Netball: Sole survivor says she's raring to go

Vixens defender Julie Corletto. Photo / Getty Images

For a time there Australian defender Julie Corletto was feeling rather paranoid.

And who could blame her?

One by one, the Australian star watched as her teammates in the defensive end were struck down by injury.

Being the last woman standing from last year's defensive unit, Corletto wondered whether she was next.

But the Melbourne Vixens defender, who was one of the standout players in this year's ANZ Championship, appears to have escaped her minor brush with injury.

There was concern over Corletto in the lead-up to Wednesday night's one-off test against the World Seven, with the star defender experiencing soreness in her knees.

In a rare piece of good news for Plummer this week, Corletto was able to play out the entire match at goal defence and reported no ill-effects yesterday morning.

"I managed my training load leading up to the games, and they actually pulled up this morning pretty good," she said.

"There's no swelling or soreness or anything so that's a good sign."

While Corletto is raring to go for the five-test series against the Ferns, she has sympathy for her teammates who have been forced to sit out the international season.

"It's been a bit disappointing what's happened after the ANZ season. It's pretty hectic throughout though, so it's quite understandable that there's a few injuries after that. It's quite an intense season so it's just about nursing the girls through it to make sure they're right for the test series coming up."

The loss of Bianca Chatfield and Mo'onia Gerrard means all of a sudden 22-year-old Corletto is the most experienced member of the Australian Diamonds defensive end.

Corletto and her likely defensive partner for the upcoming tests, the West Coast Fever's Susan Fuhrmann, boast just 19 test caps between them, while their backup, Johannah Curran and Amy Steel, are both uncapped.

Despite their inexperience, Corletto is confident the defensive unit still has the goods to upset the New Zealand shooting circle, spearheaded by the world's most capped netballer, Irene van Dyk.

"Jo Curran and Amy Steel are young and upcoming girls, but they've certainly got the ability. Jo and Susan Fuhrmann played together during the ANZ Champs so they've got a great combination and Amy Steel played really well at the World Youth Cup, so everyone's in form at the moment, which is what you want."

"I guess we're just a younger defence end than we have been in the past."

NEW ZEALAND V AUSTRALIA SERIES
* Sunday, September 6: 2:25pm, Sydney
* Wednesday, September 9: 9:55pm, Melbourne
* Sunday, September 13: 5:25, Brisbane
* Sunday, September 20: 4pm, Invercargill
* Wednesday, September 23: 7:30pm, Auckland