Netball: Brave face on Mystics' tough start

Bailey Mes of the Mystics. Photo / Sarah Ivey

Debbie Fuller could be excused if she was sticking pins into effigies of the ANZ Championship schedulers.

Next season's draw, released yesterday, has her Northern Mystics kicking off with three games on the road, against the Tactix in Christchurch, West Coast Fever in Perth, then the Thunderbirds in Adelaide before touching home base at Waitakere's Trusts Arena for the first time on March 23 against the Central Pulse.

But coach Fuller is a pragmatist and doesn't go for grumbling.

"Whatever cards you're dealt with, you accept it," she said yesterday.

"Let's just brace ourselves and make sure our pre-season is as good as it could possibly be."

Fuller also reckons there can be a bonus out of a tough start. "I actually think sometimes when you're away it hardens you up a bit more."

The Mystics final game is at home to the defending champions while their bye is in round 11. Whether it's a good or bad time depends on how a side is travelling at that point.

"But it all comes down to this: we have to understand what physical dominance is in the modern game of netball," Fuller said.

"I get tired of hearing excuses about draws and fatigue. We have to accept it is how it is, it's the best netball competition in the world, it's a privilege to play in this and part of being competitive is accepting everything that's on your plate and getting on with it."

There is the possibility of a pre-season camp, to be confirmed, for all 10 teams at Alice Springs in February.