KEY POINTS:
The Silver Ferns had a real chance to win the world netball championships, but in the end a couple of passes and some poor decision making cost them in the final.
No one took control in the New Zealand team and said, "let's win this". They were missing
someone who really grabbed the game, kept everyone calm and mastered those critical moments. Obviously Irene van Dyk missed a couple of those crucial goals as well.
But the Silver Ferns actually did a lot better against Australia in that final than people thought they were going to. They really played with everything they had.
They had the chance to win - especially when the Aussies panicked. If the Australians had kept shooter Sharelle McMahon on court throughout that game, they could have built on their lead. But Norma Plummer had a few brain explosions, making changes that destroyed the confidence of her shooters, and that let New Zealand back into the game.
The umpiring was pretty reasonable, but I think the Australians are being allowed to infringe a lot more than their opponents - and it's not being dealt with.
That's something that really frustrates me, and netball needs to do something about it.
One team is being allowed to rack up a huge number of infringements while the other side has to cope with it. There were very few shots that van Dyk took in that game where she wasn't contacted or obstructed. At theend of a game against Australia, she's being whacked 30or 40 times, and that takes its toll.
Liz Ellis is an amazing competitor but she plays it to the limits. Mo'onia Gerrard is a destructive player, physically knocking and pushing her opponents.
It's relentless, it's repetitive and it's never dealt with.
In comparison the New Zealand defence is quite tidy - they're physical, but nothing to the degree Australia are.
Although she missed a couple of vital shots at the end, van Dyk still played a very solid game.
She made herself available,but I don't think New Zealand looked to her enough. The Ferns wouldn't have been in thechase if she hadn't been there.
The Australians were the better side in the tournament. Their midcourt was extremely quick and they showed they had depth on their bench - young Julie Prendergast is a star in the making and I can see her captaining Australia one day.
Once the dust has settled for the Silver Ferns, we will see which players want to stick around and who will step down. There's some really good young talent in this side, and the likes of Casey Williams, Laura Langman and Jodi Te Huna will take them through to the next world championships, where they will be in a much stronger position.
The Ferns will consolidate into a very strong side.
