUS

I think Bunton may be like Cambage in that they were both born O/S but moved to AUS at a young age. hence they are classified as Australians as opposed to the naturalised Griffin/Whitcomb who came over here as adults.

On Magbegor, sure she's likely an Opals star of the future, but today? No chance. She hasn't even played at senior level yet (SEABL IMO doesn't count, you've got 2-4 WNBL players on each list, the rest are kids or semi-pros). It'd be a big step up from playing SEABL and u17/19 world championships to playing WNBL let alone a senior international tournament in terms of physicality, tempo and the skill sets of the players.

I think Cambage is an interesting one, she could without a doubt be one of the best current players in the world if she applied herself. Virtually the same team came 3rd at the WC minus Liz, which makes me question whether the team would work better without her - especially given her lack of commitment in recent years. I don't think it's fair that someone who makes themselves available at each camp etc and plays virtually year round when not injured will get tossed out come WC / Olympic time because she wants to play.

I agree, Liz definitely isn't the only offender. Although it doesn't seem as if there is any sort of 'punishment' so to speak for players who pick and choose when they want to be an Opal. Perhaps this is a cultural thing, because I remember hearing Michele Timms speak one time about what it meant to be an Opal and it certainly didn't seem as if skipping duties would've gone down well in that era.

I think to stop it they need to disqualify anyone who skips any kind of Opals camp - excluding injury/illness or club/WNBA commitments they are unable to get out of of course - from playing in the next WC or Olympics. It is extreme, but IMO would benefit the squad in terms of cohesion from the majority having already played together in the lead up and it'd probably put a stop to those who only want to play in the Olympics/WC.

The netball Diamonds choose players that are in form and not on reputation. Diamonds coach attends many Super league games and views tape of others she can't get to so that she can accurately determine who is playing well.
Netball is absolutely shredding womens basketball , just look at the news media, crowds, TV deals etc etc,
As I have said before head hunt Netball administrators that have the knowledge and proven track record bring Womens basketball out of the dark place it is at the moment.

Opals squad changes


"Abby Bishop and Alex Bunton have undergone MRI scans and concerns with Bishop's ankle and Bunton’s knee will see them require corrective surgery instead of travelling with the Opals to India.
...
As their replacements, Alanna Smith will make her debut with the Opals while Alice Kunek, a FIBA Oceania gold medallist in 2015, will again represent the national team."

http://basketball.net.au/injuries-force-alterations-to-opals-team-ahead-of-fiba-asia-cup/

Not surprised Kunek got the nod, but very, very surprised Smith was chosen as she only attended the last few days of camp. I'd have thought Mijovic or Tomlinson would be better suited, at least in terms of taking some backing C minutes.

Very unfortunate for Bishop and Bunton though, hopefully they get themselves better asap

^ I agree with the above about Louella being a better replacement for Bunton. Maybe not as big, but I'm guessing that doesn't matter quite so much against most Asian teams. She's at home playing the 5, and can also step out and hit some shots.

Now we've only got one true centre on the team. I really don't think that's wise.