The loss of a close family member is spurring the Silver Fern to new heights

Netball goalkeeper Casey Williams has an extra special reason to win every time she takes to the court this season. Whenever she dons her bib, she spares a moment for someone who, although won't be there, is surely watching over her.

‘My poppa passed away last month, so this year is dedicated to him,' the talented Silver Ferns defender says. Ever since the 23-year-old was a youngster, her grandparents Jack and Beryl Rusk were her number-one fans. Jack's health deteriorated after he suffered a series of strokes, but despite him never making it to one of her games, Casey says he watched them on TV avidly.

‘His eyesight was bad, but he always knew which one I was because of my two black ankle braces. After the game he always had advice for me,' she recalls.

For Casey's proud nana Beryl, supporting her granddaughter is what keeps her going.

‘She's always at every game, no matter where or when, and has already said to me, "Don't you dare injure yourself because the next six months of my life will be ruined if you're not playing netball!",' Casey says.

Kitted out in her red, yellow and black scarf - the colours of Casey's ANZ Championship side the Waikato/Bay of Plenty Magic - Beryl waits until after the game to offer Casey feedback on her performance.

‘It's always very honest,' Casey laughs. ‘All the medals I've won over the years have gone to Nana. She loves it so much, which is really cool.'

 

Country girl at heart

Despite leaving home five years ago, spending time with her close-knit family on their Matamata dairy farm 40 minutes north of Hamilton is something Casey always treasures. She fits visits around her relentless training and travelling schedule, and attending lectures and completing assignments for a Bachelor of Sports Science.

‘I still see my parents a lot. They're at every game and I talk to them on the phone every day,' she says. ‘But I don't get to go home very often, so when I do, it's special.'

For down-to-earth Casey, relaxing on their family property means spending time with her dad Murray and enjoying creature comforts, such as her mum Joanne's homemade treats.

‘I'm a bit of a daddy's girl, so I love going out on the farm with him. We do a lot of talking out there. And I miss Mum's cooking - her roasts and caramel slice are the best. I always end up going back [to Hamilton] a couple of kilograms heavier though,' she laughs.

Casey shares her Hamilton home with her partner of almost five years, apprentice builder Wessel Eshuis, 23.

‘He just got his firearms license so we might go possum shooting or down the river on our boogie boards,' Casey says. ‘It's pretty much stuff he wants to do because that's his time with me, and I'm pretty easygoing.'

They are both dedicated athletes - Wessel plays premiere club hockey - so escaping to the sprawling countryside is the ideal way for them to unwind.

Casey says, ‘It gets me away from everything. ‘Sometimes when I'm there at night I just sit in the spa pool beneath the stars and look out onto the farm. There are no houses, no cars, no nothing. It's so relaxing and you always come back feeling really refreshed.'

While the self-confessed tom boy's childhood and teenage years were typically spent playing rugby with her big brother Rhys and riding motorbikes, natural beauty Casey admits she now loves getting glammed up for special events.

‘I don't do it very often and think that's why I enjoy it more. I'm not a person who wears make-up every day so, when I do, I look noticeably different,' she says. ‘It's quite fun. I like being girly now - but not too girly!' she adds quickly.

 

The heat is on

With the ANZ Championships underway and the international competition fast approaching for her New Zealand side, the fierce defender is set for another tough season in the goalkeeper's circle.

‘All the hard work we've put in as a team and individually is going to be worth it,' she says, adding that she's confident this year is Magic's turn to take the coveted title. ‘I don't want to do this all again to come second,' she declares.

The tough competitor is enjoying the added responsibility that comes with being a Silver Ferns co-vice captain.

‘It's been a great chance for me to offer my opinion and play a role in how things are done,' she says, adding that the support from captain Julie Seymour and her fellow teammates has been hugely helpful in this transition.

Despite feeling she's earned the respect of the girls over the past four years, she admits the thought of advising older and more experienced players can sometimes be daunting.

‘For me to tell someone like Irene [van Dyk] what to do, I just think, "God no! I'd better keep my mouth shut." But if [the coaching staff] weren't confident in me, they wouldn't have given me the job. That makes me feel a lot better.'

Being a role model to her young fans is another duty that Casey embraces, as well as championing women's sport in New Zealand.

‘I draw the line at [modelling] underwear, but getting the game out there is one of the reasons I play. I like it when you see a little girl on the street pointing at you. Giving them a smile makes their day - I used to be that little girl. You have to make time for that, it's part of the choice when you put on that Silver Fern.'

By Sarah Mason

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