Netball: Loffhagen out to bury memory of crucial miss

By RICHARD BOOCK

It already has the makings of a good book: the story of a broomstick, a dog named Tyson and a New Zealand netballer who never knows when to quit.

Donna Loffhagen, the young Silver Fern who copped most of the blame for last year's world championship disappointment, will return to the realm of dreaded memories on Tuesday when she confronts her nemesis, Australia, in the Fisher and Paykel Cup test.

The 22-year-old goalshoot virtually went into hiding after missing a game-winning shot in the world championship final, and for weeks afterwards remained holed up with family and friends, avoiding the barbs and taunts from a defeat-weary public.

Whatever other mistakes were made in that final, the spotlight remained cruelly on Loffhagen's close-range miss, and the dual New Zealand netballer and basketballer found herself wondering at one stage whether she could play the seven-a-side game again.

In time, however, the hurt gradually diminished and she was able to return this season with fresh determination and a new companion called Tyson - a six-month-old fox terrier that is either as cute as a button or as mad as a meat-axe, depending on who you ask.

Loffhagen grew up in Woodend, North Canterbury, refining her accuracy under a backyard hoop, shooting over the defences of her broomstick-wielding mother (Mrs L was much shorter, apparently) as she prepared for a shot at the big-time.

Now based in Invercargill, where she plays for Coca-Cola Cup champions the Sting, Loffhagen said yesterday that she would never get over missing the winning shot in Christchurch, but had managed to deal with the disappointment and viewed it as history.

"I don't think you ever get over something like that," she said. "It's how you cope with it that counts, and I guess I've learned to move on.

"It took a lot of practice, but I've learned.

"I could've chucked it away initially, but I stuck at it and probably came back stronger than ever," she said.

"As a shooter you're constantly moving on. You can't afford to dwell on a miss or you'll miss the next one as well, and in a way, the wider picture's a bit like that, too."

Loffhagen possibly does not covet such comparisons, but in the eyes of national basketball coach Carl Dickel, she is the Pinetree Meads of New Zealand women's sport, a player with a "can-do" type of mentality, willing to sacrifice body and soul for the desired result.

Dickel has coached Loffhagen since 1995 and rates her as the best defensive player in the Tall Ferns as well as one of the best shooters.

"Donna has some values you can't buy," he said yesterday. "She's incredibly determined, hates coming second with a passion, and has the resilience to cope with the shooting pressure in either code.

"She received a lot of flak for that one missed shot. A lot of people said some hurtful things about her, but you can bet your boots that if the same match-deciding shot needs to be taken in the next game, she'll be putting up her hand straight away."

Off the court, Dickel said, Loffhagen was also good value in that she was prepared to speak her mind on issues or tactics rather than glibly following instructions, which often allowed problems within the camp to be nipped in the bud.

"Donna will definitely let you know if she's unhappy with something," he said, barely suppressing a chuckle.

"If she thinks things should be changed then you'll hear about it as coach - and fairly quickly, too."

Loffhagen initially planned to play one three-month season in Invercargill, but ended up feeling so comfortable that she has been there for three years, living with Sting director Karen Brown and the newly domiciled Tyson.

Brown, again dog-sitting after Loffhagen departed to assemble with the rest of the Silver Ferns on Thursday, believes her lodger feels she has some unfinished business pending.

"I think Donna feels she has a point to prove and is looking for a top performance," Brown said.

"She's a great fighter, she'll never give up, and you can rest assured that she'll do anything in her power to reverse that world championship result."

Whatever her memories of Christchurch, however, Loffhagen is determined to carry far more positive thoughts when she squares off against Australia in Newcastle on Tuesday evening.

"I'd just like to remind everyone that we hold the Fisher and Paykel Cup after beating Australia last season and that we're keen as mustard to hang on to it," she said.

"Maybe it would dull the world championship loss, maybe it won't. But it's gonna be a great sequel."