Recalled Diamonds netball shooter Tegan Philip is a smarter more resilient player after the best part of three years out of the international scene.
So says Diamonds coach Lisa Alexander, who is delighted Philip forced the selectors' hand with her return to form and fitness this year after dealing with adversity.
Vixens star Philip earned all nine of her Test caps in 2014, when she was part of Australia's victorious Commonwealth Games squad.
But her form dropped in 2015 and she missed the 2016 season with a serious knee injury.
"She's come back as a more resilient athlete, she's come back as a smarter athlete,' Alexander told AAP.
"She's always been athletic, she's just rounded out her game so well."
Philip was able to extract positives from her enforced layoff.
"You always want to make sure that you see benefits going through something like that," Philip told AAP..
"It can slightly alter your mindset in a positive way and you see things differently
'I'll hopefully not go through that again, but I do appreciate what I was able to learn."
The Vixens and crosstown rival Collingwood share the highest representation in the extended squad of 18, with five players each.
Among the Vixens contingent were two uncapped players: defender Emily Mannix and captain and midcourter Kate Moloney.
"We were really pleased with Kate Moloney's season particularly being a centre-wing defence, that provides a really good option for us positionally for our squad,' Alexander said.
"She's also led the team so well, she's showing the sort of leadership needed in the Diamonds.
"Emily Mannix really creates her own intercepts many times and we (the selectors) were just delighted with her form."
The selection of the quintet was recognition of a fine but ultimately unfulfilling season for Vixens, who won the minor premiership of the inaugural Super Netball competition, but lost both their finals matches.
"We were shattered to not get through to that grand final and go out with two losses," Philip said.
"But the fact that so many girls have been rewarded with such a great season performance to make the Aussie squad, I'm proud of all of them."
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