In one half of netball Cara Koenen delivered a stunning reminder of her value as a goal shooter to the Australian Diamonds ahead of the Commonwealth Games.
Koenen only played the second half of the first in a series of three Tests against Jamaica on Thursday night but still finished the match as the leading scorer on the court in the Diamonds’ crushing 72-41 win.
Cara Koenen in action for the Diamonds.Credit: Getty Images
The Sunshine Coast lightning star is the sister of Brisbane Lions AFLW premiership captain Breanna Koenen. Their brother, Dirk, is a former Gold Coast academy player and sister, Alyssa, has represented Australia at surf lifesaving.
Cara shot at 93 per cent with 25 goals from 27 shots against Jamaica in Adelaide.
The Diamonds’ opponents were missing star shooters Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard and Romelda Aiken-George among other stalwarts among other stalwarts, and Australian coach Stacey Marinkovich made plenty of changes as she searches for the right combinations for the Commonwealth Games in July and August.
The Diamonds are ranked No.1 in the world and led by 12 goals at half-time, exposing the talent gap with a ruthless display before 6704 spectators.
Brisbane captain Breanna Koenen proudly displays the two medals she collected at the 2023 AFLW grand final.Credit: Getty
Captain Liz Watson and centre Kate Moloney orchestrated an early onslaught.
But Jamaica gradually edged back into the contest and with a tick over two minutes remaining in the first quarter, their deficit was only three goals.
The Australians then put their foot down again to again create a six-goal buffer at quarter-time, 16-10, with shooters Sophie Garbin (10 from 10) and Kiera Austin (six from six) blemish-free.
Australia started the second quarter strongly to increase the lead to nine goals before Jamaica again climbed off the canvas to sneak within three goals.
But the Diamonds responded with aplomb, scoring nine of the next 10 goals en route to a 34-22 halftime lead.
By midway through the third quarter, Australia had powered to a whopping 22-goal advantage, 46-24, and had the visitors at their mercy.
The Diamonds led 54-30 at the last change before cruising to victory.
Garbin logged 17 goals from 18 attempts and Austin 21 from 23 before both were substituted as Marinkovich tried fresh shooting combinations in Koenen (25 from 27) and Sophie Dwyer (nine from 11).
Marinkovich also swung changes in midcourt and defence – she deployed all 12 players in her squad in a test of depth ahead of netball’s showcase tournament at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
“We are definitely exploring our depth and making sure that we have got great versatility,” Marinkovich said.
“And that’s the way the girls have been training – we have been able to adapt and we are using people’s strengths to shift things out in a game, as well as strategy.
“So it’s nice to have that option and I thought the players that came on brought that to the court and had impact.”
The Jamaica series continues in Perth on Sunday and concludes in Melbourne next Wednesday.
With AAP
News, results and expert analysis from the weekend of sport sent every Monday. Sign up for our Sport newsletter.
Most Viewed in Sport
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: www.smh.com.au
