ANZ CHAMPIONSHIP - Round 5 preview
Saturday 2nd May
Mercury Energy Tactix v Colourplus Waikato / Bay of Plenty Magic
Westpac Arena, Christchurch. 2.00pm*
Sunday 3rd May
Melbourne Vixens v Adelaide Thunderbirds
Hisense Arena, Melbourne. 2.30pm
Monday 4th May
Central Pulse v LG Mystics
TSB Arena, Wellington. 7.00pm
Monday 4th May
West Coast Fever v NSW Swifts
Challenge Stadium, Perth. 6.00pm
BYE:
Queensland Firebirds
Ascot Park Hotel Southern Steel
* Please note all times are local area times.
DOT POINTS FOR ROUND 5;
Mercury Energy Tactix v Colourplus Waikato / Bay of Plenty Magic
· The Tactix and Magic met twice in the 2008 competition in Round 8 and 14, with the Magic winning both games, 54-50 and 69-44, respectively.
· The Round 14 match was the biggest win for the Magic and also the biggest loss for the Tactix.
· The Magic have won 3 consecutive games this season, with their first loss last weekend to the Firebirds.
· The Tactix had their second consecutive loss last weekend after their match against the Thunderbirds went into Extra Time after the game was drawn at 42 at the final whistle.
· Irene van Dyk is the top shooter for the Magic, also holding the top shot in the shooting ranks at 94.7% to date this season. This after 2 rounds of 100% shooting.
· Jodi Brown is the top shooter for the Tactix and sitting fifth in the shooting ranks at 85.6% shooting overall.
· The Magic have the second highest goal volume this season, compared to the Tactix having the second lowest goal volume this season.
Melbourne Vixens v Adelaide Thunderbirds
· Last time they met in round three 2009, Vixens defeated Thunderbirds 49-43 in Adelaide.
· They have met four times over the past two years with each having two wins each.
· Thunderbirds knocked Vixens out of the ANZ Championship race last year with a 53-48 Minor Semi-Final win fueling a passionate rivalry.
· Thunderbirds goal shooter Jane Altschwager made her ANZ Championship debut last week against Tactix. She played the first quarter and shot 5/9 at 56%
· Vixens are the only team undefeated and sit on top of the ladder while Thunderbirds sit third, with their only loss against the Vixens in round three.
· Both Vixens and Thunderbirds have won all away games this year.
· Last week Thunderbirds played in the first extra-time game of the year against Tactix, they won 53-48. (42 all at full time).
· Former Australian representative, Laura von Bertouch played her first full game for the Thunderbirds at wing attack since her return to the game in 2009.
· Vixens have never beaten the Thunderbirds in Melbourne in the ANZ Championship.
Central Pulse v LG Mystics
· The Pulse met the Mystics in Rounds 8 and 13 in the 2008 championship. The Mystics won both matches, 54-48 and 42-28 respectively.
· The Round 8 match was the highest win for the Mystics in 2008.
· The Pulse achieved their third highest score of the 2008 season against the Mystics in Round 8
· The match in Round 13 saw the biggest win for the Mystics in 2008 of 14 goals.
· The Pulse and Mystics met in Round 2 of this years championship with the Mystics winning by 4 goals.
· Catherine Latu is the top shooter for the Mystics this season, sitting 3rd overall with 88.8%.
· Pamela Cookey is within the top 10 shooters after Round 4. Pamela had 100% accuracy against the Swifts last weekend. (Pamela sits at 82.8% overall).
· Paula Griffin and Jamilah Gupwell both have overall shooting percentages in the 70s. Paula – 78.6%, Jamilah – 72.5%
· Pulse defender, Althea Byfield, is 3rd overall in intercept statistics - with 10 intercepts this season.
West Coast Fever v NSW Swifts
· The Swifts and Fever met twice in 2008, with the Swifts victorious in both matches.
· Swifts goal shooter Catherine Cox is second most accurate shooter, and the first Australian, shooting at 89.3%
· Swifts goal attack Susan Pratley is the second most accurate Australian shooter in the ANZ Championship behind Cox, shooting at 88%.
· Fever sits sixth on the ladder while Swifts are a place above them in fifth. Both teams have two wins and two losses with only percentage separating them.
· Swifts have won no games away from home this year.
· After four rounds Swifts have the highest number of total goals with 213, while the Fever is fifth with 205 goals.
· Swifts have the highest goal percentage at 88% while Fever converts at 78.8%.
· Last round Fever shooter Caitlin Bassett put up 49 shots scoring 41 goals while teammate goal attack Bianca Franklin put up just over half as many shots, scoring 19 of 25 attempts.
· Swifts have had the most goals scored against them of any Australian team.
TEAMS WITH A BYE IN ROUND 5:
RECORD CROWDS ATTENDING ANZ CHAMPIONSHIP
It’s quarter-time in the ANZ Championship and the competition’s general manager, Anthony Everard, has called netball fans the winners so far.
After four rounds of the 2009 championship, games on either side of the Tasman have been drawing record crowds – eight of them sell-outs. And those crowds have been rewarded with displays of dazzling netball from the world’s best players.
“So far, we’ve had at least one sold-out game every weekend, which is a fantastic indication of the popularity of the competition,” Everard says.
“The crowd support has been one of the highlights so far – sports fans have come out in full force, and it’s created a fantastic atmosphere. Tickets for the ANZ Championship are pretty good value for money, and the entertainment on and off court has been great. “This year we’re trying to really encourage people to get behind their local team.” The outstanding quality of netball seen so far has also been a major drawcard says Everard, who took on the general manager’s role last November.
“It has taken some teams a couple of weeks to find their feet, but we’re finding that as each week goes by, the quality improves. We’re very happy where things are at and we’re confident that as teams continue to build their rhythms we will see even more fantastic games,” he says.
“One of the things that continues to elude the competition is a New Zealand team winning on Australian soil, but I’m confident that will happen. Travel is something the teams are trying to find the right formula for.”
For the next five weeks, the competition transforms into quasi-domestic championships, with the five Australian teams going head-to-head, while the five New Zealand sides do the same across the Tasman.
Everard says developing the draw is a “logistically challenging exercise”.
“The availability of venues and the travel demands on teams are among the factors that determine the draw. Having the next phase of competition at home gives the players a bit of a break from long plane trips, and it’s important they get a bye in the middle of the season too,” he says.
“Playing in their respective countries for the next few weeks, we’ll see local rivalries build. The Queensland Firebirds’ result on the weekend put them firmly in the frame, and the West Coast Fever have had two good wins too. The improved performances of the Tactix and the Mystics on Monday night will make the New Zealand games very interesting.”
During the 14-week competition, teams will play sides from their own country twice, and meet their Trans Tasman rivals once. NSW Swifts coach Julie Fitzgerald has questioned the fairness of the draw – believing a home and away, two-round competition would be a more true competition.
Everard encourages comments and suggestions from any coach, player or media who believe the championship can be improved. “The ANZ Championship is only a season and four rounds old and while we have a wonderful foundation, it’s still malleable. We encourage healthy debate through the season and a full home-and-away schedule is something we are prepared to consider for future years, if the resources allow.”
The big clash of Round 5 is undoubtedly the rematch between the so-far unbeaten Melbourne Vixens and the Adelaide Thunderbirds on Sunday. Vixens had the upper hand when the teams met two weeks ago, but Thunderbirds took confidence from their extra-time victory over Tactix last Monday. The other all-Australian game sees the ever-improving West Coast Fever hosting NSW Swifts on Monday night.
Across the Tasman, Colourplus Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic have a point to prove to themselves in their Saturday clash with Mercury Energy Tactix - after “failing mentally” in their biggest ANZ Championship loss to the Firebirds. The Tactix, too, have to pick themselves up after falling at the last hurdle to the Thunderbirds.
LG Mystics will be hoping to show they’ve learned a lesson in treasuring possession when they meet the Central Pulse in Wellington on Monday.
The Firebirds and the Ascot Park Hotel Southern Steel enjoy the first byes of the competition.
MATCH STATISTICS FOR ROUND 5; 2009 Team Profiles & Records and Player details are at Teams Full Results, Summary Statistics and Team Records (click each team’s name) for 2008 are at History
Check the Live Scoreboard or home page News updates for scores and statistics during each game.
Click the Team logos on the map, or click Teams on the main menu to open the second-level menu (Firebirds, Swifts etc) with links each team’s page.
The current season records are updated after each game. Click the 2008 link for the team’s record last season.
Here are the links to the Game Stats for all Round 5 matches; and to the Game Stats & Match Reports for the same encounters in previous 2009 rounds, and in 2008:
Saturday 2 May – Tactix v Magic
2008:
Round 8 – Magic 54, Tactix 50 in Christchurch
Round 14 – Magic 69, Tactix 44 in Hamilton
Sunday 3 May – Vixens v Thunderbirds
Previous game in 2009:
Round 3 - Vixens 49, Thunderbirds 43 in Adelaide
2008:
Round 3, Thunderbirds 39, Vixens 38 in Melbourne
Round 7, Vixens 52, Thunderbirds 46 in Adelaide
Monday 4 May – Pulse v Mystics
Previous game in 2009:
Round 2 – Mystics 54, Pulse 50 in Auckland
2008:
Round 8 – Mystics 54, Pulse 48 in Wellington
Round 13 – Mystics 42, Pulse 28 in Auckland
Monday 4 May – Fever v Swifts
2008:
Round 7 – Swifts 66, Fever 54 in Sydney
Round 14 – Swifts 63, Fever 54 in Perth