For the first time in 10 years, coach Ruth Aitken will not be at the helm when the Silver Ferns resume their ongoing battle with Australia on Sunday. Netball writer Adrian Seconi looks back at the highs and lows of the Aitken era.
THE HIGHS
Aitken assembled an all-star cast in 2003 for an assault on the world title and the team of champions did not disappoint.
In the Jamaican heat, the Ferns ran up cricket scores during pool play, dispatched Samoa 81-28 in a one-sided quarterfinal, thrashed the home side 56-37 in the semifinal and held their nerve against Australia in the final to win 49-47.
• Comm Games double
Arguably the Commonwealth Games are a greater platform than the world championships, and Aitken led her team to glory at the 2006 Games in Melbourne and the 2010 Games in Delhi.
The double extra time win in Delhi did not just leave the players gasping - it left two nations breathless, and the game has earned a place in New Zealand's rich sporting folklore.
• Poise
Win or lose, Aitken always kept a dignified smile on her face and was gracious to a fault.
She never hid in the shadows following a loss or gloated in victory.
As a coach, she was widely respected and had few peers.
She established a wonderful rapport with the media and earned the respect and loyalty of her players.
• Winning
The Silver Ferns won 87 of their 112 games under the watchful gaze of Aitken. That is an impressive winning percentage (77%) however you hold the abacus. In 2003, the Silver Ferns hogged the limelight at the Halberg Awards, winning the supreme award and the team of the year award. Aitken was rightly named coach of the year and star shooter Irene van Dyk was named sportswoman of the year. But perhaps Aitken's greatest achievement has been in the development of players like Casey Williams, Maria Tutaia and Laura Langman.
THE LOWS
• Faltering start
Not long after Aitken had got her feet under the table, the Silver Ferns suffered a shock loss to Jamaica in Kingston in March 2002, and the fledgling international coach wondered if she would hold on to her job when the team returned to New Zealand. The Ferns bounced back to win the series 2-1 and Aitken kept her job, but the nine-goal loss raised eyebrows.
• Home blown
New Zealand was the host and defending champion at the 2007 world tournament in Auckland. But having struggled past a determined Jamaica in the semifinals, the Ferns were a complete flop in the final against Australia.
Aitken was slow to react and stuck with players rather than throwing some fresh legs into the fray. By halftime, Australia led by seven goals. The Ferns rallied but the game was left to drift for too long.
• Inexplicable loss
Magic one minute, dreadful the next. That best sums up the Silver Ferns' performance during England's tour in October 2008. The Ferns thrashed the tourists 65-26 in the opening game of the three match series but turned in a dire and flaky performance in Dunedin two days later to lose 40-38.
The home side was back near the top of its game for the decider and won comfortably 61-22.
