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Firebirds fine with All-Star netball snub

18th June, 2015
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The trans-Tasman netball league All-Star team is not an accurate reflection of the competition’s best players this season, according to Queensland Firebirds coach Roselee Jencke.

Despite finishing top of the ladder and earning home-ground advantage for Sunday’s grand final in a canter, only one Firebirds player – centre Kim Ravaillion – made the cut for the All-Star team, selected by fan voting and unveiled on Thursday.

That means no room for Australian captain Laura Geitz or Jamaican sharpshooter Romelda Aiken, despite their key roles throughout Queensland’s utterly dominant season.

Their grand final opponents the NSW Swifts, on the other hand, had four players selected in the seven-player line-up – goal attack Susan Pettitt, wing attack Kim Green, goal defender Julie Corletto and goal keeper Sharni Layton.

Jencke says the outcome has barely registered for the Firebirds, who have their sights set on a far more-tangible reward – a third piece of silverware to go with their Challenge Trophy and Australian Conference title.

“I don’t read anything into it, really,” she told AAP.

“I think it’s good for the fans – they vote for who they want.

“It’s not a reflection on each position’s best player this season, I don’t think.

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“It’s a fan-based All-Star team and, accordingly, that’s how you get that particular vote.

“It’s purely subjective, and based on the fans and who they like and who they don’t like – probably not educated decision-making.”

Nor is Jencke concerned she was overlooked for rookie West Coast Fever coach Stacey Rosman for coach of the year honours.

Jencke could have done little more to have earned the nod, with her Firebirds undefeated since the trans-Tasman season opener at the start of March and warm favourites to account for NSW on Sunday.

“I don’t worry about things like that,” she said.

Further revenge for Geitz and the rest of the snubbed Firebirds is likely to come next week when the Australian side for August’s Netball World Cup in Sydney is announced.

Diamonds coach Lisa Alexander named an 18-strong preliminary squad back in April, which featured Geitz, Ravaillion and fellow Queensland teammates Rebecca Bulley, Gabi Simpson and Claire McMeniman.

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Alexander will be among the sellout crowd at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre on Sunday and has previously warned players that finals performances will help dictate her choices when she whittles that squad down on Wednesday to 12 names.

ALL-STAR TEAM:
Caitlin Bassett (West Coast Fever), Susan Pettitt (NSW Swifts), Kimberlee Green (Swifts), Kim Ravaillion (Queensland Firebirds), Serena Guthrie (Northern Mystics), Julie Corletto (Swifts), Sharni Layton (Swifts).

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