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as a tactix fan that game was hard to watch considering how well they did at the start, but i hate to say they usually “peak to early”
they are going to have to pull finger if they want to beat the mystics, they have done it before but its been very rare…As a Tactix/Flames forever fan, for most of last night was sad to watch. Ellie Bird should have started. It didn’t work last year with Dunn and it hasn’t this year either. They got back to 4 then a dropped ball and they dropped the lip.
Tactix got enough ball, but the %%^&#%#%^^^g around in the shooting circle, in out passes #@%$%&^%*#$^#%@e.
Anyway moving on.
Steel/Magic: Magic were well on top for most of the game. However, their poor showing in the last quarter showed how weak their bench was relative to the top 3 teams. I don’t think we’ll see Ekenasio back, so I think they will fall back in the pack next year unless they can get a star import shooter. I agree with everything Maryann said about the Steel’s recruitment. They should retain the Heffernans, Savai’inaea and Lawson – need to clean out the rest. Fifita would be better served moving franchises next year.
Mystics/Stars: The Mystics continue to be lesser than the sum of their parts, which has been the case for several years now. Something is not right – I honestly think dropping Toeava for a more reliable midcourter would do them wonders as Toeava is too hit and miss. Toeava should also miss the Ferns as seems to be hampered by injury. I agree that this was a poor showing from Grace. Since her injuries, she doesn’t seem to have that dominant attitude and appears unhappy. The Ferns need to start looking at Plan B for their GS. On the other hand, Burley had an outstanding game considering the height difference – picking up 5 intercepts and even a rebound of Grace! I still think her best position could be GD so hopefully she can play there next year if Temu or Nawai come back. I like Kolose, is strong, tidy and appears to feed naturally. It might be good for Kolose and Toeava to swap teams.
Pulse/Tactix: The Pulse had more energy from the jump and wore the Tactix down through their defence. TPSR was good in patches but failed to take charge when Dunn was well beaten by Jackson. I agree Bird should have come on earlier, but I think Jackson matches up well on her so I understand why they kept Dunn out there. They should have kept Lloyd on for longer to allow her to grow into the game, while Lokotui did well in her GD cameo. Jackson is now starting to do well against moving shooters, and the more ‘relaxed’ umpiring is allowing her to pressure over the shot more. I wonder who the Pulse will keep out of Salmon or Walmsley – Walmsley is the stronger player now but gee that is a tough call.
The Pulse seem like the only team that could challenge the Mystics – it just depends on which Mystics team turn up. Likewise, I’m not ruling out the Tactix next week if the Mystics were as mediocre as this game.
Overall, a great round of games! Crowds seem to be up, and while I’ve been critical of the quality, it has markedly improved over the last few rounds as the injured players returned.
- This reply was modified 9 months, 1 week ago by museboy.
even suggesting to drop Toeava is outrageous. Best WA in Aotearoa. No questions about it.
And yes agree Toeava will not make the Ferns, there is so much tape on both knees, legs so will prob be told to go and get them sorted. I also think Saturday (if Tactix lose), it could be Jane’s last game, TP maybe as well.
Some interesting comments in here.
1. The ball into circle rates for Tactix was dismal last night. Well below their standards. They were losing ball before shot selection was even an option. How’s a GS gonna shoot goals with balls they aren’t getting?
2. Would Bird have made a difference? Jackson has historically had a field-day with Bird. There’s nothing to suggest last night would’ve been any different.
3. If anything, replacing Dunn with Bird would’ve been a momentary or slight solution. That’s a single player change. Tactix have never played a Pulse team that included Salmon, Walmsley, Metuarau, Kersten and Gordon, all at the same time. They’d seen bits of those combinations, but not the full line-up. There is no comparison of “oh but she’s being x all season for Tactix, why change now?”
Cos it’s a different Pulse team – and it was *those* match-ups vs those players that the game was being won and lost in. Not with Dunn/Bird. Changing a single player wouldn’t have been the fix to offset the damage that was being caused everywhere else.
Be interesting to see what happens with Salmon and Walmsley next year. I’m sure they will both want a 60min game, and not bench sit for 30min each.
I disagree with the “Changing a single player wouldn’t have been the fix to offset the damage that was being caused everywhere else” comment made, we’ve seen it with Grace Nweke and the Mystics, when Grace isn’t there, the mid court AND defensive end are BOTH not performing. Another example was last year with the Tactix when Jane Watson was out and they lost by 20 goals. One player can really make all the difference. That one player can instill confidence into the whole team to perform. We seen it at the World Cup 2023 with the ferns.
Maybe Tactix would have had a shot at winning if they had a GS who didn’t leave the circle every 5 seconds and who would post up and offer those angles for the feeders and been that tall target in the back.
The last time Bird played a full game against Pulse, Tactix won it by 5 goals.
agree @silvero20, switching out Bird for Dunn wouldn’t have made much difference. Dunn shot 90% ie 28/31 shots. Not bad. Jackson is pretty good and it wouldn’t have mattered if Dunn or Bird were on.Selby Ricket started off well shooting but missed some crunch shots down the stretch when it mattered.
I thought the Tactix main problem was their undersized defence. Lokotui didn’t make much difference at GD. Just too small.
Be interesting to see if Lloyd is given the start against Nweke on Saturday. I think more so to run lots of fresh legs on Toeava – Burger, Lokotui and Sinclair – to try disrupt that feed into the shooting circle.
Imagine Nweke being fed by Metuarau (GA), Toeava (WA), and Souness (C). Unstoppable!
Having Nweke and Toeava, you can almost experiment (trial) any GA. Very similar to RAG and Horjus.
Ekenasio is first choice GA. A fully fit Metuarau will be a good second choice. Add G Heffernan and Malesala.G Heffernan has had an underwhelming ANZP season for me, the most inaccurate shooter in the league (76.8 %) and refuses to defend majority of the time (although she did get a few intercepts this season due to ball being turnover numerous times by the Steel). I don’t think she will be in the ferns squad with the form of other GA’s.
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