Wrap up

Awards time as Firebirds face greatest test

Firebirds ready for a fall?

Firebirds coach Rosalee Jencke will be reminding her players this week to "remember the Swifts". The Queensland side have yet to be defeated this year and should beat the Tactix in Christchurch to maintain a perfect 100% record. Anchored by Romelda Aiken and Nathalie Medhurst, they have been far and away the best team and are deserved favourites for the title. But nothing is guaranteed. Fans will remember the Swifts did the same in 2010 – they were unbeatable in round robin matches – before losing consecutive playoff games to the Thunderbirds and WBOP Magic to crash out.

It is generally accepted that in sport that you learn more from a loss than a win; out of the analysis, looking at what went wrong, come insightful lessons. One wonders if a defeat earlier in the season would have reduced some pressure and expectation for the Queenslanders - which must now be overbearing. They wobbled badly against the previously unimpressive Fever on Monday night and will miss Lauren Nourse more every week. They certainly deserve the ultimate triumph but still have some real battles to fight before the ANZ Championship trophy is in their hands.

Selection squeeze

The hours before a side is named is always very interesting, as coaches have to contact players with either good - or bad - news. Ruth Aitken called the Mystics players while they waited at Sydney airport last Tuesday morning - heads turning as each phone went off. The team was quick to console Grace Rasmussen when she got the news she was not wanted. Meanwhile in Cambridge and in a picture to warm a thousand hearts, Ferns captain Casey Williams was mowing the lawn when she got the call from Aitken.

Who is the best of the best?

In the best traditions of American sport, and in a new innovation this year, an ANZ Championship All-Star team will be announced at the conclusion of round 12. At the same time - the fans (that's you guys) - are also being asked to submit who they believe has been the best player in each position on the court in 2011.

For what it’s worth, here is my 2011 ANZ Championship all star team, although selected exclusively from the five New Zealand franchises.

• GK – Casey Williams (Magic)
  Pure consistency, courage and leadership.
• GD – Anna Scarlett (Mystics)
  Has added a new dimension to Mystics defence.
• WD – Camilla Lees (Pulse)
  Has excelled in a struggling team.
• C – Laura Langman (Magic)
  Rarely has a poor game.
• WA – Temepara George (Mystics)
  Skill, guile and unbounded energy.
• GA – Maria Tutaia (Mystics)
  Great partnership with Cathrine Latu.
• GS – Donna Wilkins (Tactix)
  Outstanding in a poor side.
• Bench – Katrina Grant (Pulse), Grace Rasmussen (Mystics), Cathrine Latu (Mystics), Irene van Dyk (Magic).

The intercept of the year

While we are handing out awards, Swifts defender Kimberley Smith came up with the biggest play of the season thus far in their crucial round eleven match against the Steel. The scores were tied with less than a minute on the clock and the home side was hot on attack, pushing for a game-winning goal when Smith leapt from nowhere to intercept a pass on the edge of the circle. The Swifts proceeded up court to grab the lead. Daneka Wipiti then missed a tricky shot with five seconds to go that would have sent the game into overtime. Indeed, it was Wipiti’s poor shooting (23/35) that unfortunately condemned the Steel to their first-ever loss in Dunedin.

Levity from Latu

Cathrine Latu is one of the game's true characters. Despite getting the call up she has waited four years for, she was a bit grumpy when the Aitken called. "I was still holding a bit of anger [from the dire Swifts loss],” Latu told me, “so I probably didn't give Ruth the reaction she deserved.”

She faced over 20 media interviews last week, and is tiring slightly of the 'will-she, won't-she' debate around her participation. "It's a little bit hard," she admitted, "I'm trying not to get too excited about it."  For the record, Latu can play in the two test series against Australia next month as it is not an IFNA-run event, but the decision from the Court of Arbitration for Sport on Tuesday to disallow the case on a technicality means she won't be able to play in the world championships.

Paula vs Anna

Apart from Latu, the main talking point of the Ferns squad named for the world championships was the recall of Paula Griffin. Ruth Aitken had dropped a hint before selection, telling me that studies have shown that experience is crucial when it comes to performance in pinnacle events. Of the contenders - Anna Thompson, Grace Rasmussen, Griffin and Julia Naoupu - the Steel shooter was the only one with the World Championship experience, having played in the 2007 event in Waitakere.

But she has yet to produce her best form in the black dress, so it is huge show of faith from Aitken. Thompson has not let anybody down in her national appearances while Rasmussen (before her season ending injury) was unlucky that she spent the entire season playing at wing attack

A new Masterchef contender?

Joline Henry is one of the fiercest competitors in the ANZ Championship, and despite their stellar season the Mystics have missed her aggressive edge. The 28-year-old has missed most of the season with a troublesome ankle injury. She has made an effort to attend most training sessions and games, and is always vocal from the sideline. It might be hard to imagine her with an apron on but she says her increased spare time has meant a whole lot of baking - something her team mates are very happy about.