Megan Dehn aims for own style as captain

JOHN HAWKINS/Southland Times

HONOURED: Australian Megan Dehn has been unveiled as the new captain of Southern Steel. It will be the first time she has captained a top-level netball side.

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Megan Dehn has played under some impressive captains during her distinguished netball career and hopes to draw on the best aspects of each as the new captain of Southern Steel.

The 35-year-old Australian was unveiled yesterday as the third captain in Steel's short history and replaces last year's skipper Adine Wilson, who is not returning this season.

Last year's vice-captain Wendy Frew, nee Telfer, retains her role from last season.

Dehn has been captained by some of the biggest names in netball, such as Liz Ellis, Temepara George and Wilson, and said she had learned plenty under their leadership over the years.

She planned to take bits from each to produce her own unique style of captaincy.

"I've had some good teachers and have definitely picked up a few good things from them. They're all very different. It will be good to pick apart their styles and develop my own," she said.

Dehn, who played 20 tests for Australia between 2000 and 2006, was appointed captain over other possible contenders in Wendy Frew, Leana de Bruin and Sheryl Scanlan.

This year will be her third in Steel colours, but she still admitted to being a little shocked about being appointed captain.

"I was surprised. There's a lot of experienced players in the team other than me. It's a huge honour. There's such a proud tradition of netball down here."

Dehn has been vice-captain for the Sydney Swifts and other sides back home in New South Wales throughout her career but has, remarkably, never captained a top-level side before.

The seasoned veteran has always let her play on court do the talking for her and said she would once again lead by example rather than through words.

She was looking forward to working alongside vice-captain Frew and believed they would both, in different ways, help lead the team.

"I don't think many teams would use the traditional captain and vice-captain as such any more – it's more just a collaboration of all the experienced players and using what people are good at."

And as for an Australian captaining a New Zealand franchise, Dehn remarked that she was pretty much a Kiwi these days.

"I don't feel like an Aussie any more," she said, laughing.

"It's funny when people say that. I've been part of the team for a while so, hopefully, (the fans) feel comfortable."

Dehn will lead Steel into battle for first time this weekend when the side heads to Christchurch to open its preseason campaign against the Canterbury Tactix and New South Wales club side Eastwood Ryde.

- © Fairfax NZ News