Netball: Scarlett set for netball comeback

Former Silver Fern Anna Scarlett is set to make a brief netball comeback next month after being named in the Auckland Waitakere line-up for the national provincial championships.

Scarlett is in Norway competing on the world beach volleyball circuit with playing partner Susan Blundell. The pair plan on competing in two more tournaments in Finland and Holland before returning to New Zealand in early September.

Scarlett played a couple of games for Auckland Waitakere in the preliminary rounds of the competition last year, but missed the tournament week. This year she will be available for the full campaign and coach Paula Bailey said the team was extremely fortunate to have Scarlett on board.

"Anna was pivotal in the year that we won the national title [2007] and she just offers so much as an elite athlete in supporting younger players from the region and moving them forward into those roles," said Bailey.

"I think she likes the environment, she likes to give back to younger players and she sees it as a challenge. When you've got such a consummate athlete you're not going to leave her out."

While Scarlett is clearly keen to stay involved with netball, a full-time return appears a long way off yet.

Scarlett remains committed to her Olympic bid with Blundell for the London Games in 2012.

But Bailey believes the 26-year-old still has a future in netball.

"I don't think she's completely shut the door on returning to netball. She's extremely good at it and I guess there is a life after the Olympics," she said.

Auckland Waitakere have named an extremely strong line-up for the championships, with five of this year's Northern Mystics team - Cathrine Latu, Debbie White, Rachel Rasmussen, Jade Topia and Rawinia Everitt - featured in the squad.

The line-up also includes three players who turned out for Netball North last year - with Latu, Brooke Williams and Areta Thatcher. They all play for Massey's Baytex club, which this season joined the Auckland Waitakere stable in the club competition.

It is understood Latu sought a release to play for North, but the request was denied by Netball Auckland Waitakere. Bailey doesn't believe Latu's reluctance to play for her new province will affect team morale.

"I guess that's a policy issue, rather than our environment issue," she said.

"I think it will be really good for them, sometimes it's good to move out of where you're comfortable and set yourself new challenges, so they've fitted in really well and it's got a good dynamic really."

Netball North, who will this year be coached by Silver Ferns legends Rita Fatialofa-Patolo and Linda Vagana, are expected confirm their team for this year's championship tomorrow. It is likely to include Mystics defenders Vilimaina Davu and Finau Pulu and former Tall Fern Jessica McCormack.