Netball: Magic finals dream hangs by thread

Irene van Dyk and the Magic are still reeling from a 19-point hiding dished out by Thunderbirds last weekend. Photo / Sarah Ivey

After a nightmare finish to the regular season for New Zealand's dream team, things are cut and dried for the ANZ Championship finals.

The Waikato/Bay of Plenty Magic produced their worst performance in the two seasons of the transtasman league last weekend when they were thoroughly dismantled by the clinical Adelaide Thunderbirds outfit.

In the space of 60 minutes the Magic's entire outlook for the finals changed.

The Waikato side head across the Tasman today to take on the Melbourne Vixens in this weekend's major semifinal, facing questions as to whether they can compete with the minor premiers after that 19-goal thumping.

The result may have sent New Zealand netball fans into a bit of spin, but in terms of adding intrigue to the finals series the latest twist could have been just what the competition needed.

One big complaint with the transtasman league and the lopsided nature of the draw, was that it seemed inevitable the Silver Fern-laden Magic would be in the grand final. The only unknown was which of the highly competitive Australian teams would battle through to reach the decider.

The Thunderbirds' clinical demolition of the Magic served as a timely reminder that in this league, nothing is a given. The race for the title is wide open. But from the Magic's perspective, such a woeful performance couldn't have come at a worse time.

The Magic's confidence took a hell of a battering last weekend, and while the team claim to have moved on, there is no doubt there'll be a lot of second-guessing going on in the camp as they head into the finals. And the second-guessing doesn't end there.

The big question on everyone's lips is just how can a team full of such obvious talent crash so heavily at a time in the season when they should be at their peak?

But of greater concern to the fans is, can the Magic bounce back?

Ask Magic coach Noeline Taurua and the short answer is "yes".

However even she admits there are a number of ifs and buts involved.

She said her side can play their way in to the grand final this weekend, BUT:

- They must take a unified team approach

- They need to play with more hunger and passion

- And they need to demonstrate flawless execution under intense physical pressure.

"As a team and as individuals nobody came out of that game being able to hold their heads up high. But it's what we do about it next that matters," said Taurua.

From her point of view, her side's biggest shortcoming against the Thunderbirds was that as the pressure mounted, the team became more and more individual in their efforts.

"We didn't handle the physicality and became very isolated from each other. And instead of helping each other out we went within ourselves and played as individuals."

She said the only way to compete with the Vixens this weekend is to produce a complete team game.

The talented Melbourne side have set the pace for much of the competition and are in great form.

With a line-up that includes the top Australian defensive pairing of Bianca Chatfield and Julie Corletto, star shooter and Aussie captain Sharelle McMahon, and a slick midcourt led by former international Natasha Chokjlat, Taurua said her side can't afford to focus on individual battles.

"There are no chinks in [the Vixens] armour at all," Said Taurua. "So we can't go out there looking to exploit any weaknesses because there just aren't any. The only way to put them under pressure is by playing well as a team." And the key to a strong team performance? "Passion," Taurua said simply.

"We need to show a bit more toughness and composure out there. We're just lucky we're in the top four and we've got the opportunity to show what we're made of."