Headaches both good and bad for Silver Ferns' selectors

We're a quarter of the way through the ANZ Premiership, but how much can we read into the results so far after a Covid-disrupted start? Sports reporter Bridget Tunnicliffe analyses the first few rounds.

With spots in the Silver Ferns' squad wide open, a lot of weight will go on the performances of players during the ANZ Premiership in the lead up to the Commonwealth Games.

But those performances can be hard to gauge when teams have had several changes in personnel and new combinations from week to week.

Silver Ferns' selectors won't have an easy task naming a trial group, before eventually picking 12 players for Birmingham.

Four out of 15 games have been postponed so far, and it's impacted on teams differently with the top of the table Northern Mystics getting through five games, and the Stars just two.

Having said that, there are some players who have stood out.

That includes the usual suspects like Grace Nweke, Tiana Metuarau, Peta Toeava, and Karin Burger.

Silver Ferns' defender Kelly Jury has been in fine form at goal keep for the Pulse, showing she benefited from her year at goal defence in 2021.

Whitney Souness has made a strong start at wing attack for the Pulse and Kate Burley's move to the Steel to ensure court time was a smart decision.

Burley must have an incredible standing jump because she's even managed to out jump Grace Nweke on occasion, despite the ball coming down the court like a tsunami at times.

Bailey Mes looks like a different player to the one we saw at the Mystics last year, when it didn't look like she wanted to shoot at times.

With her new side the Magic, Mes is stamping her mark on the game whether it be at goal attack or goal shoot.

Mes has had some of her best career moments at goal shoot and was the Silver Ferns' starter in that position for nearly four years.

The defending champion Mystics are looking hard to beat and have got plenty of depth.

Coach Helene Wilson has the luxury of being able to switch between a resurgent Monica Falkner and Silver Ferns' bolter Filda Vui at goal attack.

Mystics midcourter Tayla Earle has picked up two MVP awards and in their first season playing together at this level Phoenix Karaka, Suu Fitzpatrick and Michaela Sokolich-Beatson are forming an imposing defensive wall.

Add young defender Carys Stythe to the mix and the Mystics are blessed all across the court.

Better discipline

If it feels like there's been less whistle compared to the same stage of the season last year, that's because there has.

In 2021 there was an average of 110 penalties a game after the first 11 fixtures of the season, with several warnings given and a sending off marring the first few rounds.

So far there's been an average of just 83 penalties per game.

The only real blip came in yesterday's Magic-Pulse fixture, with the game clocking up a whopping 130 penalties.

But the overall improvement in that department will please the Silver Ferns' coaches.

Specialist coaches including former Silver Ferns' coach Yvonne Willering have been running sessions with ANZ teams, with one of the aims to reduce the penalty count.

Digging deep

At the age of 44 former Silver Fern Leana de Bruin got through a full game for the Magic yesterday and at goal defence - one of the most physically challenging positions on court.

In doing so, De Bruin became the oldest to play at the elite domestic level, surpassing fellow greats Temepara Bailey and Irene van Dyk, who both called time when they were 43.

Yesterday she was tasked with marking a player less than half her age in 21-year-old Tiana Metuarau.

De Bruin answered the SOS call with Magic defenders Georgia Tong and Erena Mikaere unable to play.

We've seen other faces from the past pop up as coaches try to get enough cover for their depleted squads.

The Magic have named 17 players across their opening four matches and 16 have taken the court, the most of any team in 2022 so far.

Past ANZ Premiership players Hayley Saunders and Brooke Leaver have also provided cover for the Magic, while the Stars picked up Emma Iverson for round three.

Pulse and Magic excite

The Pulse's dramatic 51-50 win over the Magic yesterday had everything.

The lead changed hands on numerous occasions, the outcome drawn out until the dying seconds after Bailey Mes clinched a stunning equaliser while falling out of court.

Kristiana Manu'a pulled off a screamer of an intercept before Aliyah Dunn slotted the winner in an absorbing contest.

The Pulse are playing an exciting brand of netball and are still yet to welcome back injured Silver Ferns midcourter Maddy Gordon as she inches closer to game play.

Magic fans have got a lot to look forward to, despite just the one win from four games.

The Magic are yet to win a fourth quarter across their opening matches but look for that to change when former Silver Ferns captain Ameliaranne Ekenasio starts playing full games.

The star shooter is building each week after having her second child in November. She put in three quarters yesterday, and despite not being anywhere near her peak fitness, the signs are very exciting.

With Ekenasio at goal attack and Mes at goal shoot expect to see one of the most dynamic shooting circles in the game.