Netball: Ferns coach unfazed by defections

An unexpected dearth in shooters has left New Zealand netball coach Ruth Aitken unfazed as she today named a 17-strong squad to trial for this year's challenging international calendar.

A six-test schedule against Samoa, Jamaica and Australia begins early next month, building towards the Silver Ferns' defence of their Commonwealth Games title in New Delhi in October, and the world championship in Singapore next year.

Missing from the triallists are former Silver Ferns shooters Jodi Brown and Paula Griffin, leaving Aitken short of back-up for established stars Irene van Dyk and Maria Tutaia.

Brown has had an impressive trans-Tasman netball league season for the Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic at the unaccustomed position of goal attack, but has opted for time out to focus on her 19-month-old daughter Kiana.

She is still keen to continue her Silver Ferns career, however, with next year's world championship a tempting prospect.

Griffin, who turned 22 on Sunday, has been in the New Zealand team since she was 18, but has decided to take a break from the sport.

Aitken said the absence of the two shooters wasn't entirely unexpected, and provided a real challenge for others to step up.

"It's not what I'd hoped for earlier on in the season; I thought all that experience was going to be available to us," Aitken told NZPA today.

"It would be fair to say we're light at that end, but it's something we've been through before.

"It would be nice to have more options, but I'm still really heartened by the quality of players we've got in there."

One who has impressed, making a comeback after giving birth in December to daughter Kilani-Mae, is former Silver Ferns shooter Daneka Wipiiti.

Wipiiti has played nine tests for New Zealand, after first being selected in 2002, and grew stronger with every game at the Southern Steel in this year's trans-Tasman league.

Aitken said she had been impressed with the quality of Wipiiti's play over the 17-week intensive ANZ Championship.

"I feel this year her game has improved markedly. It was a huge thing to come back after a baby in December, and she's been really composed and confident.

"Her long shot has been really good too, which for us is a nice foil to an Irene type of shooter. We're really pleased she's put her hand up again."

Another player back after time off for baby-raising is South African-born defender Leana de Bruin, another Steel stalwart who Aitken said had improved in leaps and bounds.

"She's worked incredibly hard - she's very determined, that girl, and she's certainly got her mind set on wearing that black dress. I take my hat off to her."

Aitken was confident any lack of depth in the Silver Ferns' shooting circle

would be offset by quality work from an impressive defensive line-up and a snappy midcourt.

"There's still a lot more work to be done, especially in the forward court when you look at the change in the mix there, with that experience that's no longer available to us," Aitken said.

"The midcourt is particularly exciting in terms of the options we have there. We've got to do a lot of work to make sure the shooters can nail it when we need them, but I'm sure they're going to get a truckload supply of ball through those defenders, and it'll be arriving at a rate of knots through our speedy midcourt."

While midcourt defender Larrissa Willcox has been dropped, the defensive stocks have been strengthened by the return of Anna Scarlett, who quit netball after missing out on the New Zealand team for the 2007 world championship in Auckland.

Scarlett returns after nearly three years on the international beach volleyball circuit, and Aitken said her dynamic aerial skills could prove valuable, particularly against the lanky Jamaicans.

Scarlett would particularly benefit from working with Silver Ferns' assistant coach and defensive guru Wai Taumaunu.

"But we're realistic she has a long way to go to get back into things," Aitken said. "There's no illusion her selection will be naturally guaranteed, but we've given her the opportunity and after 39 tests we feel she well and truly deserves it."

Although Northern Mystics shooter Cathrine Latu has again been named to trial, she is not available for the Silver Ferns until August next year, after playing for Samoa in the 2007 world championship.

"That continues the philosophy we've had of developing her in preparation for her return to eligibility," Aitken said.

Players unavailable through injury include veteran defender Sheryl Scanlan, who continues a long-term struggle with a stubborn calf injury, and Southern Steel teammate Wendy Frew, who will be undergoing shoulder surgery.

The squad will attend a selection camp in Auckland on July 26-28 before Aitken names her 12-strong team on July 30. The Silver Ferns international campaign begins on August 7 against Samoa in Porirua.

- NZPA