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We’ll agree to disagree on Brazill. She was a great player and I loved watching her as much as the next person, but I agree with NB12 that Bueta and Fretwell have been the greatest losses to the Diamonds.
There’s a difference between a GS playing on and a centre court. I’m sure many of those players could make an another cycle, but fact is they are likely past their physical prime and are much more likely to get injured. Weston has been managing injuries for years, and Bruce was out for half the season with an injury. That’s not to say they definitely can’t make it to another WC, but you can’t solely rely on them. If Weston couldn’t make a full game why was she taken? Why not back Garret and let her develop into the game? You can not like it all you want, but pro athlete careers don’t last forever, you need to have a succession plan.
I’m not saying to boot the whole lot of them, but mix in the experience with the newbies. Instead of Watson and Hadley, take Watson and Fraser for one series, and Hadley and Horjus for another. Instead of Garbin and Koenen for both series, take Garbin and Wallam for one, and Koenen and Jok for another. (If Jok was interested, it’s just an example).
I agree the coach seems hesitant to actually use new players, and wants to go with her tried and true every time. She needs to back players in and give them the chance.
Are there any issues with Jok representing Australia at the next WC given she received a medal at the last one as a named reserve? Well, medal aside, was she technically representing Jamaica at that WC?
I just want to say how amazing the Ferns were in that third game, particularly given most of the starting 7 has played two full games in the recent weeks. I think fitness should be applauded. However, the confidence and the culture has been the biggest shift. Poi and Gordon had a lot of pressure on them this game, and they looked down but had fight in them which was so good to see. They have surely cemented their spot in the spine.
Next step for the Ferns would be building depth on the bench in case of injuries and I look forward to some fresh legs in Game 4.
In terms of Australia, I think what is happening is the natural order of building a new cycle and needing some freshening up. I think Stacey M inherited a strong team for the last CWG and WC, and showed success with that. She has now had to fill some big holes (Wood, Bueta, Brazill) – which she has not been able to do. I don’t rate her highly as a coach.
I thought some of her decisions of which players to bench and which to bring into game day has been very questionable. Aryang has been one of the strongest defenders for Aus and needs to be playing in the circle. JLP is best at WD. I’m surprised Moloney wasn’t used at C with her strong connection with Garbin and Austin. There has been bibs flying everywhere with no real intent or insight.
I would have liked to see Austin and Dwyer combine together. I think Horjus with Wallam would be a great combo too. I can already see Williams vs Gordon being an entertaining battle to come for years. RBD is a ball winner and was completely overlooked.
There are players in the Australian system that we all know are skilled and very fit. The game plan, coaching decisions and selections have let down this team.
The Ferns of as recently as the TJ Series would have wilted under the attention they received in that first half.
After 15 minutes I was surprised we were level with Aus, at half time I couldn’t quite understand how were up by 2.
I was sure Taurua was going to bench Poi, but as was mentioned by Sokolich-Beatson in the Kiwi commentary, Poi pulled out some ripper feeds toward the back end of that quarter and got some confidence to kick on in the second half.
I think the Ferns have found their ‘spine’ for the first time since NWC 2019 – Nweke, Ekenasio, Gordon and Jackson.
Had thought previously Burger could only play well with Jane Watson but have been mightily impressed with her combination with Jackson this series, Heffernan has recaptured the form shown when she burst onto the scene at CWG and Poi is definitely most improved. Am excited she will suit up alongside Heffernan next year and give WA a good stab week-in, week-out. Wendy Frew will be licking her lips at home in Invercargill right now!
The really exciting thing for me is I think there’s an opportunity to blood up and comers and will be interesting to see who of the bench sticks around.
ANZP 2025 will be very interesting, particularly how Stythe, Hall, Takarangi and Burley perform.
I think there’s a number of midcourters looking to prove a point and there’s still space for a fully fit Toeava within this set up. We’ve gone from thinking her our only option at WA to imagine her being injected off the bench.
Shooting wise, it’s all there for the taking IMO and I hope they’re training their hearts out at home.
I feel like it’s starting to click for the Ferns and they can kick on from here.
A Dame Noels of even 3 weeks ago would have pulled Poi off after 10 minutes. Poi was getting stuck behind/middle of JLP and often double teamed, and coping some pretty rough house treatment as well.
But once she started letting the ball go into Grace in the 2nd Q, the game totally changed.
Heffernan was sublime, after the England series I wanted her gone, (she was poor though).As for the Diamonds, I don’t understand why Bruce was taken off, thought she was doing a good job, Ellis did nothing except try and cause a injury to Grace.
Be interesting to see if there is a series anywhere in January, I’d like to see a Southern Hemisphere Quad series.
NZ/Aus/SA/Uganda.Anyway bring on Melbourne 4-0 would be something else.
Well I’m going to have to eat my words, I was asking for Noeline’s resignation but this turn around from the ferns has been remarkable! Something between the TJ series and Com cup has changed and the team looks completely different! They have confidence and the belief that has been missing for a long time!
What an interesting problem the Silver Ferns have now at WA! Poi has put a stake in the ground to claim that bib as her own. COB has shown glimpses especially against England that she’s not out of place at international level. We still have Whitney S, Milia RB and PETA sitting at home! What a great issue to have! I feel as though Whitney as awesome as she is might have slipped down the pecking order a lot after this series! She may struggle to get back into the Ferns.
Grace has been phenomenal for the Ferns this series too it’s been a coming of age for her!
I have been reading a lot about NZ netball needing to change the rules for her. Here’s my take on it! I think this is the best outcome NZ could possibly have! Having a year in SSN will help Grace ten fold and she will grow week in week out. It’s also an opportunity for the Ferns to grow depth in the GS stocks while Grace is away. We don’t want to be a team that is just relying on Grace look what happened at the World Cup! This is a chance for the other young shooters to have a crack (Tui, Salmon, Walmsley) and have a taste of what’s required. I see this as a bloody good thing for NZ!
I’m not sure if everyone had access to the pre match interviews but Noel’s was asked about Akles contribution. She didn’t answer directly apart from saying something like -SSN coaches have a cut throat approach…. Which I took as coaches passing on to the players. Clearly the Ferns weren’t going to let the Diamonds get in their heads this series but I was delighted in how the SF mid court came out in the second half. Once again super impressed with Poi’s development- not long ago she would have been struggling to run a direct line but even with all the attention she got last night she had the intent firmly entrenched. Not surprised she was overwhelmed post game, she’s worked so hard to show she has it.
Not a great game from Diamonds, I’m still struggling to work out their game plan in the first half where they seemed to stand literally within the three foot mark of the Fern in possession. It was a style I’m not used to seeing from them.Agree McLeod on your comments re Taurua. Taurua has a tendency to pull players from the court without letting them get into rhythm or play through down patches. Poi’s fitness really showed through in the last quarter. She was everywhere.
I do think Akle has bought a change in the Ferns camp morale. Maybe the girls feel the coaching team is right. There seems to be chemistry between Taurua and Akle as well. Interesting some calling for Akle to be the next diamonds coach over on FB! Btw was Fuller there?
It’s really just a difference in development cycles we are seeing here. Finding Nweke is the same as when Van dyk started to dominate for the Ferns. When Vicki Wilson and Bassett were dominant we couldn’t get near the Aussies. It’s just the way netball is structured, with the one point game.
Will be interesting to see how Nweke gets on in Australia. Looks like being the next Fowler. Has a much better shot than Aitken.The most complete performance by the Ferns that I’ve ever seen against a fired up Diamonds team.
Australia haven’t won the Constellation Cup outright since 2018. Always won it by goal aggregate.
Very tactically smart from the Aussie coaches to put pressure and cast doubt into the umpires minds when they were absolutely obliterating them for getting the CP allegedly wrong. It was the correct CP. I think they were hoping the umpires would then compensate for their *mistake* and blow the game in the Aussies favour.
which very much seemed to have the opposite effect on the team itself sf1!! took Aussie almost 4 minutes to get their first goal in the 3rd quarter
I’m gonna say imo Taurua had nothing to do with the shift of the Ferns from Roses to Con cup.
Take in what Cat Tuiviti said about Taurua saying she finds it hard to connect to this younger generation.
Then to Meels saying the team went and got real honest and to deep places with each other. That they have to have each other’s back. That’s off court bonding and not through any coaching.
They enter the arena holding hands to show their bond and support of each other.
You watch how the Ferns celebrate after every game now, it’s just the players and Taurua is standing on the outside looking grumpy.
The only thing Taurua has done is to not make any changes, which is obvious but isn’t that much in coaching decisions.
The vibe has changed from them not enjoying their netball to revelling in it.
It’s purely player based and change.This is all just from my observations and interpretations.
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