Netball: Going to great heights

By JULIE ASH

New Australian defender Demelza Fellowes openly admits her side will be doing all they can to prove New Zealand's world championship success was a one-off in next month's series against the Silver Ferns.

The Adelaide Thunderbirds player was the only uncapped player named in the Australian team to play New Zealand in three tests starting on June 30.

Standing at 1.88m, Fellowes, with the recalled Bianca Chatfield at 1.9m, are being lined up to counter New Zealand's shooting ace, 1.9m-tall Irene van Dyk.

"Height is what we do lack in defence and that is no secret to anyone," said Australian coach Norma Plummer.

Fellowes encountered van Dyk for the first time in February when the Silver Ferns played the Thunderbirds.

"When you are tall you get trained to play against big holding girls so I had a bit of an idea about playing her," Fellowes said.

"But she is a lot stronger than I thought and she has got such great skills.

"But what also has to be credited is the girls who deliver her the ball.

"When you play someone who is as good at positioning herself as she is ... you can only close her down so much."

But given the opportunity Fellowes said she would definitely be eyeing up those high balls that often come van Dyk's way.

"I think the key is not give her an easy set up, so you put doubt into the feeders' minds to make the ball go a bit skewed."

A surprise inclusion in the Australian squad, Fellowes made her mark in the 2000 world youth cup where she got the better of Jamaican giant Edmarie Lumbsley, who was a staggering 19cm taller.

"I felt like Mini Me," said Fellowes, who only took up netball at the age of 15.

"She was flown in from college basketball, she was huge but she didn't have that great a ball skills and the girls didn't feed her very well."

But despite her ability to combat tall players Fellowes is not expecting to walk into Australia's starting lineup.

"I play more of an aerial type game whereas Bianca does a lot of hard work and muscles about the place.

"She is a brilliant player so it will be hard to get on in front of her and Janine Ilitch."

Like New Zealand, Australia have also opted to go into the series with just three shooters.

And while the Silver Ferns haven't stepped on court since the world championship final, the Australians have hardly stepped off it, having played England and South Africa.

And they will also play three friendlies against England before coming to New Zealand.

Demelza Fellowes

Age: 23

Born: Victoria

Height: 1.88m

Positions: GD, GK

Test Caps: 0

Career highlights:

2000/04 Adelaide Thunderbirds.

2001/02: Member of Australian B side.

2000: Member of the Australian side that won the World Youth Cup.