Netball: Key absences give newcomers a look in

By JULIE ASH

Australian netball coach Norma Plummer believes the unavailability of sharp shooter Sharelle McMahon for the series against the Silver Ferns which starts tonight in Sydney could be a good thing for her side.

McMahon, who has tormented Silver Fern fans since slotting the winning goal in the 1999 world championships, will miss the three test series with ankle injuries.

"I have felt the team over the last couple of years have put a lot of pressure on her to be the go-to girl that is in the shop all the time," Plummer said.

"This is a team effort and I believe there are quite a few others who need to stand up and be counted."

New Zealand and Australia are in similar positions going into tonight's match.

Both have lost key players - Australia McMahon and Peta Scholz and New Zealand Belinda Colling and Anna Rowberry - but both see it as an opportunity to build for the 2006 Commonwealth Games and the following year's world championships.

While many are expecting the Silver Ferns to struggle without Colling, Plummer disagrees.

"I don't think Ruth [Aitken, NZ coach] has lost too much without Colling," she said.

"She can put [Angela] Mitchell in, she can put [Jodi] Te Huna in or she could put Adine [Wilson] across ... she still has a lot of options."

However, lack of experience is the worry.

Although Rowberry will be missed in the midcourt, Temepara Clark and Adine Wilson are more than capable and were a slick combination in the early part of the 2003 world championships when Rowberry was sidelined with a calf strain.

New Zealand's defensive trio remains the same with Vilimaina Davu, Sheryl Scanlan and Lesley Nicol, and the team's rock under the hoop, Irene van Dyk, is expected to dominate, leaving goal attack the area of real vulnerability.

Although Australia are nowhere near as stable as New Zealand through the court, with captain Liz Ellis on defence and highly regarded New Zealand-born shooter Catherine Cox coming back after missing the last series through injury, Australia have the threads to pull together a series win.

"New Zealand has the blend that Australia had for quite a while, where players understand each other and support one another," Plummer said. "One of the big things is being able to support your team on court and I think that is where New Zealand is winning out at the moment.

"They have had that opportunity to be together and they have won a world series together. That is very healthy for them."

In an effort to help blood new players, Australia altered the rules for the series, allowing teams to carry squads of 15 rather than the traditional 12.

* Former Silver Fern Joan Hodson gave birth to a daughter in a car outside Kaurilands school on Thursday morning.

Hodson and her husband Darryl were on their way from their home in Laingholm to Waitakere City hospital when the 3.6kg (8 pound) baby made an early arrival in the backseat of their car. The youngster has yet to be named but Hodson's husband Darryl reckons Mondeo, after their car is fitting.

TEST SQUADS

NEW ZEALAND

Irene van Dyk, Angela Mitchell, Jodi Te Huna, Adine Wilson, Temepara Clark, Amigene Metcalfe, Lesley Nicol, Sheryl Scanlan, Joline Henry, Vilimaina Davu, Anna Scarlett, Victoria Edward.

AUSTRALIA

Catherine Cox, Cynna Neele, Natalie Avellino, Natasha Chokljat, Kristen Heinrich, Jane Altschwager, Megan Anderson, Alex Hodge, Natalie von Bertouch, Jessica Shynn, Mo'onia Gerrard, Alison Broadbent, Liz Ellis, Bianca Chatfield, Janine Ilitch.