2021 ANZ Premiership: Team of the Week – Round 12

ALL three games managed to be played in Round 12 of the ANZ Premiership with a couple of big wins dictating the Team of the Week. The Mainland Tactix dominated the team with three players while the Magic also had a number of stars.

GS: Grace Nweke (Northern Mystics)
GA: Khiarna Williams (Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic)
WA: Gina Crampton (Northern Stars)
C: Kimiora Poi (Mainland Tactix)
WD: Charlotte Elley (Mainland Tactix)
GD: Sulu Fitzpatrick (Northern Mystics)
GK: Jane Watson (Mainland Tactix)

BENCH: Caitlin Bassett (Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic), Sam Winders, (Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic), Karin Burger

Although her accuracy was well and truly down from her usual lofty standards, Grace Nweke still starred to earn another starting position in Draft Central’s Team of the Week. The goal shooter took a while to get going but once she did there was no stopping her as Nweke’s height and footwork enabled her to plant herself under the post and score with relative ease. Nweke’s elevation and strong hands allowed her to rip the ball out of the air as she piled on 54 goals from 61 attempts, the highest of any goaler in the round. It is a very youthful shooting end with 18-year-old goal attack Khiarna Williams also getting the nod. She showcased her range and versatility throughout her 60 minutes out on court. Able to play both a feeding and shooting role, Williams imposed herself for the Magic using her turn of speed and netball smarts to have a profound impact. Her accuracy to post was paramount only missing three of her 23 attempts, goaling at 87 per cent.

Although her side did not get the win, Gina Crampton was in ripping form around circle edge using her speed and change of direction to carve up the defence. Her 1-2 punch enabled her to deliver pinpoint passes into the circle time and time again while her footwork allowed her to claim prime real estate atop the circle as she racked up 55 goal assists. Out in centre is Kimiora Poi with the Mainland Tactix energiser bunny in just about everything. Her dynamism both in attack and defence was causing mayhem for the opposition teams as she consistently came from nowhere to cherry pick passes out of mid-air. Her blistering speed combined with her strength came to the fore in Round 12 prompting her to receive the starting centre bib. Teammate and wing defence Charlotte Elley was also in damaging form from the opening whistle and immediately injected herself into the thick of things. Her closing speed, scrapping ability around circle edge and defensive nous enabled her to consistently get hands to ball while her cleanliness was also paramount.

Down in defence it is a couple of seasoned campaigners with Sulu Fitzpatrick re-positioned out to goal defence and Jane Watson starring in goal keeper. Fitzpatrick spent her time both in goal keeper and goal defence and did not skip a beat with the captain running amok with her deceptive closing speed and read of the play allowing her to get hands to ball. She finished with five gains and four deflections to her name. Partner in crime and Tactix captain, Watson was a rock down in keeper with her movement and spatial awareness impressing throughout the game. Her lean over the shot allowed her to get in the head of her opponents while her fancy footwork helped to shut down the space and win ball back finishing with four intercepts and six gains.

Caitlin Bassett was unlucky not to get the nod in the starting goal shooter bib only missing one goal while teammate Sam Winders also impressed through the midcourt with her feed into the circle and defensive nous. Speaking of defensive nous, Karin Burger rounds out the squad with another strong showing for the Tactix.

0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments