Silver Ferns potential lineup

Yesterday I was flicking through one of my fave forum's - netballscoop.com and reading the different opinions after the latest round of action.

One thread jumped right out to me and it was regarding the looming first Silver Ferns test matches and of course who they would select in their team. As mentioned in my previous posts - every sports follower is a couch coach and sofa selector, I love reading fellow supporters ideas, opinions and team lineups.

It’s hard to pick who I would have in my starting lineup, do I go for form or purely who has done the business in previous years.

So here is my starting lineup:

GS - Irene Van Dyk

GA - Maria Tutaia

WA - Liana Leota/Camilla Lees

C - Laura Langman

WD - Kayla Cullen/Henry

GD - Casey Kopua

GK - Katrina Grant/De Bruin

I couldn't decide between Katrina Grant and Leana De Bruin for the GK position, it would come down to who the opposition was as the both have different strengths. Katrina has been in career best form and we would expect her to start this year. We are lucky that we have such a wealth of talented defenders that any lineup would be just as strong as the next. Last season with Casey Williams spending time on the sideline with her ankle injury, the combination of De Bruin and Grant certainly did the job.

The general consensus on the forum was a similar lineup to mine, the differences certainly came in the wider training group and which of our younger players would get a call up, and who the possible bolters would be.

The possible names thrown around include - Bailey Mes, Te Huina Reo Selby-Rickit, Jodi Brown, Ellen Halpenny, Anna Thompson, Wendy Frew, Courtney Tairi, Jane Watson.

With Lees and Leota likely to be in line for the WA position, there might not be room for Thompson, Tairi or Frew in the squad.

I would certainly be surprised if Jane Watson or Zoe Walker got a Silver Ferns call up after only one season however they are certainly in line for a future call up. I would imagine that after being in the accelerant squad previously Selby-Rickit could find herself with a call up especially with an already established combination with Katrina Grant.

After a fairly lack lustre season with the Mystics we will probably still see Cat Latu named in the squad and if she gets the opportunity on the court will need to have a strong performance to make a stand for the GS bib in the next few years, if and when Irene retires.

The first test match is against the Australian's in the Constellation Cup on the 15th of September in Invercargill.