Back in action,
The ANZ Premiership returns tomorrow night with the Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic heading north to face the Northern Mystics at the Auckland Netball Centre.
Three more matches will follow on Saturday, Sunday and Monday as the season resumes with its second round and everyone eyeing a place in the grand final at the end of August
netball writers Brendon Egan and Andrew Voerman have answered five burning questions they’ve been pondering while waiting for the competition to resume.
We had one round back in March before the Covid-19 lockdown. What stood out to you from it?
Brendon Egan:
Tomorrow night will mark 95 days since we last witnessed the ANZ Premiership, so this is testing the memory. The key takeaway was the Pulse looked every bit the title favourites. They showed what they are capable of in putting the foot down in the second half against the Tactix after the score was level at halftime. The 31-19 second half burst was a warning to the rest of the competition.
Andrew Voerman:
That netball without a crowd cheering for every goal isn’t right. Luckily – and fingers crossed – the game between the Southern Steel and Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic in Dunedin on March 23 looks like it will have been a one-off. Players’ wider families and sponsors will be allowed in tomorrow and Saturday, with paying spectators back from Sunday, and you can be sure they’ll have built up plenty of enthusiasm over the long break.
With an eye to the Silver Ferns, what position is most up for grabs?
BE:
The shooting end looks the big one. The Silver Ferns have decent depth in the midcourt and defensively, but shooting is the one area of the court that’s weaker. Goal shoot Maia Wilson was outstanding in January’s Nations Cup in England and
Noeline Taurua will be looking for her to be a consistent presence and take her play to another level with the Stars. Bailey Mes’ season-ending knee injury naturally means a spot will be up for grabs. Several shooting hopefuls weren’t considered for the World Cup last July because they didn’t meet fitness standards. The onus will be on those players to lift their game. With plenty of time to work on their conditioning during lockdown, there should be no room for excuses.
The defensive circle is where the excitement is for me. Jane Watson and Phoenix Karaka got the nod for the final of the Nations Cup in January and appear to be the first-choice duo, but Karin Burger (who tends to play one spot further forward for the Pulse) is also in the mix. Then there’s Temalisi Fakahokotau, cruelly denied a shot at the World Cup last year with a knee injury, and Kelly Jury, once seen as the answer to the Ferns’ long-running Australian Diamonds problem. ANZ Premiership form could be
AV: