Netball: Fern relishes learning role

Silver Ferns defender Katrina Grant is having a blast adding to her fund of rapidly increasing netball knowledge.

Since her debut a year ago, Grant has been developing her defensive game inside the circle and working on the attacking aspects of play further up court.

Better known as a goal defence, Grant played the whole test last Sunday in Brisbane as goal keep.

The Australians bounced back from a first-up 50-53 loss in Sydney two weeks ago with a 48-44 win in Melbourne then the three-goal win in Brisbane.

Grant has started in all but one of the Silver Ferns' six tests of the international calendar, which began in Wellington a month ago.

She admitted having had more court time than anticipated, and has relished the learning opportunities as coach Ruth Aitken tests players and combinations for next year's Commonwealth Games and the 2011 world championships.

"I think our defensive end has progressed a lot - there's a huge difference from that first World 7 match to the last test against Aussie," she said.

It took the Silver Ferns some time to hit their straps against the World 7, two losses partially redeemed in the third test with a nine-goal win.

"We're picking up more turnovers, we're working more as a unit, and we've used a lot of combinations. It's just about getting to know each other, getting that flow going."

The 22-year-old has benefited from having Silver Ferns captain Casey Williams at goal keep but showed commendable flexibility when their roles were reversed.

"I'm used to goal defence, where you've got to run a lot more and a lot further. With goal keep, you've got to do a little bit more small feet and watching where everybody else is going," she said.

With the Australians using captain Sharelle McMahon in an unorthodox goal shooter's role, and Susan Pratley at goal attack, switching Williams and Grant has utilised the strengths of each player.

Grant enjoys the short, sharp movements required at goal keep and which are a feature of McMahon's game.

Williams' quick hands and feet are complemented by an unerring eye for the intercept and impressive elevation.

"I quite like that lower style of things while Casey loves the high stuff - it's worked out a good mix," Grant said. "And reading the game from the back's quite fun."

Whatever defensive combination takes the court today, Grant said it would be the Silver Ferns' midcourt pressure on the ball that would make all the difference, an area in which centre Laura Langman and wing defence Joline Henry have excelled recently.

If Australia's drive to the circle can be delayed, turnovers are more likely.

But the Silver Ferns will need to work the transition ball downcourt with more control if they want to even the ledger going into Wednesday's fifth and final test.

- NZPA