Every position on court is important from the GK through to the GS. Each has a role to play and a responsibility for their role on court.
The ANZ Championship has weeded out the try hards and come up with two teams fighting it out for the title.
Both teams have had a crisis point at some time in the season. Thunderbirds for the time the girls went to Bali over a break without permission as well as poor form in the attack end and Magic had its fair share of criticism when it was reported they weren’t training enough and players were living in other regions and not attending training.
And here they are. The battle between Australia and New Zealand. Could the organisers wish for a better fairytale ending?
Thunderbirds have improved and shuffled their attack line to find a winning combination whereas Magic have stuck with the same combination and have continued to flog, what most thought, was a dead horse.
Both coaches have belief. They trust their players and have given them every piece of information they possibly can to get them over the line. Their job is done and now it’s up to the players to take that belief to the final whistle.
What happened to Magic? Why after playing ordinary netball did they end up in the final? In my opinion it’s their GA, Jodi Brown. Quite ironic when Thunderbirds have struggled with that position all season.
The Swifts and Magic Semi Final was the perfect example of NZ versus Australia. Swifts shooting circle was on the move and Magic played the Goal Shooter staying in the Circle with the Goal Attack playing a feeding role.
Irene (GS for Magic) is probably the best Goal Shooter we have ever seen and in previous games has been coming out of the circle. Against Swifts she stayed in. Coach played a tactic that came off. Jodi does all the feeding and Irene does all the shooting.
The grand final will be a battle of the GA’s. Which GA will look after their shooter and bring the ball in, draw the defenders and take the pressure off.
Goal Attack is such an important position and can dictate the performance of the Goal Shooter. Bring on the final and please all coaches, watch the GA’s as their impact on the game will contribute to the outcome.
