Opals hit the boards to find chemistry

By Fleta Page
Updated April 18 2018 - 10:41pm, first published May 14 2012 - 5:04pm

The Australian Opals have officially begun their Olympic Games preparation, with their first training camp at the Australian Institute of Sport starting today.
‘Chemistry’ is the buzzword for the five-day session, which aims to have the country’s best female basketballers bond and adjust to playing together. And in the case of Lauren Jackson, it’s also about learning to play her old position again.
The excitement was apparent at the opening training drills, but the basketball not yet at the standard required if the Opals are to finally win the Gold medal that has proved one win beyond reach at the last three Olympics.
‘‘It’s a little scrappy, the first session is always a bit hyper and everyone’s trying too hard’’ head coach Carrie Graf said.
There’s plenty of incentive to impress Graf and her assistants, who will have the task of culling the squad of 19 to a team of 12 to take to London, with the first cut at the end of this week.
‘‘Some very good players are going to miss out on the Australian Olympic team, as they always do,’’ Graf said. ‘‘Ultimately, we need to choose athletes that we think can do the best job for us at the Olympic Games, whether that’s chemistry or role-fit or positional, we don’t take those [decisions] lightly.’’

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