Depleted Mystics have players from other zones on standby

The Northern Mystics have got players on standby from three different zones for their crunch ANZ Premiership game against the Pulse in Auckland on Friday.

Photo: Andrew Cornaga/Photosport Ltd 2021

The Mystics got their original fixture against the Pulse postponed last week after players tested positive for Covid. Coach Helene Wilson doesn’t know how many of those players will be fit for Friday.

They’ve also been missing injured sharp-shooter Grace Nweke, who’s targeting a return for a potential elimination final on the 8th June.

“I have players from Southland, Mainland, and Waikato Bay of Plenty on stand-by to play for us.

“Grateful to the other ANZ coaches in the country, who when I rang them, they’ve given me their best players available to support the Mystics in the game this week,” Wilson said.

“They’re all current players that have either played this year or played in the NNL competition …I’m not bringing back retired players.”

Wilson said the Covid cases hit them in one area of the netball court.

“It’s our midcourt that are going to suffer in terms of not having a whole midcourt available.

“You don’t plan for four players in the same position to get Covid at the same time and still have to play a game …the timeline is short now and we don’t have any more time to postpone games but I’m feeling at peace that we’ve got to a place where we can play.”

Wilson is confident some of the players who got Covid, will be able to play on Friday.

“They’re testing negative now. Now it’s can we get them doing the training and the return to play plan so that they can safely return to court on Friday, that’s the answer I’m not quite sure about.”

A home grand final is within the Pulse’s sights after a 51-43 win over Mainland Tactix in the ANZ Premiership in Christchurch last night.

The win saw the Pulse overtake the Mystics on top of the ladder on goal percentage, with both teams having 9-5 records.

Friday night’s game will determine who finishes higher of the two for next week’s playoffs.

The winner will most likely claim top spot and home advantage for the 12th June final, although the Stars can make things interesting if they beat both the Magic and Steel on Wednesday and Thursday.

Mystics captain Sulu Fitzpatrick
Photo: Photosport

The defending champions have suffered three consecutive losses since Nweke was sidelined with an ankle sprain.

Up until then the Mystics were sitting well clear of the pack but Wilson is still confident ahead of her side’s final game of the regular season.

“We played the Pulse twice at the beginning of the year with more than one player out with Covid, so we didn’t play Pulse with our strongest line up at the start of the season.

“We used our development players and we won both of those games so I’m confident we can take the court and be competitive against them this week.

“I watched Pulse really closely last night they’re still making errors in their game like all players are …so I believe that the players that we’ve gathered together will be competitive against the Pulse.”

Wilson said people had forgotten how strong the Mystics side were leading up to a couple of week ago.

“We had already secured a finals birth before we got Covid and before Grace’s injury.

“We were very competitive without Grace …we’re confident that we’re a team that will bind together and play the hardest that we can. And we’re confident whether we’re in the elimination final or not that we can still win on any given day.

“That’s the attitude that we have and if things progress well like they have been watch out Pulse and Stars.”

Inspirational captain Sulu Fitzpatrick said she was looking forward to Friday’s challenge “with open arms”.

“Our focus moving forward is on what we can control. There’s been a lot of narrative and focus on what we don’t have but I believe in what we have here and I believe the only way we’re going to do it is together.

“And I back each and everyone of our players,” Fitzpatrick said.

She said everyone in the Mystics would learn a lot from the last few weeks.

“Not just for our young players coming through but also for us older ones learning how to adjust our leadership whether that means looking after different players and also instilling that belief in everyone.

“We have a job to do on Friday so making sure that we work together to do our own jobs but also to come together to put out good netball.”