Netball: Player drain faces champs

By JULIE ASH

Ensuring they have the players to keep New Zealand at the top of the world game will now be the challenge for Netball New Zealand.

Although no present Silver Ferns have indicated they want to retire from international netball, four years until the next world championship is a long time.

A particular area of concern is in the shooting circle because there is a strong possibility that Irene van Dyk, Belinda Colling and Tania Dalton will be not be around in 2007.

Apart from young Canterbury Flames shooter Jodi Te Huna, who made her debut for New Zealand at these world championships, there is a lack of top shooters, especially goal attacks, as highlighted in this year's national league.

Although Netball New Zealand has numerous talent scout programmes and national training squads it will be vital for it to identify areas where new blood is needed and act quickly.

Replacing the likes of van Dyk and Colling is going to be a massive task.

The Australians, with their resources and the Australian Institute of Sport, are very good at constantly producing top players.

Even taking into consideration that they have more players, the Australians do have an uncanny ability to quickly get new players performing well on the world stage.

In the world championship, Cynna Neele and Natasha Chokljat seemed to come from nowhere - yet were on the court in the final against New Zealand - which proves yet again that the Australians have plenty of depth.

The chances are that New Zealand would not have left Jamaica as world champions if things had not gone well for them during the final and they had been forced to turn to their bench.

After the win in the final, it was interesting to note how Australian coach Jill McIntosh repeatedly referred to van Dyk as "the South African shooter."

And how others claimed "Fijian defender Vilimaina Davu" was the key to New Zealand's success.

Although van Dyk is exceptional and would get in any national team, the inclusion of Davu - and also former South African player Leana du Plooy, who warmed the bench for the bigger games at the championship - does prove that New Zealand does have some issues with depth.

And although it is yet to become clear, it may be that several players will decide to call it a day.

Now they have finally claimed the world title it is possible that van Dyk, Colling, Dalton, Lesley Dalton and maybe even captain Anna Rowberry will all go.

Ending on such a high note is obviously the perfect way to top off any netballer's career.

But retirements would make it just a little bit harder for Netball New Zealand to find the next Magnificent Seven to defend the world title.