Netball: Williams fears for her playing future

Casey Williams. Photo / Getty Images

Broken-down defender Casey Williams has admitted she fears for her longevity in netball following the news she will have to have the rest of the year off to recover from ankle surgery.

The New Zealand captain will go under the knife at the end of next month to have surgery similar to the operation midcourter Temepara George had after last year's Commonwealth Games.

With rehabilitation expected to take around eight weeks, Williams will miss the Ferns' remaining international fixtures this year against England (two tests) and Australia (three tests).

The ankle is the same one she fractured during the 2006 Commonwealth Games and the athletic defender said she knew the time would come when she had to have a "tidy up".

And although she knows it is in her best interests long-term to have the surgery done now, Williams said she was still very disappointed to be sidelined for the rematch against world champions Australia.

"It's always disappointing to miss out on a chance to play in an international series, but for me to continue on for longer, I think this is important for me right now. My whole body needs a bit of a rest."

Williams is also still recovering from a calf injury she picked up before the June tests against Australia. The injury flared up again in Singapore, with Williams controversially playing on in their overtime loss to Australia in the final when she was clearly struggling.

Having battled knee and ankle injuries for most of her career - she has tendinitis in both knees, a hole in the patella tendon of her left knee and well-documented problems with both ankles - and this year added calf problems, which tend to be recurrent in netballers, to her lengthy list of complaints, Williams admits she can lose sleep over how many years left she has in the game.

"I've rolled my ankles so many times I've basically got no tendons or ligaments left in either of them," she said.

She said it prompted her to take out insurance on her body two years ago following the sport's move to professionalism.

"Yeah I do worry about [my longevity in the sport], that's why I've got my body insured. Because you just never know what is going to happen.

"Seeing as I'm a high risk for injury, and I think the way I play netball probably doesn't help either, I thought it was a good idea to get [insurance]."

Williams hopes to be back in action for the tour to Jamaica in January next year.

Silver Ferns coach Ruth Aitken said she would reassess her captaincy options for the October tests during the camp in early September. It is thought vice-captain George, who is widely tipped to retire after the world championships, may be talked into playing out the rest of the year to offer leadership to the new group.

The full Silver Ferns squad for 2011/12 will be named on Monday with the two contentious spots being midcourter Wendy Frew and out of form shooter Daneka Wipiiti. It is expected young guns Kayla Cullen and Julianna Naoupu will take their spots. Veteran Joline Henry is also said to be weighing up her future.

Meanwhile, the Silver Ferns head coaching role is set to be advertised for the first time in 10 years. Netball NZ chief executive Raelene Castle said the national body plans to open the application process up regardless of whether Aitken decides she is interested in carrying on in the role.

"It is our preference to go to market and allow other coaches the opportunity to throw their hats into the ring."

The Silver Ferns and Netball NZ management are undergoing a review process of the world championship campaign and high performance programme. Castle expects that exercise to be completed next month and from there they will decide what shape the applications process will take.

INTERNATIONALS

Silver Ferns test schedule

v England

October 3, Trusts Stadium, Auckland.

October 6, Stadium Southland Velodrome, Invercargill.

v Australia

October 23, Burswood Dome, Perth.

October 26, Adelaide Entertainment Centre, Adelaide.

October 30, Hisense Arena, Melbourne.