Netball: Magic eye Aussie shooter

Catherine Cox spent a decade playing under new Magic coach Julie Fitzgerald. Photo / Getty Images

Australian Diamonds vice-captain Catherine Cox could replace Irene van Dyk at the Magic.

Following van Dyk's surprise decision to sign with the Pulse, the 37-year-old Cox has emerged as one of the favourites to replace the Silver Fern veteran.

Cox, who was born in Whangarei and spent the first six years of her life in New Zealand, announced last week that she was leaving the West Coast Fever. She has a close association with new Magic coach Julie Fitzgerald, having spent a decade playing under her for Sydney and then the New South Wales Swifts. Cox was player of the match in the Swifts' 2008 ANZ Championship grand final triumph but left NSW three seasons later, shortly after Fitzgerald was dumped as Swifts coach.

Despite her age, the 1.88m Cox is still part of the wider Diamonds squad and would bring vital experience to a Magic side that now has a green look about it, after the departures of Laura Langman and van Dyk.

The Magic will also have money to spend, with plenty of cash freed up following the loss of the two Silver Ferns.

However, the Magic will face competition for Cox's signature. She has also been linked with a return to the Swifts and the Vixens are also said to be interested. Other possibilities for the Magic from across the Tasman could be former Pulse shooter Caitlin Thwaites, or long-time Diamond Susan Pratley.

Meanwhile, it is believed the Magic are prepared to "break the bank" to secure the signing of Casey Kopua, following the loss of Langman and Van Dyk.

A source close to the franchise confirmed that the Magic are desperate to retain Kopua and will spend accordingly, seeing the Silver Ferns captain as someone to rebuild the team around. Leana de Bruin is also a high priority signing, though she has already fielded offers from at least two other teams.

However, she would be unwilling to permanently relocate, so any prospective suitor would have to agree to a 'fly in, fly out' arrangement, which are rare in the current era.

Even if they keep their two remaining Ferns, it still feels like the end of a remarkable dynasty at the Magic. Over six seasons the team won more games and made more finals appearances than any other side. They also reached every playoff series (something no other team has managed) and made three grand finals, winning one.

Next season will be tough and it seems Fitzgerald's team will be much closer to the bottom of the table than the top. The Magic board have taken a calculated gamble with the Fitzgerald/Margaret Forsyth coaching axis, as Tanya Dearns would have provided continuity and a link to the current team.

Van Dyk is a major loss but Langman is much greater. The Magic may find a shooter to fill the shoes of Van Dyk but as a midcourter, Langman is irreplaceable. She was the heart of the Magic and made those around her much better players. She also set rare standards in off-court professionalism and training, which tends to permeate through a team and is remarkably durable, having not missed a single Silver Ferns game since her debut in 2005.

As first reported in the Herald on Sunday last month, Langman had become the Mystics' No1 target and a switch had looked increasingly likely, especially after the exit of Noeline Taurua. Mystics CEO Julie Patterson and coach Debbie Fuller had an extended meeting with the Ferns' vice-captain, where they outlined their vision for the franchise going forward. Langman also had several phone conversations with Fuller before eventually agreeing terms.

The Mystics' offer was enhanced by some third party arrangements, which enabled the Auckland franchise to put together an extremely attractive financial package for the Ferns' vice-captain. Now working full-time as an accountant, she also has increased career opportunities in New Zealand's biggest city.

Despite her pedigree, Langman is unlikely to be named captain at the Mystics but she looms as a likely vice-captain. The Mystics were hopeful of a longer deal but Langman has inked a one-year contract.

Now they have tied up Maria Tutaia and nabbed Langman as well as Kayla Cullen and Anna Harrison, the Mystics will focus on the rest of their squad.

Despite a poor season, Cathrine Latu is near the top of the list. There has been murmuring about Latu looking elsewhere - and she enjoyed her stint under Fitzgerald with the World Seven in 2009 - but she remains a priority signing for the Auckland-based team.