Simpson set to miss out on Netball World Cup selection
Diamonds vice-captain Gabi Simpson is believed to be a casualty of the midcourt talent squeeze in the Netball World Cup team to be announced on Thursday morning, with the Magpies’ Kim Ravaillion also understood to have missed a place in the 12 to compete in Liverpool in July.
Simpson, 26, has been a regular at wing defence since the international retirement of Renae Ingles, having played 40 Tests, won a silver medal at last year’s Commonwealth Games and claimed the prestigious Liz Ellis Diamond in 2017.
Coach Lisa Alexander called each of her 19 squad members on Monday, preceding a two-day window in which selection appeals could be lodged. Simpson is understood to be devastated by her omission.
The Queensland Firebirds captain has struggled recently with a groin injury, and has not been helped by the form of a depleted Firebirds outfit that is winless on the bottom of the Super Netball ladder.
Simpson’s problems began when she hurt her leg at training before Australia’s second Quad Series match in England in January, meaning that the acting captain in the absence of Caitlin Bassett was ruled out for the final two Tests.
A robust, dynamic wing defence, Simpson was sidelined for round three of Super Netball with a groin injury, and nursed through her round four comeback, but appeared to have boosted her prospects by playing the full 60 minutes and logging four intercepts and two deflections in Sunday’s loss to the Thunderbirds.
But with only one spot appearing open in both the shooting and defence ends, the centre-court choices were always going to be the most challenging for Alexander and fellow selectors Annie Sargeant and Michelle Wilkins.
With Melbourne Vixens star Lizzie Watson - the current Liz Ellis Diamond recipient - always locked in for one of the wing attack/centre roles, that left Ravaillion, Kelsey Browne, Kate Moloney, Jamie-Lee Price, Ash Brazill and recent squad addition Paige Hadley vying for three places. It’s believed Hadley and relative newcomers Browne and Price are the preferred trio.
Vixens veteran Caitlin Thwaites is tipped to have retained her place ahead of Giants youngster Keira Austin in the shooting group completed by Bassett, Gretel Tippett and Steph Wood, thus retaining the Commonwealth Games attacking personnel that lost the gold medal game by one goal to England.
After Courtney Bruce made a triumphant return from an elbow injury on Saturday to prove her fitness following three weeks on the sidelines, and with Jo Weston and April Brandley slotted in to share the goal defence duties, unlucky Vixen Emily Mannix appears to have been pipped for the fourth circle position by Swift Sarah Klau in what must have been a very close selection call.
With only Bassett, Thwaites and Hadley remaining from the triumphant 2015 Diamonds team, the 11-time champions will seek to defend their title in Liverpool from July 12-22.
Likely Netball World Cup team: Caitlin Bassett (C, Giants), April Brandley (Magpies), Kelsey Browne (Magpies), Courtney Bruce (Fever), Paige Hadley (Swifts), Sarah Klau (Swifts), Caitlin Thwaites (Vixens), Gretel Tippett (Firebirds), Jamie-Lee Price (Giants), Joanna Weston (Vixens), Steph Wood (Lightning).