Isaac
Years ago

2009 Opals squad named

The 2009 Australian Opals squad:
(name / age / height / most recent club / senior games for Australia)
(athletes with '*' after their names will attend Opals Camp 1)

Eva AFEAKI* / 24 / 184cm / Sydney Uni Flames / 6

Suzy BATKOVIC / 28 / 194cm / Taranto (Italy) / 115

Tully BEVILAQUA* / 36 / 164cm / Indiana Fever (USA) / 46

Abby BISHOP* / 20 / 190cm / Canberra Capitals / 16

Elizabeth CAMBAGE / 17 / 203cm / Australian Institute of Sport / 0

Renae CAMINO / 22 / 177cm / Aix-en-Provence (France) / 21

Rohanee COX* / 28 / 182cm / Townsville Fire / 56

Jess FOLEY* / 25 / 182cm / Adelaide Lightning / 8

Cayla FRANCIS* / 19 / 192cm / Adelaide Lightning / 2

Hollie GRIMA / 25 / 190cm / Aix-en-Provence (France) / 116

Kristi HARROWER* / 34 / 163cm / Bendigo Spirit / 176

Natalie HURST* / 25 / 163cm / Canberra Capitals / 7

Lauren JACKSON / 27 / 195cm / Spartak Moscow (Russia) / 146

Kathleen MCLEOD / 22 / 168cm / MKB Sopron (Hungary) / 35

Jenna O'HEA / 21 / 187cm / Arras (France) / 0

Elyse PENALUNA* / 20 / 193cm / Bulleen Boomers / 0

Erin PHILLIPS* / 23 / 173cm / Electra Ramat Hasharon (Israel) / 56

Natalie PORTER* / 28 / 185cm / Lavezzini Parma (Italy) / 92

Alicia POTO* / 30 / 166cm / Sydney Uni Flames / 103

Emma RANDALL* / 23 / 188cm / Stade Clermontois (France) / 74

Samantha RICHARDS / 26 / 168cm / AZS PWSZ Gorzow (Poland) / 34

Jenni SCREEN / 27 / 180cm / Lavezzini Parma (Italy) / 66

DEANNA SMITH* / 28 / 179cm / Perth Lynx / 28

Belinda SNELL / 28 / 180cm / Dynamo Moscow (Russia) / 87

Laura SUMMERTON / 25 / 188cm / Lavezzini Parma (Italy) / 105

Penny TAYLOR / 27 / 185cm / UMMC Ekaterinberg (Russia) / 85

Marianna TOLO* / 19 / 196cm / Canberra Capitals / 4

Carly WILSON / 26 / 181cm / Challes-les-Eaux Basket (France) / 56

Well done to the SA players (and adopted SA/Lightning players).

Any surprise omissions? Is that ROTY Graham good enough to challenge for a spot, or still a year or so off?

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Anonymous
Years ago

Not many surprises in that list. They have picked virtually everyone with even a remote chance of playing for the Opals in the next couple of years. Some good young inclusions there, and then I guess they felt they also had to select everyone who was as good as those youngsters, even if their play is heading in the opposite direction.

The one beef I have is the omission of Kristen Veal. Her game has matured and steadied in the last couple of years to the point that I'd feel comfortable with her backing up at point guard. (Not my first choice, but I could certainly live with it). Combine that with the fact that Tully just retired and Kristi is in her twilight years and there's not a lot of international PG experience there.

As for Graham, she is very much a project IMO. Let's give her another year before we start talking about any Opals aspirations. She's still extremely erratic at this point.

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knowledge
Years ago

totally agree anon. kristen veal should be in the squad.

Reply #229563 | Report this post

Dunkin' Dan
Years ago

Oops, sorry about the anon thing.
Yeah, I think if we're going to consider someone like Nat Hurst (who is a bit of an excitement machine in that she pushes the tempo and isn't adverse to putting up a few shots), then surely someone like Veal who is a better floor leader, has better vision, has much better size, is a better passer and has international and WNBA experience, is also worthy of consideration.

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Anonymous
Years ago

wheres duke?

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Anonymous
Years ago

nicole hunt??? she is an amazing player, leader, play maker... shes fantastic!!

a bit unlucky i think.

Reply #229632 | Report this post

Anonymous
Years ago

What about Flanagan. She did an amazing job as a true point guard with the Fire team this year.

Reply #229664 | Report this post

Anonymous
Years ago

Yeap, Second that 664 get rid of Alicia Poto and give Flanagan a go!!! Flanagan is more team.

Reply #229668 | Report this post

Jack Toft
Years ago

Nicole Hunt ws very unlucky to be overlooked

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back to basics
Years ago

I would also like to see Milner get looked at for a spot!! Id rather her than Nat Hurst for sure. But i guess with Graffie as coach Nurst is bound to get a look in.

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bball
Years ago

get rid of poto? keep her and just add more to the squad.
poto is a greta player who is smart can play d get assits score and pretty much everything.

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George
Years ago

Veal doesn't deserve a spot in that Opals squad. This is her 11th WNBL season - she's lost a step, isn't a scoring weapon, and turns and turns the ball over FAR too much.

I'd take Hurst, Milner, & Poto ahead of her any day.

Happy to see Cambage in there - 203cm's!!!! Just did some research and at that height it ranks her Equal to the SECONDS TALLEST PLAYER IN THE WNBA!!

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Hoops

2009 Opals squad named

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