Steel skipper Dehn raring to go

ROBYN EDIE/Southland Times

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Southern Steel captain Megan Dehn cannot wait for Steel's opening match in the ANZ Championship this Sunday, against the West Coast Fever in Invercargill, after missing the start of the last year's campaign because of strict player eligibility rulings.

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Experienced Southern Steel shooter Megan Dehn thought her top-level netball career was over this time 12 months ago.

With red tape blocking her entry into the Steel squad, the former Australian international was adjusting to the 9-to-5 life of the workforce back home in Sydney and contemplating hanging up her netball shoes.

That all changed halfway through the ANZ Championship season, though, when she was thrust from watching the world's top club netball competition on the television and into the spotlight after answering an SOS from Steel, with Daneka Wipiiti unavailable for the latter half of the season because of pregnancy.

Dehn went on to shine in the Steel shooting circle alongside Donna Wilkins and capped her season off with some impressive performances for the World 7 against the Silver Ferns.

The 35-year-old is back for her third season in Steel colours this year and the fitness nut said she had relished the chance to be part of preseason this summer, after last season's eligibility mess, when she was originally denied a place in Steel's squad because she would have been blocking the path of an emerging New Zealand talent.

"It's kind of good to be here right from the start and be involved and not be coming in late," she said.

"This is the season, I've been here the most, so I feel really comfortable. Everyone's been here the last six weeks."

Steel again have good continuity in their squad this year, with eight of last year's squad – which made the semifinals – back again. The most notable difference between this year's and last year's Steel squad that struck Dehn was its superior fitness levels.

"Everyone's much fitter," she said. "A lot of the young girls are much fitter and I'm definitely fitter than last year because I was coming off not doing anything and coming back."

Dehn was recently named Steel's new captain for this season, which she said was a huge honour considering the rich history of netball in the deep south. She said she was slowly getting used to the new role – having never captained a top-level side before.

"It's taken me a few weeks to find my feet and find out where I can influence people along the way.

"Most of the team is pretty self- sufficient and there's a lot of experienced players, so there's not a huge amount to do."

Some doubters believe Steel will struggle to back up their semifinal performance from last year, with two of the side's integral players – Leana de Bruin and Wipiiti – having only recently got back into netball again after giving birth late last year. Dehn said the pair had made pleasing progress in their preseason matches so far and she was confident Steel would once again be a dominant force in the competition.

"If we can win a couple of close games and make the most of our home games, we're definitely a big chance to at least do as well as last year."

"We've got a good base of some experienced players and all the younger girls are stepping up as well."

- © Fairfax NZ News

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