Right as the various seasons are starting / about to start, seems like the most pointless time of the year to try to make team selections for a tournament that is 4 months away

Does wnbl or euro form count?
That has not been the case for some time.

Of course it counts. Not so much European which is understandable, but squads are routinely adjusted based on domestic form. And if an established player is going to be unavailable for whatever reason (eg. there's a reasonable chance Talbot will not be 100% by Feb) then WNBL form would certainly factor into the choice of replacement.
As a recent example, Chloe Bibby's WNBL form got her added to the squad and then selected in the final 12 for the Asia Cup earlier this year.

BTW it would be handy if you would tag these threads either 'International' or 'Women' when you create them. It makes them much easier to find later on to keep the discussion in the one thread.

I have to disagree, how did Madgen get in the team when she did not play all year?
Why is Kunek (who was euro based) now the preferred option over the other 3 wnbl wings.
Ultimately it is sandys decision, we have seen smith cut for Garbin. Form and youth are not high on the list under her reign. We saw Mitchell form and minutes drop off an cliff and yet still pushed inform Whitcomb out for 4-5 years. We see Jackson back in who cannot stay healthy for more than a few games.
Form typically gets you a camp spot but never in the final 12.

You asked if WNBL/Euro it counts, and it does count. You never asked whether it was the ONLY factor, which clearly it isn't.

I already gave the example of Bibby. If it wasn't WNBL form that got her in then what did exactly? Given that she was not in the squad, then played an outstanding WNBL season, and then was in the team - in the final 12.

And then you go off track and change the goalposts.
Madgen is the captain and was injured for most of the season but healthy for the tournament, so she kept her spot. Risky, but in hindsight a good call given she was one of our better players and appears to be very highly regarded as a leader.

The cutting of Smith was justified IMO. Her form had been really disappointing. In the past 12 months she has turned it right around so I would hope and expect her to be included again. She deserves it. Time will tell on that one.

Mitchell/Whitcomb was always a positional decision between 2 players we were only allowed to select one of. On form they were both no-brainer selections.

And youth is a whole other discussion. I'm all for getting more youth into the program. The Opals selectors have always been conservative in that regard, regardless of who was in charge. That's not a Sandy thing that is an everybody thing. And I totally get why. But I wish they'd give more youth a chance, especially at the qualifiers level.
I guess it's a risk for us to even do that now since qualifying is not the formality it used to be for the Opals.

Mitchell and Whitcomb a positional decision?
It wasn't, they both play pg for the opals, apart from 2018 when Sami came off the bench as a sg. This is when Ebzery was the starting pg.

Whitcomb was in better form prior too for 5 of the last 7 majors(Asia/WC/Olympics) but Mitchell still got the nod.

Yes, it was absolutely a positional decision, despite your attempts to rewrite history.

Here is one of your own lists from that era

PG
85 Mitchell 5'5
89 Mansfield 5'7
93 Lavey 5'8
90 Ebzery 5'10 cg
96 Wallace 5'11 cg (injured)

SG
97 Tupaea 5'9 cg
92 Seekamp 5'10 cg
88 Whitcomb 5'10
92 Cole 5'10
90 Blicavs 5'10
90 Madgen 5'11 cg
94 Wilson 5'11 (injured)

SF
93 Nicholson 6'0
86 Ohea 6'1
94 Talbot 6'2
92 Allen 6'2
93 Blicavs 6'2

PF
94 Garbin 6'2
87 Griffin 6'2
88 Bishop 6'4
96 Smith 6'4
99 Magbegor 6'4
89 George 6'4

C
96 Scherf 6'5
93 Bunton 6'5 (injured)
89 Tolo 6'5
91 Cambage 6'8

Noticed you forgot to mention the date of post...

Mitchell was a better point guard than Whitcomb till the last couple of years. Our point guard depth was not very good in the time Mitchell was playing for the Opals. I know Weedy doesn't like Mitchell for *reasons*, but I don't think we need to re-litigate this AGAIN.

I think we have the toughest group? Brazil is the most team likely to miss out on qualification, but playing them at home will be no easy task for the other three teams in the group.

I thought it was a little odd both African teams ended up in the same group, but it does guarantee there will be somebody from Africa at the Olympics which I think is a good thing.

I was not against Mitchell, she was great prior to the Spain WC. I thought Ebzery should have played more pg earlier on in her opals career, Mansfield who was to be the backup pg was always injured and I think they did Lavey dirty who hardly ever got minutes. Madgen somehow became the third option pg and Seekamp was given an opportunity also in lesser tournaments and friendlies. Whitcomb only because of Mitchells injury made the 2018 WC. Mansfield was never seen again... whitcomb at this stage was by far the better performer for club n country and in 2019 she was given more opportunity at the 1 in the wnba but Mitchell was still the preferred option for another 3 years even making tokyo 2021. Lavey left the program after. Wallace and Madgen became the backup pg options. Mitchell left late 2021 to have a family. Whitcomb called back in late 2021 for asia cup and then 2022 WC. Rocci/Heal/Reid/Mangakahia getting a shot in the last 2 years. Mangakahia now retired.
Whitcomb, Wallace, Madgen, Rocci, Heal, Reid the current options.

Germany would be the weakest team without the Sabally sisters.
Brazil are flying currently after winning 2023 Americas undefeated.
Serbia always tough.

Americas 2 < Puerto Rico go through
China
NZ
France*

Senegal
USA*
Belgium
Nigeria

Brazil
Germany
Serbia
Australia

Spain
Hungary
Americas 1 < Canada go through
Japan




Eurobasket qualifiers going on, currently
Serbia are 2/0
Germany are 1/1, lost to Italy



Thoughts on Opals roster, team camp announcement not far away.
8-11 Feb tournament begins.


Who's IN / OUT ?
Stock UP / DOWN ?

Have not seen Talbot, Wallace, Madgen or Swain yet.
Jackson not playing very well atm...

Aussie players carrying good form in Europe:

- Alanna Smith
- Chloe Bibby
- Marena Whittle
- Marianna Tolo
- Ezi Magbegor
- Shyla Heal
- Lauren Scherf
- Darcee Garbin
- Bec Allen

Almost an Opals team right there on its own! Also goes to show how much Aussie top-level talent is playing overseas in Europe rather than the WNBL this season.

You would think Maley would be one of the first chosen.

Tbf the Eurocup is a bit mixed. Whittle and maybe even Bibby are outsiders you would think. The rest will be in camp surely... although I can't see Scherf making the final squad.
Smith not making the team again would be insane.


With the Sandy hat on , assume…


1 of Melbourne, Heal, Rocci or Reid PG (Probably Heal or Melbourne)
Whitcomb CG
Wallace CG
Madgen CG - captain
Talbot SF/SG(injured still?)
Allen SF
2 of Kunek SF, Maley CF, Blicavs CF, Garbin PF
Smith PF/C
Magbegor PF/C
George C/PF
Tolo C

wouldn’t put it past sandy selecting Jackson though.

I would not have Madgen personally and Maley hasn't been great at international level, dominates in wnbl though... she was given next to no time last tournament, probably a slim chance. Kunek has been solid for the opals since returning but we already have a few wings.

Maley has been superb at the international level in all forms. She was terrific at the would cup and asia cup and in China. one of the consistent, stand out performers at the National level.

every time she gets court time she provides a + to the team.

You must be thinking of someone else, she averaged 5 mins and half a point and 1 rbd at the WC.

And at the asia cup only 6 pts, 7 rbds. Less than half her wnbl stats...

No - while she only played 5 mins total at that tournament, as I mentioned, she was terrific when she was on the court. Had more exposure at the Asia Cup and was also outstanding and in China.

At the PG spot - will be an interesting selection. I agree, probably one of Heal or Melbourne.

I think Talbot will be fine for the Olympics, but maybe not any touranments before that.

Big fan of Maley but she didn't do squat at the WC and the China tournament was a mix of
China B/C team, with only 2 from team A.

Been great in 3x3, not so much 5x5 internationally.

Melbourne
Wallace
Whitcomb
Borlase (better prospect than the tiny guards imo)
Talbot
Allen
Kunek
Smith
Garbin
Magbegor
George
Tolo

Next in (injury replacements) Blicavs, Madgen, Rocci

5 bigs necessary do you think? Allen also plays 4 on occasion.

Good point but she predominantly plays as a wing with the Opals.
I think Sandy will select Madgen though for leadership, and probably at the expense of a Garbin.

If we are even considering Madgin, we must be so far off the top level of international hoops. And she still not even playing so surely can't even be considered

Madgen is not even back playing yet, and therefore should not be considered for this upcoming event.

But she's the captain...
On the last thread, most wanted Madgen to remain.
What’s the go?

Agree that Borlase should be in this team. She is pro-ready and has a lot of upside!

Borlase certainly making a case...

Blues67 team looks to be spot on atm.


Important to note that Germany, Serbia and Brazil are very big teams.
Interesting to see if some players can get out of college for the qualifiers.

2 months out.
Selection list out today or next few days.


Still a few injuries...


Reid
Amoore?
Heal
Rocci
Melbourne
Whitcomb
Swain?
Wallace
Garrick?
Madgen
Borlase?
Nicholson
Atwell
Kunek
Maley
Talbot
Sharp?
Allen
Bibby?
Horvat?
Froling?
Blicavs
Garbin
Smith
Magbegor
George
Aokuso?
Tolo
Jackson?

*Deserve a spot?