Netball Australia sends rookies to Fast5 tournament Gretel Tippett, of the NSW Swifts, has been selected in the national team for the Fast5Netball World Series. WHAT did Netball Australia learn from last year's Fast5Netball World Series embarrassment? Absolutely nothing. Australia failed to win a game at the tournament and even lost to netball minnows Malawi (twice) and South Africa after naming a line-up missing many of the nation's stars. And NA selectors have done it again. A 10-person team has been picked for this year's tournament in Auckland from November 8-10 and does not include any players from the Diamonds side to take on New Zealand in a five-Test series. There are five members of the national 21 and under squad in the team - Gabi Simpson, Paige Hadley, Courtney Bruce, Gretel Tippett and Jo Weston. Tippett and Weston have yet to even play in the ANZ Championship. They will be competing against a NZ outfit filled with Silver Ferns content. Veterans Irene van Dyk and Casey Williams could be rested but the majority of the team will be experienced internationals. No doubt England and Jamaica will have most of their best talent at the tournament. But not Australia, who is treating the event as a development competition. If we are not serious about winning the tournament, then don't go. This is not to disrespect the players who have been chosen - and good luck to them. But Australia is disrespecting the tournament. How can Adelaide Thunderbirds midcourter Emily Beaton not get a trip? She has had an impressive ANZ Championship season and claimed her second premiership. If the selectors are going to use the event for development, what about Maddy Proud and Kate Shimmin, captain and vice-captain respectively of the national 21 and under team? Fast5 team: Ashleigh Brazill (West Coast Fever), Courtney Bruce (West Coast Fever), Tegan Caldwell (Melbourne Vixens), Carla Dziwoki (NSW Swifts), Paige Hadley (NSW Swifts), Demelza McCloud (Queensland Firebirds), Susan Pratley (NSW Swifts), Gabi Simpson (Queensland Firebrids), Gretel Tippett (NSW Swifts), Jo Weston (Victoria).