Wrap up

Casey Recaptures the Magic

After her tumultuous 2010, Casey Williams is certainly looking relaxed this season - and the results are showing on and off the court. The Silver Ferns captain is always a challenging person to interview - and doesn't suffer fools - but is a pleasure to be around away from the glare of the cameras. I caught up with the player who remains the heart and soul of the Magic and the Ferns. She told me about the new approach at the Waikato franchise this year, to try and avoid peaking too early - which has generally been the problem over the last three seasons.

"We take it in three different waves,'' she told me. "You can't keep peaking and peaking - you need to have downtime for you to go up. Every six weeks we have a different goal and a different vision.'' According to Williams, it is all about keeping yourself fresh and making sure you are ready when it counts. The Magic will celebrate what they have done, what has been achieved, at the end of each six week block and then move on to the next section of the season.

It was apparently the brainchild of coach Noeline Taurua and is a good one. Too often in New Zealand sport we fail to acknowledge success, to stop and pay tribute, instead we are too quick to always look ahead. Sometimes we need to appreciate the rainbow and forget the pot of gold.

From unlucky to unbeaten

With the Magic's defeat on Sunday, the Firebirds are now the only unbeaten team in the ANZ Championship and at this early stage are looking formidable across the court. Until this year the Queensland team have always been the nearly team of this competition, incredibly finishing fifth (and one place out of the playoffs) in all three seasons. There was always talk of a feud between Natalie Medhurst and Romelda Aiken, but the two superstars have apparently settled their differences this year and the results are showing. Aiken is looking more relaxed than ever, partly due to a eye-catching new hairstyle and has now scored over 1600 goals in the ANZ Championship.

Can you feel a pulse?

Though they have yet to make the final step, the Magic have now won 36 ANZ Championship matches - more than any other team. The Thunderbirds have the second best record with 35 wins, while of course the poor Pulse remain stuck on two wins. The Wellington franchise are talking tough though - and things will turn around eventually. They do seem to have more depth this season and interestingly enough, while the Mystics (three), Tactix (three), Magic (two) and Steel (one) all have players new to the ANZ Championship, every single member of the
Wellington franchise have experience of the competition. Their achilles heel is in the shooting circle, where they lack someone who can support import Caitlin Thwaites. It also seems strange that they have not sought to replaced injured attacker Jade Topia, who is out for the season

Temepara - powered by brownies?

Temepara George's nickname is 'Bubby' - perhaps it should be perpetual motion. She is the only player to have played in all 44 matches the Mystics have played in the ANZ Championship. In fact, George has played every quarter of every match the Northern franchise has played, including three extra time matches. The secret could be in the chocolate brownies that George loves to cook. Australian import Megan Dehn, who is boarding with George and her fiance, told me that while Wayne does most of the cooking for the professional sportswomen, George's forte is baking, particular brownies. Meanwhile Dehn, who is in her sixth season in New Zealand, specialises in fancy omelettes and a walnut, date and banana loaf which is the talk of the team.

Norma needles

Talking to the Australian players, they insist that Norma Plummer is misunderstood. One of them told me she can actually be a lot of fun, especially when she has a few red wines. Plummer is critical of the current ANZ Championship format saying that the only way to ensure a fair competition is to have every team play each other twice, something that is probably not financially viable in the near future. She is adamant she doesn't dictate to ANZ Championship coaches on where and when certain players should play, but she is always happy to offer advice on the strength and weaknesses of certain individuals. Plummer, who writes a weekly blog that is reportedly the most hit article on the Netball Australia website, sounds like she is a long, long way from calling it quits. "It doesn't matter where or when but I will be coaching - not ready for retirement yet mate. Nothing is holding me back.''