Three questions: Where now for the Ferns?

Bailey Mes of New Zealand prepares to shoot. Photo / Getty Images.

Netball reporters Dana Johannsen (Herald), Michael Burgess (Herald on Sunday) and Rikki Swannell (Newstalk ZB) answer three questions following the Silver Ferns' nine -point defeat to Australia in Melbourne.

Should the Ferns be satisfied with a nine-goal loss to Australia?

Johannsen: They won't be satisfied with the result, but they will be satisfied with elements of their performance last night. To come within two goals of Australia in the final spell and have that slick Diamonds team rattled showed a marked improvement from the opening test. But they will disappointed to have let Australia off the hook with poor execution over the final 10 minutes.

Burgess: No, of course the New Zealand netball side should never be content with defeat by a reasonably significant margin. They will rue the third quarter fade out - when they seemed to come onto the court half asleep and Australia took full advantage - but it was pleasing to see them come back later to be close to tying up the game. At least last night there was real fight for periods, if still not enough finesse.

Swannell: The day any team is satisfied with a nine goal defeat should be the day they give it away. The fact remains it's their seventh loss in a row to Australia and by a considerable margin again, but this time they were in the fight. When things threatened to derail again in the third quarter they managed to get back into the match but will be disappointed at the lack of composure and errors towards the end. The improvement was considerable from the last two performances

Is Ameliaranne Wells the answer to the Ferns attacking woes?

Johannsen: It was certainly a promising start from Wells considering her limited ANZ Championship experience and the fact she has only been with the NZ side a week and a half. Her ball placement into Cathrine Latu was particularly impressive. I'm not sure if she will single-handedly pull the Ferns out of the mire, but it is reassuring to see some depth coming through in the shooting end.

Burgess: Why not? It's only been one game but already she looks on her way to being our new favourite Australian, in the tradition of former Warriors captain Steve Price. The ex-Firebird showed great composure in a tough situation when she entered the match in the second quarter, not overawed at all by the formidable Diamonds defence. She's here to stay.

Swannell: Her performance was undoubtedly a bright spot and you could see why the comparison to a young Maria Tutaia has been made. She's not going to single-handedly turn the Ferns fortunes around, but she was confident to actually turn and shoot, delivered nice ball to Cathrine Latu and has seemingly been unfazed by all that's gone on in the past six weeks. Latu seemed far more comfortable having Wells as her shooting partner and was able to assert herself on the game more. Thanks West Island, we'll keep her.

Do you think the Ferns might be able to crack this Diamonds side in either of the next two games of the series?

Johannsen: The chances of knocking over the Australians aren't looking as remote as they were a few days ago. The Ferns proved they are capable of competing with the Diamonds in patches, but they still lack the ability to play at the intensity needed for 60 minutes. For this reason I don't think the Ferns will knock over the Australians in this series, especially considering the Diamonds were bitterly disappointed with their own performance last night.

Burgess: It's possible but not particularly probable. At the moment this Ferns team can live with - and even dominate - this Australian team - for periods, as they showed last night. Unfortunately, across 60 minutes the Diamonds are too consistent. Sure the Ferns will improve as the series continues but the Australians are quick learners too. If Lisa Alexander rests some of her big guns at some point - particularly Caitlin Bassett - that could open the door for the Ferns but otherwise...."not this year folks".

Swannell: Possibly, but it still feels unlikely. After having to fix so many things from test one to test two, they now have a far better platform to build from for the rest of the series. They not only know they can compete again but that they can also rattle the Australians and force them into errors. However Australia were nearly flawless in Invercargill and expected to improve...they didn't in Melbourne and that will only spur them on for test three.