Approval for new rule, lopsided draw still rankles

OPINION: What's good about netball's toughest league – the ANZ Championship – and what's not.

The good: The officials have been listening and coaches will this year be allowed to do what they do best – coach. A new rule means coaching is permitted during any stoppage in a game, including for injury or illness, blood or emergency.

It might mean little for the players, who often can't see the official scoreboard and clock, but the countdown clock showing the last minute of each quarter will be of benefit for the spectators.

The best in the game are on show – and it's not just from Australia and New Zealand. Concerns that England's top defenders would not be allowed back for the trans-Tasman league in a Commonwealth Games year amounted to nothing, with both Sonia Mkoloma and Geva Mentor to play. Jamaica's wins over Australia and the Silver Ferns late last year highlighted the benefits of having some of their top players in the league, with another, Carla Borrego, set to experience the championship for the first time this season. Former Australian defender Peta Scholz is also returning to top netball and will be watched with considerable interest.

A better spread of New Zealand's Silver Ferns will please many – including national coach Ruth Aitken – and could see more Kiwi teams as genuine contenders for a top-four slot.

The bad: New Zealand's dismal record across the ditch is a sore point on this side of the Tasman. Only the Waikato-BOP Magic has won on Australian soil and the credibility of Kiwi teams is at stake if they fail to add to the poor tally this season.

Championship organisers have done little to appease coaches and fans alike who want to see changes made to the lopsided draw – the one-and-a-half draw remains in place, with New Zealand teams playing each other twice and Australian teams once while Australian sides meet each other twice and New Zealand teams just once in round-robin play.

The different rules applied to the use of imports on either side of the Tasman – Australian teams seem to have little trouble being granted the use of more than one import (Queensland Firebirds the past two seasons and the Adelaide Thunderbirds this year) whereas the letter of the law is followed here, raising the question just how level is the playing field?

The stats: 2009 winners: Melbourne Vixens.

Best coaching record: Julie Hoornweg (Vixens) 93 per cent (played 15, won 14, lost 1).

Leading goal assists: Temepara George (Mystics) 185 (13 games).

Most centre passes received: Tamsin Greenway (Firebirds) 341 (13 games).

Most rebounds: Casey Williams (Magic) 60 (15 games).

Most offensive rebounds: Romelda Aiken (Firebirds) 59 (13 games).

Most intercepts: Casey Williams (Magic) 60 (15 games).

Most accurate shooter: Irene van Dyk (Magic) 94 per cent (463/495, 15 games).

- © Fairfax NZ News