Commonwealth Games netball squad named

Eight Commonwealth Games first-timers have been named in Australia's netball campaign for gold at next month's Games in Melbourne.

Boasting a mix of experience and youth, Australia's 12-strong Commonwealth Games netball squad was named at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra on Friday.

The team will be led by captain Sharelle McMahon and vice captain Catherine Cox who will take on the key roles in the absence of Liz Ellis, who was ruled out of the Games due to a knee injury last year.

A number of retirements and recent injuries will see only four athletes, McMahon, Cox, Janine Ilitch and Alison Broadbent, return from the 2002 Manchester Games, with McMahon and Ilitch making their third consecutive Games team.

However, the loss of some experienced players has given the selectors the chance to introduce new blood into the team.

Making their debuts will be two new faces in 21-year-old shooter Susan Pratley and 19-year-old defender Susan Fuhrmann.

Australian Commonwealth Games Association chief executive Perry Crosswhite said the team had a tough job ahead of it in its battle against arch rival New Zealand.

"At this stage, on paper at least, New Zealand would be the team to beat," Crosswhite said.

"But at each of the Commonwealth Games so far our girls have seemed to find that little bit extra when it counts."

Adding to the tension, netball will be the last gold medal to be decided at the Games.

McMahon said she was thrilled to lead the team in front of her home fans in Melbourne.

"We have a great mix of experience and youth, which makes us a bit of an unknown quantity," McMahon said.

"We are well aware of the expectations, but we have our own goals and wont let the outside pressure affect us"

Australia: Sharelle McMahon (captain), Catherine Cox (vice-captain), Natalie Avellino, Alison Broadbent, Bianca Chatfield, Megan Dehn (nee Anderson), Susan Fuhrmann, Selina Gilsenan, Janine Ilitch, Susan Pratley, Jessica Shynn, Natalie von Bertouch.