KEY POINTS:
Former Australian coach Jill McIntosh is rubbishing talk the Aussie franchises will dominate the transtasman league.
Many punters are predicting the New Zealand teams will struggle against the attacking speed and tight marking that is a feature of Australian play.
McIntosh, who is on this side of the Tasman working in an advisory role for the Wellington-based Central Pulse side, believes the different styles of play will make for fascinating match-ups.
But the two-time World Championship winning coach said the New Zealand teams will fare just fine against their Australian rivals. "The two styles are very different of course. But I think [the New Zealand franchises] will do okay because within all the teams - with the exception of the Pulse - they have players who have played against Australia either at national open level for the Ferns or at Under-21 level."
McIntosh points out there are many strengths to the New Zealand style of play - particularly the zonal defence which can frustrate the Aussies.
She said last month's pre-season tournament in Sydney - although the fledgling teams were careful not to play their full tactical or selectoral hands - was an "invaluable exercise for all teams" as it gave players a taste of the different styles of play.
McIntosh's old adversary, former Silver Ferns coach Yvonne Willering, who is now at the helm of the Northern Mystics, points out that even if the Australian teams were stronger than their Kiwi counterparts, statistically, it would be very difficult for them to dominate the competition.
The New Zealand franchises will only play the Australian teams once in the one-and-a-half round draw, meaning it is highly unlikely there can be any more than two Aussie teams in the semifinals.
"The thing is we're playing two rounds in our own country first and you only get the opportunity to play the Australian teams once, so you're not going to get a true account of the strength of the teams really," Willering said.
The veteran coach is also picking the New Zealand teams to hold their own against the Aussie attack. "We know the Australian style of play, we know they're fast, we know their shooters are more mobile - the element of surprise isn't going to be there. It's just how you deal with it."
Willering said the real strength of the Australian teams is their grit and determination.
"The thing with them is that they never give up. If they get a bad umpiring call they just adjust and get on with it," she said. "That's probably something that comes naturally to them and we have to teach it to our players."
Though McIntosh insists that the Australian teams won't run away with the competition, she believes the Melbourne Vixens will be one of the frontrunners, while the Adelaide Thunderbirds and NSW Swifts will also be up there.
But the successful Australian coach said the Waikato/Bay of Plenty Magic and the Northern Mystics definitely have the firepower to topple them.
