Netball: Dainty Fern stands out

Liana Barrett-Chase's aerial work is stunning. Photo / Getty Images

Her national coach says she's so fast, she can "confuse" people. Rivals admit she can appear "from nowhere". Her provincial mentor never wants her off the court. She says the approach often comes off the top of her head.

Liana Barrett-Chase is a netball rarity.

In an age when the game seems to be the domain of giants - and players are taller than ever before - the diminutive Silver Ferns and Steel midcourter stands only 1.68cm tall. Think Calista Flockhart (Ally McBeal) or Jennifer Aniston on a netball court.

During the recent series with the Australian Diamonds, she wasn't able to look any player on either team in the eye.

The 25-year-old survives and thrives at the highest level through speed, instinct, athleticism and explosive skills.

Fellow Fern Joline Henry has fought many battles against Barrett-Chase in the ANZ Championship and admires what she brings to the court.

"She has an innate ability to read the game, to read space, and her opponents," says Henry. "It's a bit unfortunate she is so little but that is what makes her so special. She has to work so hard in other areas to stand out."

Henry compares Barrett-Chase's lightning movement and deception to Australian livewire Sharelle McMahon.

"She can come from all sorts of places," she says. "One minute, she's nowhere around you and the next minute, she's underneath you intercepting the ball or taking it off you.

"She's so powerful and explosive - you really have to have your wits about you - and in possession, her body can be turning one way and she can pass the ball the other way, which is something few players can do. It's quite rare to have someone with such flair on the international scene."

Ferns coach Ruth Aitken first selected Barrett-Chase in 2008.

"She's not the tallest cab off the rank but has amazing explosive ability," says Aitken. "Her work in the air can be quite stunning and she gets that little body into some pretty amazing spots.

"Sometimes she over-confuses people because she's so quick, she has made four changes of direction while they are still trying to catch up - thinking, 'which way am I going to pass to her?"'

Both Aitken and provincial coach Robyn Broughton feel she has improved her decision-making in the heat of battle and is now "very measured in what she does in a very explosive way". Barrett-Chase, who has one of the best power to weight ratios in the game, is lauded by Broughton for being an intense trainer.

The Taihape born Barrett-Chase would win any battle of the introverts within the Silver Ferns but is surprisingly happy to talk about her skill-set.

The 25-year-old says she relies on instinct and being quicker than most, while always trying to bring creativity and flair to the court. Barrett-Chase is long accustomed to putting up with jibes about her height - "as a teenager people would say, 'oh, you're such a shorty'," she admits - but has never seen it as a problem.

"My mentality is that you have to find me, chase me and catch me first.

"If you can't see me [and] can't keep up with me, then I am winning the race."

But is she ever just a little bit jealous of amazons like Casey Williams, Irene van Dyk and Maria Tutaia?

"Definitely not," she laughs, "They have problems finding clothes, can't fit in aeroplanes and need to have big cars."

Barrett-Chase made her debut in October 2008, in a memorable win over Australia in Melbourne. She figured in all three matches against the World Seven last year, before starring in a 53-50 win over Australia in Sydney. She was injured late in that game, which reopened the door for Temepara George and the two have been duelling for the wing attack bib ever since.

After an immense 2010 ANZ Championship season with the Steel - she was named the best player in the competition - Barrett-Chase had a mixed Constellation Cup series against Australia. Used as a second-half substitute, she admitted she struggled to make an impact in Wellington and Auckland after a strong game off the bench in Adelaide.

"It just didn't happen," she recalls. "They had done their homework and I realised I can't just play like I always do. I have to prepare more and keep on adding things to my game."

Team-mates and coaches emphasise her shyness, inner drive and quiet confidence but also her leadership potential. They talk of someone who "would never say boo to a goose" but is now starting to come out of her shell. "I think now she understands just how good she can be," says Aitken.

She plans to return to her studies next year - the zero fees scheme in Invercargill is a definite incentive - and hopes to become a personal trainer, having been inspired by former Olympic sprinter Chris Donaldson, her fitness coach in 2008 and 2009.

She lists her weaknesses as KFC ("when I am allowed it") and parallel parking, admitting she is in awe of long time team driver van Dyk, who is responsible for ferrying the team to trainings and games when in camp.

"I would take 10 or 11 turns with those big vans - she hasn't got it wrong yet but I wouldn't want to be driving that team, with a bunch of girls saying, 'hey, do you know what you're doing?"'

After Delhi, she's tying the knot with long-time beau and Manawatu and Highlanders centre Johnny Leota in Rarotonga. Their eight-year-old daughter Brooklyn will be bridesmaid and Barrett-Chase hopes to have a certain golden accessory to show off.

"If we can keep believing, then I think we are unstoppable," she says of the prospects of defending their Commonwealth Games crown.