Wrap up

They say you can't hurry love

They say you can't hurry love. It's also true you can't avoid taxes and you can't agree with everyone. All handy maxims to live by which got me thinking about a golden rule in sport - "you can't import success''. Or can you? Certainly netball has treated the issue of imported players quite differently to other sports. In basketball the overseas import is often the superstar, while the rugby league Warriors and football's Phoenix team also rely heavily on marquee talent from offshore. On the other hand in rugby there are virtually no imports.

The ANZ Championship, after confusion in the early seasons, seems to have found the right balance in 2011. Netball Australia had always been fairly open, as their franchises could recruit whoever they wanted. Netball New Zealand was more cautious, wanting to protect the prominence of local players. Our franchises would have to justify the perceived need for the import and then Netball NZ would rubber stamp - or occasionally decline the request.

We also had the awkward situation of Australian teams being able to use more imports than their New Zealand counterparts. If there is such fantastic depth across the Tasman - as we are always reminded - why did the 2010 championship-winning Adelaide Thunderbirds, as an example, need a Jamaican and a Brit in their starting seven?

This year is a level playing field, with one import per team across the board. Still the approach is different; Australian teams tend to look for a superstar - think Romelda Aiken (Firebirds) or Sonia Mkoloma (Swifts) while sides here try to plug a weak point, with Megan Dehn (Mystics) and Natasha Chokljat (Steel) perfect examples.

Another issue that will come to the fore this season is player burnout, especially among the international players. Silver Fern star Joline Henry told me last week that she feels "buggered'', having barely had time away from the court since the Commonwealth Games. The likeable Henry joked that she should be sponsored by 'anti-flamme', such is the quantity of their product she has been using. It is the same for Mystics' teammate Maria Tutaia, while Temepara George's injury back in December was perhaps a blessing in disguise.

The Mystics at least have the luxury of a strong bench; for other teams that are dependant on Ferns or Diamonds - the Magic springs to mind - there could be real issues later in the campaign. Former Silver Fern captain Adine Wilson pointed out that while players always give their all in every game they play, the world championships in July are the elephant in the room. For some it will be their last hurrah; for others their first chance but either way they will not want to do anything to jeopardise their shot at Singapore.

The Steel's call up of Tania Dalton was heavily criticised in the media but it seemed a shrewd move by Steel coach Robyn Broughton. It garnered huge publicity for the Southern franchise - and indeed the ANZ Championship - who doesn't love a comeback story?

Also, it was only ever going to be for the first round - hardly a huge gamble; Broughton had thought it through; she explained to me that if you have too many young players on the court at once it can affect the senior pros; they can't play their own game as they have to nurse the youngsters through as well.

The Halberg Awards deserve a mention. Casey Williams may have missed out this year, but in a real chance for the 2011 Sportswoman of the year award. It is a non-Olympic and Commonwealth Games year, and if the Magic and Ferns manage an unlikely double then the 25-year-old seems a sure thing for the award.

Finally, a note on the Thunderbirds. The crushing defeat by the Swifts is a awful way to start the year, but don't give up on Adelaide in your tipping competitions just yet. If you are going to suffer a big loss it is always better for it to happen early; they will hang on some hometruths and look to regroup. Also, they won't be the last side to be stung in Sydney this year, as the Swifts will be true heavyweights and lastly their captain Natalie Von Bertouch is one of the best, and toughest, all-round players in the league and you can't discount any team with her in it.