THREE former central Victorian netballers have earned selection in a reduced Australian Diamonds squad ahead of two major international Test series.
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Goal shooting ace Caitlin Thwaites and versatile defenders Rebecca Bulley and Julie Corletto retained their places in the 17-player squad this week.
The trio will attend a four-day selection camp from July 31 at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra, where the final team will be announced.
The Diamonds contest a five-Test Constellation Cup series against keen rivals New Zealand in September, followed by two Tests against Malawi, ranked fifth in the world.
Bulley’s inclusion in the national group came amid a stellar week that began when the former Sandhurst player claimed her second ANZ Championship title last Sunday.
The Adelaide Thunderbirds goal defence was solid in her team’s two-goal grand final victory over the Queensland Firebirds, shutting down her shooting opponent Natalie Medhurst. Bulley was also a member of the NSW Swifts side that won the ANZ Championship in 2008.
She is a long-standing member of the Australian Diamonds, as is fellow central Victorian Corletto, who hails from Kerang.
Corletto moved to New Zealand to play with the Northern Mystics this year after a distinguished defensive career with the Melbourne Vixens.
Thwaites has also thrived across the Tasman after moving on from the Vixens.
The former Bendigo resident has been a tower of strength in the goal circle during her three seasons at Central Pulse and made her debut for the Diamonds last October.
Diamonds coach Lisa Alexander said the squad had been cut from 22 to 17 as several major international tournaments loomed.
“Our focus is on winning the gold medal at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and retaining our world championship title at the 2015 Netball World Cup in Sydney, so we have narrowed our focus on continuing to develop a high-quality squad.”
The reduced Australian Diamonds squad is: Caitlin Bassett, Erin Bell, Madison Browne, Rebecca Bulley, Tegan Caldwell, Bianca Chatfield, Julie Corletto, Catherine Cox, Laura Geitz, Kim Green, Paige Hadley, Renae Hallinan, Sharni Layton, Natalie Medhurst, Kim Ravaillion, Gabi Simpson and Caitlin Thwaites.
