Netball: Rollercoaster times for Casey Williams

Casey Williams. Photo / Sarah Ivey

She is recognised as the best rebounder in the game but is still struggling to bounce back. She says she is still affected by her broken engagement and Casey Williams will not forget 2010 in a hurry.

There have been some incredible highs; the hard-won gold in Delhi but also the 19-goal towelling handed out to the Australians in Wellington and a series sweep of Jamaica. Set alongside those were two close losses to the Diamonds in Adelaide and Auckland and the Magic's blues in the ANZ Championship.

But the lowest point of all came in June, when she broke off her engagement to long time boyfriend Wessel Eshuis.

After meeting in a Hamilton nightclub during her first year of university, the duo had been together since October 2004. Williams ended the relationship on June 17 this year - "two days before my birthday," she recalls ruefully.

She admits her sporting and personal life have become intermingled.

"It did affect me for a long time - and it still does - but I am getting better at managing it during trainings and during games," says Williams. "It was a big shock but life goes on and things happen for a reason."

Eshuis had proposed beside Hamilton lake last October, hours before the Ferns were due to fly to England for the 2009 Fastnet Series. Her team-mates had had a long running wager that captain Casey would be the next to get married and were over the moon for her; since then they have been a great support.

"It's been an emotional rollercoaster and I am just glad I had netball.

"At the time I had no choice but to get on with the job at hand. We'd been together six and a half years but it was my decision to call it off. I guess these things happen - but it is definitely not forgotten about."

The Silver Ferns captain always comes across as someone who was meant to play sport for a living. She is the ultimate hard-nosed professional; fiercely competitive; a born winner who strives to give the best of herself and her team.

This was epitomised in the dying minutes in Delhi, where she urged and cajoled her team to victory despite barely being able to walk because of severe cramps.

The final was a torrid physical, mental and emotional battle. At one stage in the third quarter, Williams knocked her head against the floor, causing momentary problems with her vision.

"She said to me - 'Hey, I can't see anything," recalls defensive partner Katrina Grant. "I said - don't worry about it; just follow something in yellow or come back here [into the circle] and hang out with me. She put her body on the line for us. I don't think we could have won without her; she is our rock."

Despite her problems, Williams composed herself to deliver the vital message going into the first period of extra time, after the Ferns had blown a seven goal lead during the final quarter.

"I told them now we need to take it one ball at a time," remembers Williams.

"I said we have to empty out the tanks and I hope that I have to drag you off the court when we are done."

Says Grant: "She knows what to say at the right times and she says it in her own way.

"Everybody listens to her - she is putting in so much and you want to follow.

"When she does say something, she says it with purpose."

Seen as a surprise choice for captain back in 2009, there are few doubts about Williams' suitability now.

"Over the last year she has come on in leaps and bounds as a captain. She is definitely going to be one of the great captains," says Grant.

Steel coach Robyn Broughton: "It takes a few years to grow in a leadership role but she is doing very well.

"She is a true competitor and would die for it."

Williams is looking forward to time off. Magic training starts on November 29 but In the meantime, she plans "beach and family time".