Netball: Supplying van Dyk is key for the Ferns

Irene van Dyk. Photo / The Aucklander

"Personal responsibility" has become one of the key catch-phrases in the Silver Ferns camp as they seek to leave no stone unturned in their build-up to the Commonwealth Games.

As the team reflected on a disappointing first-up loss to Australia in Adelaide at the weekend, players in each third of the court immediately put their hands up to identify areas in which they can improve before Thursday's second test in Wellington.

A humble Irene van Dyk fronted the television audiences after the game, clearly dissatisfied with her performance. The veteran shooter had a particularly quiet final quarter, failing to adjust to the arrival of 1.96m defender Susan Fuhrmann, who monstered van Dyk in the circle.

The disappointment at missing a couple of clutch shots down the stretch - uncharacteristic for the champion goaler - was etched in her face.

But livewire Liana Barrett-Chase said the midcourt needed to take some of the blame for putting the shooting circle under too much stress at times.

"We put [van Dyk] under stress so many times, she gets battered and hit and she still stands up and we really need to give her credit. So when we do a bad pass we've got to say it's our fault, not hers."

Barrett-Chase was injected off the bench at halftime and made a strong impact early on, finding more space on attack to add length to the Ferns' through-court play.

The Southern Steel star, who was playing in just her second test against Australia, said she is still learning how to feed van Dyk, but she is confident she can iron out the kinks before game two of the Constellation Cup series.

"I'll be looking at improving that connection with Irene. Sometimes she was free and I should have let it go and I didn't. That's what happened in that last quarter, I just thought about it too much. When the pressure was on I was a bit too hesitant and I really just need to let it go."

Silver Ferns coach Ruth Aitken said it was important they also look at the positives of their performance. She was particularly pleased to be able to test two midcourt lines and was impressed with Barrett-Chase's impact. Aitken has long maintained whatever happens in the series, it is still long enough until the Commonwealth Games for things to change. But although gold in Delhi is the key goal, she said it does not lessen the disappointment of a loss to their transtasman foes.

"The result is never secondary, we're certainly learning and building and trying different things, but we're hurting at the moment."

* The 12-strong Australian team for the Commonwealth Games in October was named yesterday. Australia begin their Games campaign on October 4 against Samoa, before facing India, Jamaica, Malawi and Trinidad in the group stage.

Australian squad for the Delhi Games:
Sharelle McMahon (c), Rebecca Bulley, Catherine Cox, Susan Fuhrmann, Laura Geitz, Renae Hallinan, Mo'onia Gerrard, Kimberlee Green, Natalie Medhurst, Lauren Nourse, Susan Pratley, Natalie von Bertouch.