Netball: Veteran insists on just a brief comeback

Tania Dalton. Photo / Paul Estcourt

Tania Dalton says age has taught her to train for quality rather than quantity.

Tania Dalton's career lowlight was losing to the BOP/Waikato Magic by 26 goals in a 2005 final.

Tania Dalton wants a phantom comeback on Monday.

At the tender age of 39, the former Silver Ferns shooter has answered an SOS from her old friend Robyn Broughton, whose Southern Steel are ravaged by injury going into the opening ANZ Championship match against the Northern Mystics.

Dalton - who lives on the North Shore and has been playing for the College Rifles - was a key member of the southern netball giants during their all-conquering days, when they were the Sting. Five years on, she insists this will be a very brief trip down memory lane.

Dalton, a netball commentator for Sky, takes a few Herald questions about her career, famous players and the state of netball.

Out of the box and into the circle - are you putting the microphone down and taking up the game again?

Definitely not - this so-called comeback won't go past one week. Doing both isn't a good look. I don't see any conflict for this, though - I didn't even pick the Steel in my top four. I hope their shooters perform really well and I end up stuck on the bench eating wine gums or whatever they eat these days.

Did Robyn Broughton have to twist your arm?

I've always had trouble saying no to people. It's a problem that has affected my life. But Robyn and I have a very special relationship - she is like a mum to me. I always commuted between Auckland and Invercargill when I played for the Sting. I'd go down every Thursday - you could do that sort of thing in those days, although it wouldn't be acceptable any more. I'd take two of my kids - we'd stay at Robyn and her husband's place. She's a neat freak and I'd be at the kids, telling them to tidy up, tidy up. One of the reasons for Robyn's success is she really cares about people and their families.

You've kept in shape with a club team of old luminaries ...

We've got Silver Ferns and some top provincial players. Anna Scarlett made her comeback with us. She had one game and was into the Silver Ferns. She owes us.

What's the secret to breaking Australia's domination of the ANZ series?

Everybody is searching for that secret. We've got the talent but maybe we don't have depth past the top seven players in our teams. It's not just about getting to the top four, but winning the whole thing and that is what the Australian approach is all about.

The state of netball?

The game is on the up. The Commonwealth Games final, some of the test matches, the extra time games - they have been outstanding. The athletic ability has improved and is getting better all the time. The umpires are letting more go and the game is more physical but that has gone as far as it should. We don't want to lose the finesse, the beautiful moves, the change in tempo - the game should not be all rip, shit and bang.

Who was the best defender you ever faced?

Casey Williams ... and Bernice Mene earlier in my career. Casey is amazing. She is one of the cleaner defenders I've played against ... a lovely lady but still very intimidating. She has amazing elevation - if you miss a shot you are pretty much in the poo getting a rebound. Bernice was similar in those ways - both of them could sort of hang in the air.

The dirtiest defender?

I had a couple of run-ins with Vilimaina Davu - I got a black eye one time. I wouldn't say she was dirty, but my God, if she was coming up from behind going for the ball, you were a bit more nervous than if it was Bernice or Casey.

Favourite memory?

Winning the world champs in 2003 in Jamaica. Being part of that team was pretty special. I don't think I've ever been in a team before when as you drove to the game in the bus, you thought 'We've got the goods here'. There was an air of confidence among those girls.

Lowlight?

One of our Southern Sting finals against the Magic - I think we lost by 26 goals. If I could have climbed in a hole in the final quarter ... I'd been with the Sting for three years and we'd won three finals but then, oh my goodness.

Best netballer who was a team mate?

Donna Wilkins (Loffhagen) ... I had five years at the Sting shooting with her. She was unbelievable the way she could drop balls in from anywhere. She had the mongrel in her ... If I did something wrong she would sure tell me. I really respected her, we had a real partnership and Donna was a game-breaker.

Best opponent?

Casey Williams again - she came along later in my career. I thought 'This kid is amazing'. She is a freak.

Sports hero?

I always looked up to [Silver Fern] Sandra Edge - she was outstanding. But [tennis legend] Steffi Graf was a favourite - she is the one person I would love to meet.

Is there one thing you would like to change in netball?

Losing the ball just because your toe is on the line when you do a throw-in - that rule does my head in. There is enough whistle already. We need to get rid of the pedantic rules, like not being set in the right place. So what if you are a few feet away - does it really matter?

The Silver Ferns - what are the good and bad things?

People talk about mental toughness and they have it - we all saw that in the Commonwealth Games where they ground it out and won against the Aussies. Defensively we are outstanding but there is a concern at the other end of the court. Irene Van Dyk is still there and Maria Tutaia had a great final - but I don't think anyone else has really put a hand up.

Back to your non-comeback - are you making a stand for the veterans?

You look at things differently when you are older and have more balance in life. I was a better player after having my first child ... You train for quality rather than churning out the junk miles. I wish I knew back then what I know now. Kids of 18, 19, 20 think they haven't made it if they've been overlooked but you are so much more mature at 25. You've done the hard yards - that age is actually a good time to start picking players up.