Dunn backs Ferns’ fitness standards ahead of code switch
Aliyah Dunn doesn’t hold any bitterness towards Dame Noeline Taurua’s Silver Ferns fitness standards.
The prolific shooter landed the most goals in the ANZ Premiership this season (618) for the titlewinning Central Pulse at 93%, but won’t be in Birmingham for the Commonwealth Games in late July.
Dunn, who will join the Tactix in 2023, was always going to struggle to crack the Ferns because of the mandatory 16.3 minimum yoyo test conditioning standard. Similar to the classic beep test, the yoyo measures an athlete’s ability to endure repeated periods of vigorous activity followed by short active breaks.
Dunn, who said her fitness was still a ‘‘work on’’, wasn’t helped at the national trials in Wellington, only being able to attend one of the four days due to sickness.
Taurua has regularly emphasised that the fitness requirements aren’t onerous for professional netballers and are in place for a purpose. They are paramount for reducing the risk of injury, international tournaments, where they play seven games in 10 days, and their explosive style of play.
Casual observers watch Dunn dominate in the ANZ Premiership and her impressive numbers and wonder why she isn’t a certainty in the Ferns squad. The fourtest Fern, who is still just 22, is diplomatic when quizzed on the fitness regulations.
‘‘It’s there for the right reasons. I don’t really pay attention too much to what other people say. Just out here trying to enjoy life.’’
So instead of competing at the Commonwealth Games, Dunn will return to her first love, basketball, and suit up for the Tokomanawa Queens (Wellington-Manawatū region) in the new women’s basketball competition, Tauihi. Dunn, who plays as a power forward-centre and the Queens make their debut against the MidNorth Whai in Porirua today (3pm start). She was selected in the New Zealand A squad for this month’s Cadbury Netball Series tournament, which serves as a Commonwealth Games warmup for the Ferns, but pulled out to play for the
Queens.
Dunn, a former Junior Tall Fern, is relishing the chance to play top-level hoops again for the first time in two years.
Having to run up and down the court, rather than just move around the shooting circle, should help her conditioning.
‘‘I enjoy it a lot more. It’s just such a challenge,’’ Dunn said of basketball.
‘‘It’s not just simple, like catch, turn, and shoot. There’s multiple things happening all at once.’’
Aliyah Dunn
Dunn’s laidback demeanour is sometimes confused for lacking passion or spark. Tactix coach Marianne DelaneyHoshek, who has worked with Dunn at New Zealand A level, said it was quite the opposite.
Underneath Dunn’s relaxed personality was a steely determination. Looking for a change in environment after five seasons with the Pulse, Dunn reached out to the Tactix – excited by the opportunity to play alongside Silver Ferns shooter Te Paea Selby-Rickit.
Dunn mentioned to DelaneyHoshek when she signed with the Tactix how badly she wanted to wear the black dress again and get back into the Ferns. Improving her fitness will be critical to doing that.
‘‘She’s quite vocal about it too, which I’ve never really seen before,’’ DelaneyHoshek said.
‘‘She really wants it [to play for the Ferns]. Because she’s such a laidback character, I don’t know whether I’ve really heard her talk about it much before. She’s really wanting to do it.’’
Dunn, mainly a goal shoot, was open to the possibility of spending time at goal attack for the Tactix. She played there at the start of her top-level career in the second-tier national league.
Adding goal attack to her repertoire should improve her conditioning and give her positional versatility for the future – a handy trait for the Ferns. ‘‘I definitely want to learn how to play goal attack. I feel like you can only do so much standing under the post [at goal shoot].’’
SelbyRickit, Dunn and Hannah Glen were all capable of playing both shooting positions – which gave the Tactix plenty of options, DelaneyHoshek said. ‘‘So between those three we’ve got some massive different things we can do, which is pretty exciting.’’
Delaney-Hoshek believed spending an off-season playing basketball could only be beneficial for Dunn’s fitness. They had mapped out some clear goals around lifting her conditioning.
‘‘Everyone has their off-season programmes, but first and foremost they have to want to do it for themselves, which obviously she does. They actually have to do work themselves in that off-season piece. That’s first and foremost . . .
‘‘We do a pretty rigorous preseason programme. This year we had some quite awesome shifts from the girls.’’
Dunn loved her time at the Pulse, capturing three titles in the past four seasons, but was ready for a change.
The born-and-bred Southlander, who attended Invercargill’s Verdon College, said being closer to family was a factor in joining the Tactix.
She has four siblings, who she hasn’t seen much of over the last two years because of Covid-19. Her uncle and aunt also live in Christchurch.
Teaming up with 48-test veteran Selby-Rickit was another drawcard.
‘‘I was looking to play with Te Paea because I think she’s a really good shooter. I’ve played with Tiana [Metuarau at the Pulse] for quite a few seasons and we know how each other plays and we know what we can do, but the challenge is to see what else I can do with other people.
‘‘I feel like we play very easy going styles, so that could either be a good thing or a bad thing, but I think it will be a good thing.’’
‘‘I enjoy it [basketball] a lot more. It’s not just simple, like catch, turn, and shoot. There’s multiple things happening all at once.’’