Diamonds young guns have left a lasting impression on Diamonds coach Norma Plummer with an inexperienced trio forcing their way into the Diamonds 15-player squad.

With combined total of 12 Test caps, youthful talents Laura Geitz, Amy Steel and Madison Browne have been named in the Diamonds 15-player squad, announced after a gruelling five-day camp at the Australian Institute of Sport.

The trimmed squad is also stacked with proven stars of international netball with Sharelle McMahon, Mo’onia Gerrard, Catherine Cox and Natalie von Bertouch to once again wear the green and gold in 2010.

Plummer is confident that the players selected are the right mix to bring Australia success in the upcoming Diamonds season.

“The blend is there, we’ve got some of the youth with the experience and it’s a very fit team,” Plummer explained.

“We have made sure that we have options in all positions down the court that we can swing around and try new things.

“We have the mix that when we get on tour we can change things up fairly easy without missing a beat. I think it’ll be a great opportunity to see the depth we have coming through.”

Reducing a 22-player squad by seven meant that the 2010 international season of several quality athletes had to come to an end.   

2009 Liz Ellis Diamond recipient, Julie Corletto was left out of the squad due to medical reasons.

Spending the rest of 2010 on the sidelines was deemed the best long term decision for the talented defender, with the omission intended to prolong the 23-year-old’s career at the highest level. 

“Obviously not being able to have Julie Corletto has been very disappointing,” Plummer said.

“We’ve tried everything to get her back on court but all the medical advice has been that her knee is just too vulnerable at the moment to be out there.

“We did not want to risk her because we want her to be around long term, she is a major player within the Diamonds ranks going forward so we need to have her long term not short term.”

Melbourne Vixens defender Bianca Chatfield was also left out of the 15-player squad, the 42 Test cap player falling victim to a defensive end boasting enviable depth and strength.

Caitlin Bassett, Emily Beaton, Erin Bell, Sharni Layton and Kimberley Smith were also omitted from the 22-player squad.

This squad of 15 will tour together throughout the Holden Netball Test Series in Australia and the New World International Series in New Zealand.  Teams of 12 will be selected from this squad of 15 throughout the Series.

The squad of 15 will also form the 12-player team to travel to Delhi for the Commonwealth Games in October.

2010/11 Australian Diamonds 15-player squad

Kate Beveridge                                              WA         Adelaide Thunderbirds                 

Madison Browne                                             VIC         West Coast Fever                           

Rebecca Bulley                                               VIC         NSW Swifts        

Catherine Cox                                                NSW      NSW Swifts        

Susan Fuhrmann                                             WA         West Coast Fever

Laura Geitz                                                     QLD        Queensland Firebirds    

Mo'onia Gerrard                                               NSW      Adelaide Thunderbirds                 

Kimberlee Green                                             NSW      NSW Swifts        

Renae Hallinan                                               VIC         Melbourne Vixens         

Sharelle McMahon (Captain)                             VIC         Melbourne Vixens         

Natalie Medhurst                                              SA           Queensland Firebirds    

Lauren Nourse                                                 SA           Queensland Firebirds

Susan Pratley                                                  NSW      NSW Swifts        

Amy Steel                                                        VIC         Queensland Firebirds

Natalie von Bertouch (Vice-captain)                      SA           Adelaide Thunderbirds

Australian Diamonds Selectors

Norma Plummer

Anne Sargeant OAM

Nicole Cusack

Australian Diamonds Support Staff

Norma  Plummer             Coach

Margaret Molina              Manager (New Zealand Tests and Commonwealth Games)

Donna Monteath             Manager (Jamaican Tests)

Susan Kenny OAM           Assistant Coach

Nicole Cusack                  Specialist Coach

Kath Gaffney                   Doctor

Sean Mungovan               Physiotherapist

Matt Durston                    Massage Therapist

Tara Handke                    Performance Analyst