Netball: Medhurst has her own style

Natalie Medhurst performs well under pressure. Photo / Getty Images

She plays the same. She is of identical height. She even looks similar. But whatever you do, don't call Natalie Medhurst the new Sharelle McMahon.

Today's final represents the first world championships or Commonwealth Games since 1995 that Australia has gone on court without the talismanic McMahon, who ruptured her Achilles tendon in March, ruling her out of the tournament. Medhurst has long been touted as the natural replacement but refuses to validate those claims.

"I'm certainly not the new Sharelle," says Medhurst. "When she went down, everybody knew they had to step up to try and cover that loss. I won't be able to replace her but if I am consistent and solid I will go some way towards making up for her absence."

"She has always admired Sharelle," adds coach Norma Plummer. "Sharelle's been her pin-up and they have similar styles but she is her own person."

"We miss Sharelle but we know we can do it without her," says Diamonds captain Natalie von Bertouch. "Natalie [Medhurst] has stepped up amazingly well and is playing brilliantly."

Medhurst is quite possibly the best all-round attacker in the sport. She combines great agility and tremendous pace with a sure shot from anywhere in the circle. She is typically cool under pressure, has wonderful vision and a wide passing range.

While most observers focused on Romelda Aiken, Medhurst was another key to the Firebirds' unbeaten 2011. She shot 338 goals at 83.7 per cent, and had 141 assists, making her the only non mid-courter in the top 15 assist leaders.

Medhurst burst on to the scene in 2004 for the Thunderbirds and made her international debut in 2007. She will win her 38th cap today, but was something of a late bloomer.

"She has built on her game over the years and worked on the feedback she was given," says Plummer. "When she was younger, she would fade out of games. We would tell her that she went missing but she didn't get it for a while.

"Then she started to understand - she needed to come back into the game and start making different moves. Instead of taking the initiative sometimes, she used to hang back but she has well and truly gone past that."

While this Australian team has plenty of variation in their attacking line - including the option of playing "two talls" in 1.88m Catherine Cox and 1.92m Caitlin Bassett - Medhurst will probably cause the most headaches for New Zealand's much-vaunted defensive foursome.

"Her pace and speed make her very hard to mark," says Ferns defender Katrina Grant. "She doesn't play the typical New Zealand style of goal attack so it is always tricky. The key is to try and get in her head early - before she gets set and confident."

Off court Medhurst is a relaxed, down-to-earth type who doesn't even own a netball.

"That sounds bad, doesn't it?" laughs Medhurst. "But there are always plenty lying around and one is always shoved in my hand when I need one."

McMahon would shoot 200-300 goals a day as part of her routine, while Irene van Dyk is equally fastidious. Medhurst takes a different approach, admitting she doesn't shoot every day and only likes to practise under pressure, to simulate game situations.

Meanwhile, the Australians were not short of confidence at an entertaining supporters breakfast attended by more than 500 fans on Friday.

When asked what she expected to see going into the last two minutes of the final, Plummer replied drily: "Australia up by five."

The morning event was themed "Diamonds are a girl's best friend" and featured the team answering off-the-wall questions from host and Australian legend Vicki Wilson. Among the trivia, the fans learned that Caitlin Bassett is obsessed with cupcakes, Natalie von Bertouch likes to nap for exactly 59 minutes each game day and comeback defender Julie Corletto is nicknamed "Phar Lap" because she is such a powerhouse.

Von Bertouch also showed off her captain's necklace, the jewelled tradition started by Liz Ellis and handed on to each skipper ever since.

The world championship netball final is live on Sky tonight, at 7.30pm.