By JULIE ASH
The Australian side have sent out a strong message to their rivals ahead of next month's world championships in Jamaica.
In an interview on the Netball Australia website, star shooter Sharelle McMahon said her team had vowed to win the final by a comfortable margin.
"We have been talking
about it and we don't want a close match," McMahon said on the website.
"We want a margin of 10 or more, that is what we are aiming for."
McMahon shot the goal in the final seconds of play in the 1999 final against the Silver Ferns that handed Australia the title.
She then did it again during the final of last year's Commonwealth Games in Manchester, to give Australia a one-goal win over New Zealand.
"I don't want to do that again," she said.
"As great as it is for the spectators to watch, we really want to push it on this year and not let it come down to the last minute," she said.
At 25, McMahon is now one of the more senior members of the Australian side, with 55 caps to her name.
"It is funny because for the past few years I have been used to being almost the youngest in the team," she said.
"But that has definitely changed now.
"I think having experience in tournaments like the world champs helps.
"You know what is coming up and when it comes to the final you know what to expect and hopefully you don't get too overwhelmed by the situation, which has never actually happened to me."
The Australian side have completed their final training camp and will leave for the Caribbean at the end of the month.
There they will complete their final preparations in Barbados before heading to Jamaica for the 10-day tournament, which starts on July 10.
Australian captain Kathryn Harby-Williams, coach Jill McIntosh, and players Nicole Richardson and Rebecca Sanders have all confirmed that they will retire from international netball after the world championships.
