Consistency remains the key for Mystics
Never short of an abundant mix of talent, the key catch-word for the Northern Mystics in 2021 is consistency as they look to deliver on their obvious potential.
Retaining the core of last year’s third-placed team should work in the Mystics’ favour while the return of experienced shooter Bailey Mes to fulltime play will also stiffen the resilience in the team.
In captain Sulu Fitzpatrick (defence), midcourters Tayla Earle and Peta Toeava, and Mes at the scoring end, the Mystics have the all-important experience factor on hand in each third of the court.
“You do need a spine in your team, some experience in each third because they’re the ones when things get challenging who can bring the newer players back to what you’ve practised,” Mystics coach Helene Wilson said.
A persistent knee injury has sidelined Mes for the best part of 12 months and the Mystics will take a cautious approach with the athletic shooter as they slowly build her work load and game involvement. Her presence will also be of benefit to exciting young shooting duo Grace Nweke and Saviour Tui.
Lanky defender Kate Burley and dogged midcourter Fa’amu Ioane have joined the Mystics ranks from cross-town rivals the Stars, while seasoned England international defender, Ama Agbeze, who is married to a New Zealander, completes the trio of newcomers.
“I think we’ve got a mix of power and strength and some speed as well, so when you get the timing together on all those different skills, it will be very exciting to see what we can do this year,” Wilson said.
“Our goal is to get to third place or above and try and make the final. While we have had some great skill at times (previously), you’ve got to be able to retain the ball and play with consistency and that’s a big work-on for us in 2021.”
Coming into its fifth year, Wilson believes the 2021 edition of the ANZ Premiership is shaping as the most even yet.
“There’s a spread of experience through every team now and there’s Silver Ferns in every team,” she said.
“We have built a really solid base at the Mystics but I think the Pulse and Tactix, who were in the final last, are still really strong sides and will be tough opponents.
“But it’s also really exciting to see the attacking flair of the Stars with the new combinations that they’ve got and Magic are always a really hard team to beat, so I just don’t think there will be any easy games this year.”
Wilson has also enlisted experienced Australian coach Rob Wright as her assistant, the former Swifts and Magpies mentor helping from afar at the moment due to the on-going effects of the Covid-19 pandemic and no trans-Tasman bubble as of yet. But that has not been a deterrent.
“He turns up to all our meetings, all our trainings and the only difference to us is that he talks to us through a computer rather than being here in person,” Wilson said.
“We call him Virtual Rob and he contributes like any other coach would. He brings a different dynamic, he’s got a really quick, witty sense of humour, he looks at the game slightly differently and brings new drills and skills to our team but we’re both really aligned in the way we want to play the game. So, it’s been a really good fit for the Mystics.”