Player movement sparks hotly-contested netball league
There will be some familiar faces in unfamiliar colours today and tomorrow as the 2021 ANZ Premiership season begins.
Kate Burley with the Northern Mystics for starters, along with Fa’amu Ioane.
Gina Crampton joins the Northern Stars with Monica Falkner and an out-of-retirement veteran Anna Harrison.
Temalisi Fakahokotau with the Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic and, back from the Stars, Grace Kara.
Whitney Souness, also back from the Stars, links with the Central Pulse.
Karin Burger with the Mainland Tactix. And Tiana Metuarau heading south with Steel.
Player movement is nothing new in the premiership, with just 11 of the players set to line up in round one for the same teams they were with when the competition started in 2017, though another three would likely be there if not for injuries or maternity leave.
But it has set the stage for what could be the most competitive season yet, as there is a greater sense of balance from north to south, and an expectation the race for the three finals’ places will go down to the wire.
‘‘I think it is a good thing,’’ Steel captain Shannon Saunders said of all the changes.
‘‘I think it’s balanced some teams out a wee bit more, and it’s always exciting seeing players go to different environments and seeing them flourish there. I’m a bit jealous that some have left our team, but that’s all right.’’
The key departure from the Steel was that of Saunders’ fellow midcourter Crampton, though they have picked up Metuarau from the Pulse, and also brought in young England shooter George Fisher.
‘‘It’s going to be a wee bit different,’’ Saunders said, ’’especially without my wing mate Gina there this year, but I’ve got to learn and adapt and spread my wings a wee bit.
‘‘It’s cool and exciting working with different people and having more of a leadership role in bringing them through. I think that’s going to be a good challenge for me.’’
Magic captain Sam Winders has only ever played for that franchise since making her debut in the old trans-Tasman league in 2014, and she said the player movement did take some getting used to each year.
‘‘It kind of blows you away for a second.
‘‘Honestly, this happens every year, the first few games you’re like, oh, that’s right, they’re there and then five games in it’s just normal, it’s like business as usual.’’
Sinclair said the moves by team-mates – such as Falkner – tended to stand out more than those by others around the league, but added that the decision to move was one for each individual to make.
‘‘You’ve got to do it for yourself. Netball is just one part of your life, and it’s all about your personal development and your experiences as a person rather than as a netball player.
‘‘I was sad to see her go, and I still am a wee bit, but she’s doing what she thinks is best for her.
‘‘It will be weird coming up against her, but I’ll just want to beat them.’’
Silver Ferns coach Noeline Taurua said she was supportive of players making moves when it was what they felt was best for them and their netball.
‘‘I know from what I’ve seen that those shifts have already made a difference to the performance out on the court.’’
The changes this season have led to incumbent Silver Ferns Crampton, Falkner, and Maia Wilson teaming up at the attacking
end of the court for the Stars, and defenders Karin Burger and Jane Watson teaming up at the Tactix.
Taurua said that was something that would help her side going forward, as they look to defend the Constellation Cup, which they won off Australia at the start of March, then turn their focus to the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham in England next July.
‘‘It does help at a Silver Ferns level because they know each other and the understanding is already there, from having to work with each other over a longer period of time, but also you’ve got differences because of the environment that we’re working with and the strategies that they’re working with.
‘‘It’s just marrying that when they do come back into our mix, so that they’re clear and can be connected, but to be honest, there’s not very many ways you can play the game anyway, we all play the game the same way, so having them playing together at club level is definitely a positive.’’
It starts with the Pulse hosting the Stars in Palmerston North today, followed by a clash between the Steel and Tactix in Invercargill this evening, with the Mystics and the Magic bringing the opening round to a close in Auckland tomorrow night.