Around the ANZ Championship with Dana Johannsen
Waikato-BoP Magic
The next couple of weeks loom as a defining period for the Magic, who are surprise leaders after three rounds. Having outshone their New Zealand rivals early on, their next big test is will their game plan hold up to the scrutiny of the Australian sides? The Waikato-Bay of Plenty side take on the Vixens in Melbourne this weekend before returning home to face the West Coast Fever in Tauranga in round five. Despite being New Zealand's most successful side on Australian soil, the Magic still have a sketchy track record across the Tasman. But new coach Julie Fitzgerald seems to have the "magic" touch and has instilled a hard-nosed attitude into the group.
Southern Steel
After a physical clash with the Magic on Monday night, claims and counter-claims of unsportsmanlike behaviour have been flying between supporters of the two teams. Steel fans were particularly unhappy when Magic midcourters Courtney Tairi and Jamie-Lee Price appeared to high-five one another after they sent wing defence Wendy Frew sprawling. In response, Magic supporters will point to Rachel Rasmussen's blatant stomp on Jo Harten's foot as an example that the southerners were also guilty of underhanded tactics. It was probably the most brutal Monday night of netball for a while, as the all-New Zealand clash was followed by a particularly willing contest in Adelaide between the Thunderbirds and the Swifts.
Northern Mystics
It's not only on the court that the Mystics are feeling the heat.
Their management has bowed to intense pressure to provide lollies on the media bench after a group of regular attendees started a social media campaign bemoaning the absence of sweets this season. Other franchises were quick to express their shock at the Mystics' hospitality practices, the Steel pointing out their northern rivals were clearly in breach of the official ANZ Championship guidelines, which stipulate working media must be provided with food on game days. The franchise backed down and begrudgingly provided lollies to media personnel last week - although as one photographer noted "only the cheap kind".
