Netball: Former Silver Ferns coach Yvonne Willering expects changes to the national squad

Former Silver Ferns coach Yvonne Willering said she wouldn't be surprised by changes to the squad. Photo / Getty

Netball New Zealand will name the first Silver Ferns squad tomorrow afternoon since the national side's disastrous Commonwealth Games campaign and former coach Yvonne Willering said fans should expect changes.

The Ferns' horror-run of results in their most recent international season was pinpointed to a lack of belief and leadership under the guidance of the recently resigned Janine Southby.

Many of the players have escaped responsibility for the team's disappointing demise with Katrina Grant only recently breaking her silence on her role as captain.

But with tomorrow's announcement the moment of truth for the future of the squad, Willering said she expected changes and believed it was time certain players took responsibility for their performance.

"I think there will be some changes and I don't see that as a bad thing," Willering said, "We can't say it was just the coach and everything's going to be fine."

"The players have to take responsibility for that performance as well, it's all well saying they didn't have the belief, but at the end of the day you're wearing the Silver Fern, you're going out on the court to be the best you can be and that's irrespective of what happened off the court."

Pulse shooter Aliyah Dunn was the most accurate Kiwi shooter in the ANZ Premiership with 91 per cent. Photo / Getty

This year's ANZ Premiership, which concluded on Sunday night, set a spotlight on some of New Zealand's top up-coming players.

Young shooters such as Aliyah Dunn and Jen O'Connell outshone their internationally experienced teammates proving their worth on the court.

Meanwhile, veterans such as Casey Kopua and Laura Langman have been tipped for a return to the black dress sparking a debate around whether experience or youth was more important.

Willering, who lead New Zealand to a silver medal in the 1998 Commonwealth Games, said she wouldn't be surprised to see a couple young talents named in the squad but said in her opinion, experience still mattered most.

"They [new players] may make the trial but I cannot see them making a starting line-up, that's something that has to be earned," she said, "I wouldn't want to just throw these youngsters to play against the likes of Australia, England, and South Africa."

"Nothing beats experience ... you will always need that mix of youth and experience but I would always go for experience any time playing against those top nations."

Casey Kopua signalled her intention of a shock return to the national side last month. Photo / Getty

"Casey Kopua would add a lot of, not just experience ... just having her around would make a difference."

"Even Laura Langman would make a tremendous difference, she's been there, she's done that, knows what it takes and she would lift those around her as well."

Tomorrow's highly-anticipated announcement will also offer an "update" on the head coach appointment process delaying the expected official naming.

The Sunshine Coast Lightning's finals run in Australia's Super Netball competition is believed to be the reason for the delay with Noeline Taurua understood to have reached an agreement with Netball NZ.

Taurua, who is fully committed to leading her Australian franchise to back-to-back titles, wouldn't want the Silver Ferns' appointment to be a distraction.

The delay, however, has surfaced questions about selection and whether the new coach will have had a significant say on who makes the team.

Willering, who agreed that the delay hinted toward Taurua's appointment, believed that the selection committee would have consulted with her ahead of the team naming.

Noeline Taurua is understood to have reached an agreement with Netball New Zealand. Photo / Photosport

"I think everyone's aware that Noeline Taurua has been shoulder tapped," she said,
"because of that time frame, had she already said no to it, what is the reason for the delay? This to me is a very valid reason for the delay in announcing."

"I have no doubt in Noeline's case, if it is to be Noeline, she will have been following the ANZ Premiership as well so she's going to have that knowledge of the player's performance ... I'd expect that there would have been some involvement with that."

"The Quad Series and Constellation Cup are going to indirectly be trials so at the end of the day it doesn't really matter the composition of the twelve ... whoever the coach is they're going to name their starting seven as they see fit anyway."

A minimum of 16 players will be named in tomorrow's 2018-19 Silver Ferns squad while a Silver Ferns development squad (New Zealand A) and Fast5 squad will also be named.