Time for a New Zealand franchise to win trophy

OPINION: Is third time a charm for Kiwi teams searching for success in netball's toughest league, or will fans on this side of the Tasman be forced to stomach another Australian dominated competition?

The third edition of the ANZ Championship begins tomorrow with the competition spoils yet to make it into the trophy cabinet of any New Zealand franchise. Only Australian sides have their names etched on the championship trophy – the NSW Swifts in year one and the Melbourne Vixens last season.

There was some progress made last year when two New Zealand teams reached the final four, although the lopsided draw played its part in aiding the five Kiwi sides' chances of a semifinal place and when both the Waikato-BOP Magic and Southern Steel tripped in the playoffs, an all-Ocker grand final was tough to watch.

Have the Kiwi coaches learned lessons from two hard seasons of championship netball – only time will tell.

Player movement has already forced some franchise coaches to adopt some new approaches. Herding the bulk of the national netball team into the Magic last year was frowned upon by many, did not impress Silver Ferns' coach Ruth Aitken and failed to transform into success on court. But will a more even spread of the Ferns deliver?

New Zealand's best hopes remain north with the Magic despite their loss of Maria Tutaia, Joline Henry and Leana de Bruin. Having snared former Australian defender Peta Scholz and Ferns' hopeful Jodi Brown the 2008 finalists have plugged the gaps. The Northern Mystics' recruitment in the off-season has been fruitful with three Silver Ferns (Henry, Tutaia and Larrissa Willcox) and a Jamaican international coming into the fold. But as Auckland-based fans know only too well, paper can fold easily and just how the team comes together on court will be crucial to the Mystics' campaign.

Aitken will no doubt be keeping a close eye on the northerners' efforts, in particular Jamaican defender Althea Byfield. Netball New Zealand must have thought long and hard about granting the Mystics their Caribbean import after the Sunshine Girls' beat both the Ferns and Australia late last year.

Aitken has already acknowledged the experience the championship has given Romelda Aiken (Jamaica) and the English defensive duo Sonia Mkoloma and Geva Mentor.

It may well be why the only shooting imports competing for Kiwi teams are players not expected to be picked for their national team (Megan Dehn with the Southern Steel and Jane Altschwager with the Central Pulse).

Across the ditch, Australia's national body has no problems in seeing imports claim two of the shooting spots (Aiken for the Queensland Firebirds and Jamaican Carla Borrego with the Adelaide Thunderbirds) safe in the knowledge they already have depth in the shooting circle at test level.

Player depth has never been questioned on the other side of the Tasman.

This ensures that the likes of the defending champion Vixens are favourites to claim back-to-back titles while the Thunderbirds and Firebirds are serious challengers.

Even the Swifts, who finished ninth last year, will be a threat again with Mkoloma's inclusion a lift on defence for the Sydney-based team.

- © Fairfax NZ News