It's not the ideal way to obtain a clean slate, but the Diamonds say the end of their 21-Test winning run at the very least means a fresh start.
The Silver Ferns have ensured Australia will move no closer to the country's most successful netball sides, after beating the hosts 52-47 in their heavyweight Netball World Cup pool clash in Sydney on Sunday.
The unexpected loss came a day after coach Lisa Alexander's squad recorded their 21st international victory on the trot, surpassing the mark set in 2001-2003 when Jill McIntosh was coach.
Had they won and continued undefeated to claim this World Cup, the team would have also transcended the country's second-longest winning streak of 26 matches, achieved between 1994 and 1997 and also under the McIntosh's leadership.
Australia's greatest international winning run was 37 games between 1990 and 1994.
Diamonds vice-captain Kim Green played down the loss of a potential legacy, however she did believe it was the wake-up call Australia needed.
"As a team we don't really ever talk about it," she said.
"It might come up in the papers, but we don't talk about that.
"It is a fresh start, it's a great reality check for us."
That reality check came as a brutal blow to Australia's reputation as an unmatchable world powerhouse.
While it does not really impact their chances of progression to Saturday's semi-finals, the world No.1 Diamonds' uncharacteristically sloppy form handed New Zealand the mental upper hand going into the second phase of the tournament.
"As Aussies we're extremely tough on ourselves, and everyone was extremely disappointed in our own performance," Green said.
"Some days you just get out on court and nothing clicks. It was just one of those days.
"Our timing was a little bit off ... our defence wasn't connected.
"All those things just contribute, and I think those are the sorts of games when you're like `God, how are we going to get ourselves out of it?'. And sometimes you can't."
AUSTRALIA'S LONGEST INTERNATIONAL WINNING RUNS:
37 Tests - 1990-1994
26 Tests - 1994-1997
21 Tests - 2013-2015
20 Tests - 2001-2003
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