Netball: First and last season for Close in blue and gold

Until now, Emily Close has not had time to fit in an Otago campaign.

The busy 21-year-old has been bogged down with study and a hectic sporting schedule which has seen her represent her country in two sports.

But the talented midcourter will finally make her Otago debut when the province opens its national championship campaign against Wellington in Porirua today.

Unfortunately, for the region, it will also be her last season in blue and gold.

The University of Otago graduate will leave Dunedin at the end of the academic year to take up a position with Cameron Partners Investment Bank in either Auckland or Wellington, whatever city she chooses.

Netball, and a spot in an extended squad of either the Northern Mystics or the Central Pulse, may help her make up her mind where she will start her new life.

"Both provinces have been quite responsive about training partner opportunities," Close said.

"So I have to decide and talk more with them.

I'm leaning towards Auckland because my sister is up there, and I interned there over summer with another investment bank and really enjoyed the lifestyle.

"It is weird to think I won't be in Dunedin next year, and to play for another province is going to be really odd."

Close first stepped on to a court when she was about 10 years old but it was during her secondary school years at Rangi Ruru Girls' School in Christchurch and under the watchful gaze of Brenda Rowberry - Anna Stanley's mother - that she found her calling.

"Brenda was great. She was sort of a bit like Georgie Salter [Former Rebels and Otago coach] in terms of an old school approach.

"She was just so passionate about the game."

Close played alongside Pulse defender Bessie Manu at school and when she moved to Dunedin in 2007, coach Janine Southby picked her for the Otago Rebels.

With experienced midcourters Phillipa Finch, Debbie White and Megan Graamans also in the squad, her contribution was limited to watching from the bench.

For the last two years, she has been picked in the New Zealand under-21 team, has also featured for Otago in the Lois Muir Challenge and age group campaigns, and has been one of the linchpins in a powerful University Albion side which won back-to-back club titles.

In 2007, she represented New Zealand at the touch world cup in South Africa.

So it is fair to say her dance card has been pretty full during the past four years.

Close is not the only Otago player leaving this year.

Goal keep Jess Moulds has signed with the Northern Mystics and is moving to Auckland, and "one or two of the other girls" may also leave the region, Close said.

Playing together one last time is "a really good incentive to do well", she added.

"We've got a really good team culture. All the girls have played with each other either at club level or at under-21 level.

"Everyone just gets on and I really think that that is going to count when it matters.

"I think we've got a really good chance of making the top four and even pushing for the top two. But we're definitely the underdogs."