Yvonne Willering writes that The Northern Mystics have recruited well, but the key is to get all your talents to gel as a working unit.
We are now into the third year of the ANZ Championships and, generally, the first couple of games are about fine-tuning, getting combinations to gel, working out strengths and weaknesses of your own team and sizing up the opposition.
But, for a few teams, it will simply be about making adjustments at this stage, with some key players either still not being able to take the court or having had limited preparation time. Some players are battling niggling injuries or coming back into the game after off-season surgery or childbirth. Some are imports who have had national duties.
When we talk about preparation, the focus predominantly is on players, management, sponsorship and promotional opportunities. However one aspect that receives little attention is the preparation of the umpires.
The pre-season tournament in Sydney involved all the Australian franchises plus Southern Steel and Central Pulse, though the only umpires officiating were Australian. What an opportunity for our umpires to have taken part.
Not only do umpires need high-intensity practice matches, they also need to get an appreciation of the different styles of play. Teams need to familiarize themselves with different umpiring interpretations and learn to make the necessary adjustments to their game, prior to the competition.
Norma Plummer, the Australia coach, has said that maybe New Zealand should have only four teams competing in the ANZ Championship, with Australia having six, or the extra spot being given to a South Pacific Nation, the place being rotated.
To have Samoa, Cook Islands, or Fiji enter into the competition, would certainly benefit netball at the international level. Both Jamaica and England have benefited from having some of their players in ANZ franchise teams.
I agree that, at the moment, there is a greater depth of talent within Australia, particularly at the elite level. Australia toured Scotland and England without Sharelle McMahon and Julie Corletto and still managed to beat England 2-1.
I wonder if the Silver Ferns were faced with a similar situation and took the court against Jamaica or England without the likes of Irene van Dyk and Casey Williams - would they still win?
At this stage I am not prepared to predict the top four, as this would simply be based on names on paper. But the prospects are tantalising.
Everyone has mentioned how well the Northern Mystics have recruited. Now comes the challenge of combining them as a working unit.
Southern Steel will miss Donna Wilkins, as she always plays with passion and demands total effort from her team-mates. But the inclusion of Leana de Bruin will add strength to their defensive line up.
Whilst Waikato/Bay of Plenty Magic has lost the services of a key defender and shooter in Joline Henry and Maria Tutaia, their replacements are experienced. Jodi Brown knows how to feed Irene as they have been team-mates in the Silver Ferns, and Peta Scholz will add a different dimension to the defence, so I would still see them to be of a similar standard to last year.
Central Pulse have added strength in attack and defence but newly-appointed captain - import player Jane Altschwager has had limited court time because of an injury. Canterbury Tactix have been hit the hardest by player movement. They have become the least-experienced side, particularly now their import, Peta Stephens has withdrawn through injury.
All the Australian franchises look to have strength in depth. The only area of concern for the Adelaide Thunderbirds is at goal attack, as they now have two quality goal shoots- so who to play at GA? Their import, Carla Borrego, prefers goal shoot and Kate Beveridge is seldom seen at goal attack.
Melbourne Vixens have a familiar look, with some adjustments in the mid-court. Sharelle McMahon and Julie Corletto have had limited court time since having minor surgery but will easily slot into team combinations. The Vixens now know what it takes to win and therefore will be very hard to beat.
With Natalie Medhurst at goal attack for the Queensland Firebirds, the pressure will be taken off Romelda Aiken, as they are both accurate shooters. Teams won't be able to simply double up on Aiken, as Medhurst will step up and shoot with great accuracy.
The addition of Sonia Mkloma to the New South Wales Swifts defensive line up, will greatly benefit them, not just because of her on-court play, but also because she is a great communicator and displays passion and that tends to filter through to those around her.
West Coast Fever will still rely on their tall players at either end of the court, Caitlin Bassett at goal shoot and Susan Fuhrmann at goalkeep. However their mid-court is quick and they certainly should not be underestimated.
I look forward to seeing high-intensity netball this season, with many close encounters and every team being competitive.
