Commentator’s Call: The Finals Series scenarios
Fa’amu Ioane is the latest to have her name added to a list no one wants to be on – those with season ending injuries. The Northern Stars WD ruptured the ACL in her left knee, during her side’s win over the Mystics last Sunday.
The following day came confirmation one of the all-time greats was out for the rest of the ANZ Premiership, with Casey Kopua’s news she had torn her plantar fascia. While relieved it wasn’t a ruptured Achilles, it’s still an injury that takes around eight weeks to repair.
It robs the Magic of its Silver Ferns defensive combination, having already lost Kelly Jury with a dislocated shoulder in Round 2. It’s no coincidence the Steel recorded the competition’s highest score this year - 76 goals – in Monday night’s game.
In all probability, four teams are battling for one place in the play-offs. If the assumption’s made that the Pulse and Steel are through, it leaves something of a dogfight between the Tactix, Magic, Stars and Mystics for the final spot.
None of these sides has what could be called an easy run home. That’s particularly true for the Stars which have to play the Pulse twice, and the Steel, as well as the Mystics.
That race starts in Takanini on Sunday afternoon. The Stars were 16 goals adrift when they met the Pulse in Round 8. Since then, the Stars have picked up two good wins on the trot over the Magic and the Mystics, and the Pulse has faltered against the Steel. But the way the competition leaders came back against the Tactix on Wednesday night, suggests there’s little chance they’ll let their guard slip against the Stars.
The Mainland side will want to retain their fighting spirit in Invercargill on Monday night. They’re in third position at the moment, but have played one game more than those beneath them. A Bonus Point - at least – against the Steel, could make all the difference in the final reckoning.
The game of the round could well be that on Wednesday night in Rotorua. The Magic and the Mystics are fighting for survival, but have been the most inconsistent teams. The Magic has had those injury woes, but the Mystics’ troubles are harder to pinpoint.