[montyb]

in reply to: 2023 SSN ROUND 7 #1358538

Random observation – has anyone else noticed how much Nicole Richardson’s ‘tone’ has changed during tactical time outs? the last few rounds she’s going out of her way to praise efforts from players (even when perhaps not deserved). I personally enjoyed her matter a fact comments at the start fo the season – i feel like the morale in the camp must have dropped and she’s trying to nurture them….not a bad thing, just interesting to see the shift.

Kelsey Browne is such a weapon with her cuts and drives to the top of the circle, but instead it felt like they kept trying to find her over the arms of Wilson. I don’t think they played her her strengths as much as they should have.

I found myself marvelling during the game that the thunderbirds and fever both have very solid attacking midcourts, but certainly not ‘superstars’ based on reputation. Who would have thought the two top of the table teams would have no national squad members in the C,WA,GA positions?! Its quite amazing just how impressive Williams/Petty/Horjus/Dwan/Simmons/Teague-Neld/Glasglow have been!

Sure previously results, experience, and combos count, but it feels like the diamonds squad has been picked far more on past form than present form.

[montyb]

in reply to: 2023 ANZP ROUND 6 #1357183

I love how we can’t help but think about national selection already!! Ok seats making lists in my head.

The way I see it, we need to take both crampton and Toeava. Crampton as starting Wa for composure and experience….however if we were down by 10 at half time and needed to score quickly to catch up you’d have to back the toeava nweke combo every day of the week. Jury Watson and karaka are all good enough to start, which means burger needs to be a Wd slide otherwise we are trying to squeeze 4 top players into 2 positions only. With heffernan at c and Wd too, that means the 4 mid court play only needs to be the starting C or backup C depending on where Noel’s wants heffernan. For me, any one of Ruelu-Buchanan,Gordon, poi and souness will work fine as I suspect Kate H is the starting c in noelines master plan going forward. Also agree with all the comments – surely crampton or toeava can play C against some lower ranked teams?!

[montyb]

in reply to: 2023 SSN ROUND 4 #1357182

Interesting the predictions about Pretorius and her last season. I hate to be unsupportive of mothers retuning to the game, but for whatever reason she appears only a shadow of her silky smooth deceptive self… not having nearly the same effect as previous seasons- perhaps teams are more aware of how to combat her? A few seasons ago Karla was miles ahead of all other Gd’s in the comp, but not anymore. I really hope she can play herself into form over the season as she’s soo brilliant to watch when she’s on!

[montyb]

in reply to: 2023 SSN ROUND 4 #1357181

Loving the season so far- swifts still look quite good to me, but the lack of gains across the Gd and Wd position is telling. Allie Smith was better this week, but compared to other teams Wd (parmy, eddy, Wilson) and Gd (Bakewell Doran, Weston, ward!) the swift defense end is not keeping up with the comp for me…

I know a lot happens off the ball that the camera doesn’t catch, but I rewatched the game after hearing Akle’s comments about smashing the S*** out of her team and I don’t agree. Fever were physical but nothing more than usual- it was the first time of seen Briony Akle talk this way… I think it’s more about the swifts lack of spark than other teams being overly physical

[montyb]

in reply to: 2023 ANZP Tipping Comp Round 4 #1355925

Magic
Tactix
Mystics by 4
Tactix

[montyb]

in reply to: 2023 SSN ROUND 1 #1355466

Exciting! I think the Lightning have a great chance to start their season the right way with Harten and Hay both out. Surprised to see Giants still favourites. Likewise I think Fever will be too strong with Weston out too. A shame to not be able to start your season with the full team.

The match i feel is most likely to go either way is Magpies v Swifts. Can’t wait!

[montyb]

in reply to: 2023 ANZP Tipping Comp Round 3 #1355465

Pulse by 2
Mystics
Tactix

(Sorry guys i missed last week, hope i can still join?)

[montyb]

in reply to: 2023 SSN TIPPING COMP #1355464

Hey Ian, i just entered – thanks for running again. One question- is there anyway to see what people’s tips are for the week? Im always curious where the majority are leaning which is why im partial to the old fashion way.

[montyb]

in reply to: Leading Silver Ferns trio could bolster squad for January quad series #1352210

I would usually agree with McLoed,

But then i think back to 2011 diamonds and 2019 ferns world champion teams. Both elected to go with a 34-3-5 split, rather than the usual 4. if i recall correctly, Hallinan had had a lacklustre domestic seaosn after her break out year in 2009, so Plummer opted for three GD/WD slides instead. The Taurua loaded the defence end to help nurse Kopua back to internationals again. Again, Grant and Burger used as GD/WD slides. I guess my point is that sometimes the quality and mix of the team requires different splits across the court. Also, Surely Toeava and Crampton ‘could’ play C if required in round robin games? if Souness went down for example, id be very comfortable with a Heffernan C Burger WD line. I feel like We need Toeava there as her connection with Nweke is incredible, but i’d feel more comfortable with Crampton’s safer set of hands coming on if required in a medal match, rather than a utility player warming the bench for the big games. While Gordon’s defence is an asset, with Heffernan, Burger and Watson in the mix, i feel our attack is where we need the most options.for that reason, Id take Toeava, Crampton, Souness and Heffernan as the middies next year (unless some drastic changes in form happen ofcourse!)

[montyb]

in reply to: 2022 Constellation Cup (Oct) #1351590

Another observation/prediction. Bringing Weston might help with experience, but I personally don’t think Weston matches up on Ekanasio well, and her combo with Bruce hasn’t always worked for me…..so as a kiwi fan i’m quite happy with that change up.

If anything, i’d be putting Weston at WD to get her long reach over the feed…Parmenter and Price both put great physical pressure on the catch, but i don’t think either have an effective hands over game like Brazil, Simpson and Ingles. Its like the contest so hard on the pass, that they don’t have time to set up the 3 feet mark. This was observed by Adine Wilson on the Skytv show after game 2 – they need to concede some passes in order to set up better pressure on the next.

[montyb]

in reply to: 2022 Constellation Cup (Oct) #1351589

I think Noeline played a master stroke with Peta Toeava…..adding her to the squad for the first two games. I think this was actually more initially intended to help Grace settle against Aus….Noeline knows that developing Grace is the best chance of defending gold at WNC. Noeline referenced Peta’s connection with grace several times prior to and after the first two games. I think Peta actually performed even better than expected, and has probably cemented her place (unless gordon or Poi have the series of their lives).

I guess my point is, rather than developing depth in the WA position, I feel like the whole point of have 4 different Wa’s across this series was more about who feeds Grace the best.

[montyb]

in reply to: Hancock Prospecting invests in the Origin Australian Diamonds #1351362

I appreciate this is a sensitive subject and I comment with cautious respect for all perspectives, but I personally feel like ‘some’ people involved are exploiting their indigenous peers to try and ‘recruit’ discontent and champion climate change responses. I think its always risky when coloniser speak for indigenous communities, claiming they don’t want to be part of the problem….when i actual fact, bringing “Donny” into the debate without her explicit permission just further perpetuates injustices for indigenous people. Just my take – speaking from and indigenous NZ perspective. Peace and Love :)

[montyb]

in reply to: 2022 Constellation Cup (Oct) #1351350

Wow – so incredibly impressed with the ferns…. target GS, speedy mid court, defence that are working as a unit –

that said, feel liek the ferns cant actually get much better than that, and I feel like the Diamonds can…. so its anyone’s series still i feel.

[montyb]

in reply to: 2022 Constellation Cup (Oct) #1350903

I was thinking about Dame Noeline’s goal to be ‘3 deep’ in each position….

So, thinking we have:

GS: Nweke, Wilson, Te Paea S-R, Ekanasio (4 deep)
GA: Ekanasio, Wilson, Te Paea S-R (3 deep)
WA: Mila R-B, Gordon, Poi (3 deep, but 4 if (Crampton returns)
C: Souness, Gordon, Heffernan (3 deep)
WD: Heffernan, Johnson, Karaka (3 deep at a stretch)
GD: Karaka, Temu (Sulu F at a push, but likely 3 deep once Burger returns)
GK: Jury, Sulu (with Watson to return).

Looking at this, I feel very comfortable with the depth being built – my concern is C and WD. If Heffernan is the back up C, then Cullen needs to be in squad, but that means we are very defence heavy…. I feel like we really lack the flexibility of a Steph Wood type of player who can slide across GA- WA.

Curious to see if this squad reflect an intent to try Johnson at GD, or are they very intentionally going for a 4-5-3 split?

[montyb]

in reply to: 2022 Commonwealth Games Semi Finals – Day 9 (Aug 6) #1349231

wow – so much to unpack…in both games I feel like the start nest the tone for both games and the team that was behind could just never get back into it.

Jamaica was brilliant, and their midcourt was outstanding….interestingly, K Williams as been excellent at WA, but doesn’t look to have the conditioning on A Thomas for example, which to me confirms that ‘fitness isn’t everything. Dixon Rochester has been my player of the tournament so far. It feels like Jamaica have matured, but stil have enough youth to run games out.

Reading between the lines, i have always felt DNT was try to be optimistic, but still saying enough to suggest that she didn’t have high hopes. I truly believe that They will challenge for gold next year if the can get Watson and Burger back, plus include Dunn.

As for England, I actually think the Coach made the right call with starting 7, because as awesome as Cardwell has been i felt like Harten had the experience against Aus, but the change needed to come much soon, and it needed to Harten off, not Housby. Most suprisingly, It was Mentor and Guscoth who i found had virtually no impact on the game….Guscoth in particular hasn’t quite lived up to expectations for me. I Absolutely LOVE Cardwell – her fiesty attitude and shoot from anywhere mentality will be fireworks in SSN. Thunderbirds to contest finals – calling it now. I did feel England were really hard done by with the umpiring.

For Aus, Moloney had a brilliant game – really upped the ball speed which helped a lot. Gretel just absolutely dominated. So good to see Bruce getting called more for her dirty tactics, she really isn’t as clean as she used to be a few years ago. Diamonds look good, but the momentum of Jamaica will be unstoppablei. feel. Jamaica by 5 in the final for me.

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