With her trademark headband and towel tucked into her skirt, shooter Tracy Shortland was an instantly recognisable figure under the New Zealand hoop.

After a rapid rise through the ranks, the tall Auckland goal shoot went on to forge a spectacular career as one of the Silver Ferns most accurate and reliable shooters.

Her unwavering dedication to training and relentless shooting practise paid dividends when the 18-year-old was the bolter in the 1986 Silver Ferns team.

By the time the Silver Ferns went on to claim the 1987 Netball World Cup title the following year, the unflappable Shortland had taken over as the No 1 goal shoot in the New Zealand team.

In an experienced team, she was a quick learner and thrived in the environment as her glittering career went from strength-to-strength.

A consummate team person, Shortland remained steadfastly calm and reliable under pressure, her accuracy rarely missing a beat in the heat of the contest.

After an inexperienced Silver Ferns pushed Australia all the way in a pulsating one-goal loss in the 1991 Netball World Cup final, Shortland, who produced another magnificent shooting effort, took a two-year break from Netball following the birth of her first child.

She returned to the Silver Ferns in 1994 and 1995, ending her career on a disappointing note when the team finished third at the 1995 Netball World Cup in Birmingham.