McMahon to lead netballers in her fourth Commonwealth Games

Monday, August 30, 2010

Following an intense selection process, Australian captain Sharelle McMahon will lead a team of 12 netballers announced today to travel to Delhi for the 2010 Commonwealth Games in October.

McMahon will be competing in her fourth Commonwealth Games, while Kim Green will follow in the footsteps of her mother Denise Langford who competed for Australia as a swimmer 40 years ago.

The team includes five members who competed at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne four years ago when the Australians fell agonisingly short of gold, beaten in the final game against New Zealand by five goals.

McMahon, Catherine Cox, Susan Fuhrmann, vice-captain Natalie von Bertouch and Susan Pratley were all members of the 2006 Commonwealth Games team.

Head Coach Norma Plummer said that the selection process had been a gruelling one but the team has a great blend of experience, youth and skills.

“We’ve got some experienced internationals and some coming in with just a few caps,” Plummer said.

“What pleases me most is the blend of the team and the way the players complement each other on the court.”

The Australians have won two of a possible three Commonwealth Games gold medals, missing only on the Melbourne gold, and are currently ranked number one in the world.

ACGA Chief Executive Officer Perry Crosswhite said, “Australia won the first two Games gold medals in 1998 and 2002 while finishing second in 2006.  I’m sure the team will be very determined to win gold in Delhi.”

“Obviously New Zealand will be our biggest threat but you can’t dismiss the likes of Jamaica and England who are expected to be stronger than ever this year.”

With just one month to go, the Australian team will have their final hit out against New Zealand this week in Wellington (September 2) and Auckland (September 5). The squad will then head to Kuala Lumpur for a pre-Games training camp before departing for Delhi on September 27.

2010 Australian Commonwealth Games netball team

The Delhi 2010 netball competition will be staged at the Thyagaraj Sports Complex from October 4 to 14.

Australia’s Delhi 2010 match schedule