Netball: Wilson juggles sport and life on the farm

What is your earliest netball memory?

It would probably be down at the courts in Hawera where Mum was coaching and playing. They'd train under the lights and my sister Leah and I would pass the ball on the sideline. I remember the water tower in the background.

What position did you start out in?
Goal-attack, always goal-attack. It wasn't until I played for Otago under Georgina Salter that I started moving around a bit. Nowdays I love wing-attack ... with the real short, sharp, dodgy sort of movements and kind of having to read where everyone else is going. I like the explosiveness of it.

Which opponent gives you the most grief?

Peta Scholz [from Australia]. She can stick to you like glue. You try to dodge and get away from her but she is very good at one-on-one marking.

Do you have a favourite game?

One that always sticks in my memory is a game the New Zealand A team played in New Plymouth against Jamaica. It just felt like I couldn't do anything wrong. You could see the right space. I was playing goal-attack at that stage and I couldn't miss; you'd just picked up things on defence ... everything clicked. I don't know why. I have looked back at that game and thought what was it about it?

What about your ugliest game?

The Silver Ferns' third test against the World Seven [in 2000]. That was probably one of my last games at goal-attack. I felt like I'd had some good games running up to it, but all of a sudden I just went off my game. Jeff [her husband, Jeff Wilson] blames it on my hairdo. I had these plaits in my hair.

How is married life?

I don't know, we have hardly seen each other. It is hard to describe. It was an awesome day and you just feel so secure and so happy.

Were you always going to change your last name?

For a while I thought I might hyphenate it 'Harper-Wilson'. Then I was kind of like, Adine Wilson is nice and simple.

Do you feel as if your life is in the spotlight a bit?

I always have a wee laugh because quite often I'll do an interview and it will be netball, netball and then the last question will always be 'and how's your husband?' or 'what did you think of Jeff's performance the other day?' But it has always been that way.

You have given up your job as a lawyer to spend more time on your farm just out of Christchurch. How is that going?

I just felt that I was being torn every which way and I didn't feel like I was giving anything 100 per cent. So I made the decision to have a break [from law]. We are lucky in that we have got a farm so there is alway stuff to do. We have got about 60 horses that we graze at the moment, then over the winter we graze dairy cows as well. So it is looking after them, growing a bit of grass, cutting a bit of hay, and bailage and things. I am also doing one paper through the open polytech this year.

So what does a typical day involve for you?

Usually I get up about 10 to 7 and we [the Ferns based in the lower South Island] have training in town twice a week. Then I usually come home and have a late breakfast. We have irrigators that work 23 hours a day. One is about 80-90m long, so you whip that on the back of a tractor and drag it through to the next paddock. Lately I have been fighting with dockweed. It has been driving me nuts so I have been out with my thistle grubber. You usually see the neighbour, who will come and have a chat, you know, us farmers standing around in our gumboots. Then there is often office work to be done. That is often my sort of day. There is always something to do. With netball's profile increasing there is often a call from Netball New Zealand asking if you can do this today or this tomorrow.

You recently had a cancerous mole removed from your arm. That must have been frightening?

They got everything, which is the main thing. From now on I just have to have regular checks and be really, really careful in the sun. You feel the sun burning but this makes you realise that it is not just burning, it is hurting you.

What does captaining the Silver Ferns mean to you?

It is a great honour, I am really proud that they thought of me.

What are your thoughts on England?

No matter who you play, when you play for your country you get an adrenaline buzz. You nerves are always there, especially in that first test ... you can watch your opponents on video but until you are out there and feel it you are never sure.

Looking ahead, what is your ultimate goal?

I'd love a goal medal at the Commonwealth Games. That would be pretty special. The National Bank Cup is hands-down my favourite competition, so to win that again would be awesome.

And how's Jeff? ... Just kidding ...