Netball: Aussie goal attack in boost for Force

Axed Australian goal attack Megan Dehn will play for the Force in this year's National Bank Cup.

Dehn (nee Anderson), who has played 13 games for Australia, was a surprise inclusion in the side's preliminary squad named yesterday.

The eight franchises were required to reduce their squads to 12 or less. Their final teams of 12 will be revealed on February 13.

Dehn, who can play at goal attack, goal shoot or wing attack, was part of the Australian side that suffered a record 61-36 loss to the Silver Ferns in October.

As a result coach Norma Plummer swung the axe and Dehn, experienced midcourters Peta Scholz and Natasha Chokljat were among those cut from the Commonwealth Games side.

Scholz and Chokljat have threatened to quit but Dehn is trying her luck on this side of Tasman. Not a bad idea considering Natalie Avellino's stint with the Sting in 2004 earned her an Australian recall.

"I have been with the [Sydney] Swifts for the last five years and you get to a point where you need something different," Dehn said.

"I am not quite ready to retire but I was just getting a bit bored with the same routine."

Anderson agreed to play for the North Harbour-based Force in October, two months before she knew of her fate with the Australian team.

She said Australia coach Norma Plummer told her she had had her opportunities at international level but hadn't been consistent enough.

"I am a little bit bemused but it happens doesn't it? My whole career with the Australian team has been in and out."

Dehn and her husband Greg will move here in March. It could be permanent although Dehn might return to the Swifts for the second part of Australia's Commonwealth Bank Trophy.

Force coach Yvonne Willering has named 11 players leaving herself the option of picking up a 12th if she wants. With Sheryl Scanlan pregnant, former Silver Fern Lorna Suafoa, who is playing for Samoa in the Commonwealth Games, returns to the side.

"We have got close in the past but we just have never really nailed it," Willering said.

"If we stay with exactly the same we are going to get exactly the same."

Defending champions the Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic have four new players in their side - Sydney-born shooter Tanya Lund, midcourter Liana Barrett-Chase, former Rebel Nicola Cooney and young Waikato shooter Evelyn Horomia.

The biggest loss from last year's team is former Silver Fern Anna Senio who has moved to Christchurch where husband Kevin will play for the Crusaders in the Super 14.

In other changes former Silver Fern Julie Seymour returns to the Canterbury Flames and Avellino to the Sting.