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Australian netball selectors would be crazy not to select grand final hero Erin Bell as their first-choice goal attack, Adelaide Thunderbirds coach Jane Woodlands-Thompson says.
Diamonds coach Lisa Alexander will name a squad on Thursday ahead of a five-Test series against New Zealand in September-October.
Alexander delayed picking her squad until after Sunday’s grand final, with Bell playing a leading role in Adelaide Thunderbirds’ 50-48 win against Queensland Firebirds.
Alexander wanted to assess players in the grand final as Bell, who has played 19 Tests, competes with Firebirds’ 44-Test veteran Natalie Medhurst for the Diamonds’ starting goal attack position.
Bell, 26, won the most valuable player award in her side’s victory with a 24-goal haul while Medhurst was quiet with just nine goals – returns which Woodlands-Thompson said sent a clear message to the Diamonds.
“If Erin Bell is not the starting goal attack for the Diamonds, they don’t know what they’re doing,” Woodlands-Thompson said.
Bell became the first player to win three titles and thrived in a bruising grand final – there were several heavy clashes in a game which Firebirds coach Roselee Jencke said was a physical blueprint for others to follow.
“The game is evolving every year with the players spending more time at each franchise. The hours are longer, there is more commitment,” Jencke said.
“When you spend more time there the players have a better understanding of the game. But they also are fitter and stronger – that is just the way the game is going.
“And in Australia we really lead the way and that is fantastic for us, because we need to have our athletes improving all the time.
“But all Australian franchises are putting that emphasis in their programs. Definitely the T’birds and Firebirds are very strong teams.”