2021 ANZ Premiership Grand Final Preview
It all comes down to the title decider with the Northern Mystics going up against The Good Oil Tactix in the Grand Final.
Sunday, 8 August
Mystics v Tactix at 3.30pm at Spark Arena in Auckland
A new ANZ Premiership winner will be crowned at Spark Arena with Grand Final newcomers, the Northern Mystics, taking on last year’s beaten finalists The Good Oil Tactix.
Four goals has been the biggest margin between the two teams this season and expect this fourth encounter to go down to the wire again.
The Mystics have the edge having claimed two of their three meetings so far, but it may be the Tactix who have the bigger advantage having experienced Grand Final netball last season.
They may also benefit from a thorough work-out against the Steel leading into this game – showing their class in the first half of the Elimination Final and then composure to hold out the Steel and their home crowd.
But Tactix defender Karin Burger said it would be a “whole different ball game” against the Mystics with shooter Grace Nweke in the mix.
“We need to get off, we need to try and attack the ball early, we need to get ball which we haven’t really done in previous games against them,” she said.
“It’s a lot harder work on defence and making sure we treasure our ball – making sure we score off everything we get.”
The Tactix defence, particularly in the second quarter against the Steel, was smothering and it took the full court pressure from the attacking end right through to the defensive prowess from Burger and Jane Watson.
They will need a repeat performance if they are to shut down the Premiership’s most prolific scorer in Nweke – the teenager putting up a massive 889 attempts this season at 89 per cent success.
If the Tactix can close off the direct pathway into Nweke, all eyes will be on who partners the 1.93m shooter in the circle.
Coach Helene Wilson surprised some by giving Filda Vui the start at goal attack in the Mystics last round robin game, but the experience of Bailey Mes might get the Silver Fern the nod for this big game.
Wilson said Sunday’s game would be a big moment for her charges – many who are stepping out in their first Grand Final.
“I just really hope that when we get out there on game day that we’re proud to represent our club and our region,” she said.