Netball: Dehn's leadership mixes soft words and steel

New Southern Steel captain Megan Dehn is not the type to rant and rave or lay down the law.

But that does not mean the 35-year-old former Australian international will be a soft touch, either.

The evergreen shooter might have a few years on some of her team-mates but she is one of the fittest in the squad and demands a lot of herself.

She will expect the same from her new charges.

She just plans on delivering that message in gentle packaging.

"I think I'm more of the quiet leader type . . . but I'm definitely a stickler and a bit of a perfectionist," Dehn said. "I will be demanding a bit from the players but they are all showing that now in training, so I don't think I'll be having to rant much."

Dehn said it was a "great honour" to be named captain, especially since she was an "outsider".

The last time Dehn captained a side was at high school but she has learned from some of the best.

She was vice-captain at the Swifts when the incomparable Liz Ellis skippered the Sydney-based team, and she plans to pick the brains of former Silver Ferns and Steel captain Adine Wilson.

But Dehn believes there is a strong leadership group within the Steel squad and she expects to lean on the likes of vice-captain Wendy Frew (nee Telfer), Sheryl Scanlan and Leana de Bruin.

"They are all really experienced players and there in key areas of the court. So it will be a collaborative effort, with six or seven of us working with the team."

Dehn's netball career was thrown a lifeline last year when she replaced goal shoot Daneka Wipiiti, who pulled out partway through the season because she was pregnant.

Dehn made an immediate impact for the Steel, helping the side reach the play-offs with some classy performances.

She then played a starring role with fellow shooter Cathrine Latu in the World Seven team which beat the Silver Ferns 2-1 in a three-game series.

"It was good for me to miss part of the year and I didn't miss it at all. But when I got the call-up I really did enjoy it again."

Dehn played 20 tests for Australia and while she acknowledges she is in the twilight of her career, she still loves the sport and is not ready to retire just yet.

"Every year, I think maybe this will be my last year, but I love it and I'm still really fit. I figure while I'm still able to play, I may as well continue."

Dehn, who lives in Sydney but will be based in Invercargill during the ANZ Championship, will get her first opportunity to wield her newly acquired power in Christchurch this weekend.

The Steel will play warm-up matches against the Tactix and the Eastwood Ryde - a New South Wales state premier league team.

The franchise will host a pre-season tournament in Queenstown from February 19-21, featuring four other ANZ Championship teams.