Kelsey Griffin’s hip injury hasn’t deterred the Opals selectors from naming her in the national squad for next year’s first training camp.
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Griffin is recovering from surgery on her hip and is unlikely to be fully fit by the time the camp is held in early February in Italy.
However, such is her importance to the squad going forward, Griffin was included in the 18-player squad to prepare for April’s Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast.
Griffin is the only Bendigo Spirit player in the squad.
“This squad has been selected based upon performance levels in the various leagues in which the athletes compete as well as at past Opals camps and the recent FIBA Asia Cup in India,” Opals head coach Sandy Brondello said.
“All of our Opals coaching staff will continue to monitor and evaluate the contributions the players make to their respective clubs leading up to the Commonwealth Games.
“Beyond that tournament, we are also preparing for the FIBA World Cup which will be held in Spain in September, 2018, following our successful qualification at the FIBA Asia Cup earlier this year.”
Opals training squad: Rebecca Allen, Suzy Batkovic, Abby Bishop, Stephanie Blicavs, Elizabeth Cambage, Katie-Rae Ebzery, Cayla George, Kelsey Griffin, Natalie Hurst, Alice Kunek, Tessa Lavey, Ezi Magbegor, Lauren Mansfield, Leilani Mitchell, Jenna O’Hea, Belinda Snell, Stephanie Talbot, Marianna Tolo.
Not listed in the Opals squad is four-time Olympian Laura Hodges who has called time on her Opals career.