2018 Team Preview : WBOP Magic
WBOP Magic are banking on the retention of a stable core of players and team unity to provide the difference in what most are predicting to be a tightly-raced contest in 2018.
Magic have seven returning from last year’s side while adding experienced midcourter Hayley Saunders, defender Katherine Levien (nee Coffin), who has previously played for the Magic and Northern Mystics, and talented and tall NZU21 defender Kate Lloyd, to the mix.
``I want more accuracy and sitting alongside that, better decision-making,’’ WBOP coach Margaret Forsyth forecast for the season ahead. ``Also, for me, that team cohesiveness is huge, and we’ve been working hard on that and enjoying every minute of it.
``I think the competition’s going to be much more even this year and one of the things that I think will be the difference between teams is the unity and cohesiveness of individual teams and how they operate on and off the court.’’
There has been further disappointment for promising young attacker Sydney Fraser, who has been ruled out for the season with a knee injury. It continues a harrowing run for the former New Zealand Secondary School player after she missed all of last season with an Achilles injury.
On a brighter note, returning South African import Lenize Potgieter, is making positive progress from an ankle injury which ruled her out of the recent Commonwealth Games.
Potgieter made a sensational contribution last year as the second most prolific shooter in the competition while impressing with her all-round skills. She is on track to be available for the first round on May 6.
``We had quite a foundation year last year with a number of players having a first time ANZ experience,’’ Forsyth said. ``They’ve learnt a hang of a lot from that and it’s fantastic to be able to take all those learnings and plug them together to put out a better product this year.’’
Forsyth expects a lift across all teams in 2018 after a year of learning for the many younger players involved, of what it means for them around their preparation and how they need to be from week to week.
``The difference with this competition is that we can play up to three games in a week which is a big load on the players and that takes some getting used to. It is what it is and there’s probably some room for improvement in the way we handle that,’’ Forsyth said.
``If we all take and use the learnings that we took from last year and put those into action this year, then we will keep making the competition better and better.
``There’s a sense with this competition of trying new stuff, being confident, bold and let’s give things a go but the key to it, is taking the learnings and making them come to life so you can improve and make better what you’ve already started.’’
2017 Placing: 4th
2018 WBOP Magic:
Ariana Cable-Dixon, Monica Falkner, Kelly Jury, Casey Kopua, Katherine Levien (nee Coffin), Kate Lloyd, Amorangi Malesala, Lenise Potgieter, Hayley Saunders, Samantha Sinclair.
Gains: Katherine Levien (nee Coffin), Kate Lloyd, Hayley Saunders,
Losses: Grace Kara (Stars), Grace Kukutai, Alex MacLeod-Smith.
Coach: Margaret Forsyth
Assistant Coach: Amigene Metcalfe