2025 ANZ Premiership Preview – Grand Final

We take a look at this Sunday’s ANZ Premiership Grand Final between The Northern Mystics and VIP Frames and Trusses Tactix in Auckland.

Sunday, 27 July

Mystics v Tactix v Pulse, 4pm at The Trusts Arena in Auckland

Talking points:

• There have only been two occasions when the Minor Premiers have failed to go on and win the ANZ Premiership Grand Final.  The Steel won the Elimination Final in 2018 and went on to claim the major spoils as did the Mystics last year.  The VIP Frames and Trusses Tactix showed they have the goods to become the third team to upset the form books but are up against a red-hot Mystics side that defied preseason expectations by reaching the Big Dance without the services of Grace Nweke and the loss of defenders Carys Stythe and Phoenix Karaka.  En route to the Grand Final, the Mystics have lost just one match but that was to the Tactix in Round 4.
  
  
• Tactix captain Erikana Pedersen says new coach Donna Wilkins has brought a “ruthless mindset” to the team this year which helped them bounce back from their worst performance of the season – the 14-point loss to the Mystics in Round 10 – to topple the Pulse in an Elimination Final she calls “the best preparation we could have had leading into a final”.  “Our mentality has shifted,” she said after the win.  Wilkins admitted the defeat to the Mystics two weeks ago was “one of our worst performances collectively” but they took plenty of lessons from the defeat.
  
  
• Match-ups across the board – Catherine Hall got one over the Tactix feeders the last time they met, and the visitors will need to perfect their delivery to Ellie Bird if they are to avoid the long reach of Hall.  Mystics shooter Donnell Wallam also got the better of the Tactix defence who had no answers in how to shut her down in the shooting circle landing 57 of their 70 points.  Tactix defenders Jane Watson and Karin Burger did a great job confusing the space against the Pulse last week and will need to be at their collective best to limit the Australian’s influence.  Tactix wing Paris Lokotui also has a mammoth task in closing down playmaker Peta Toeava while the Mystics did a top job in keeping Te Paea Selby-Rickit quiet earlier this month.

Final thought:

The ledger stands at one apiece this season, but it will be the Mystics, with home crowd advantage, who must have the mental edge over the Tactix following their 14-goal demolition of the red-and-blacks in the last game of the regular season.  Whoever wins, ANZ Premiership history will be written with the Mystics on the verge of becoming the first team to claim a hat-trick and four titles in total, while victory for the Tactix would be a first ever Premiership crown for the club.