Is Dunn a Silver Fern in waiting?
Stuff recaps the week of netball and looks at some of the talking points ahead of round 11 of the national premiership.
Who’s your season MVP?
Congratulations to Central Pulse goal shoot Aliyah Dunn, who should take out this award. The Pulse have been the most consistent side and deservedly sit top of the table. Dunn has been an integral reason why, converting 384 goals from 422 attempts at 91 per cent (tied for best accuracy in the competition with Magic’s South African import Lenize Potgieter. The 18-year-old has been a force in her first season at the Pulse after shifting north from the Steel. She’s formed an effective combination with New Zealand under-21 team-mate Tiana Metuarau and kept Silver Fern Ameliaranne Ekenasio on the bench. Dunn is someone the Silver Ferns can build their shooting end around over the next 10-plus years and a first-time call up to the national side surely looms later this year. Honourable mentions to Potgieter, Katrina Grant (Pulse) and Temalisi Fakahokotau (Tactix).
MIA Maria
There have been two versions of the Mystics this season. The one with Maria Folau involved, which has a three-win, twoloss record, and the one without, which has a one-win, five-loss record. In signing a new deal last year, the Silver Ferns star, who is based in Sydney, was granted permission to rest during the 2018 season, but no-one expected she would come and go like she has, playing two games in a row at the start of May, then another three in June, enough to fulfil her commitments. Mystics coach Helene Wilson has no regrets about the setup, telling Stuff: ‘‘It’s better to have Maria here for some netball than for nothing at all.’’
Steel on the charge
The defending champion Steel aren’t going to easily surrender their title. They looked to be battling to make the top three
Round 11:
Points (games played): Pulse 20
after consecutive losses to the Mystics and Tactix, but over the past fortnight have shown their quality. Their 51-47 win over the table-topping Pulse in Invercargill last week was a serious statement. The Steel then went and backed up that result with a memorable 76-60 triumph over the Magic in Hamilton on Monday, where they stormed home 18-9 in the final quarter. That all but guarantees themselves at least a spot in the elimination final (two versus three) on August 8.
Who finishes third?
Who wants it? This could very much be the last team standing. The Pulse should finish first and the Steel look poised to secure second spot. Third spot is wide open. The Tactix hold the last finals spot, but have a formidable run home with the Pulse, and the Steel and Magic away. With Casey Kopua the latest Magic player to succumb to a season-ending injury, they suddenly look vulnerable. The Stars have found form, but may have left their run too late and play the table-topping Pulse twice. Don’t discount the Mystics, who have been awful in recent weeks, but have a decent draw to finish. Look for the Magic match against the Tactix on July 30 to effectively be a sudden-death showdown for the last finals spot.
Beko League delivering
The second-tier Beko League was created in 2016 to ease the transition to the elite ranks and it’s certainly done its job. Just some of the graduates through to the national premiership include: Aliyah Dunn, Tiana Metuarau, and Karin Burger (Pulse), Monica Falkner and Ariana Cable-Dixon (Magic), Elisapeta Toeava, Michaela Sokolich-Beatson, and Jamie Hume (Mystics), Jennifer O’Connell (Steel) and Ellie Bird and Kimiora Poi (Tactix). With injuries hampering virtually every side this season, teams have had to draw on their Beko squads and those young players haven’t looked out of place in the premiership. That will only continue to create competition for places and build much-needed positional depth in New Zealand netball.