Netball: Magic ready to fight back

Stung by a sub-par performance in last year's trans-Tasman netball league, Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic coach Noeline Taurua has gone back to the drawing board.

Beaten finalists in the league's inaugural year in 2008, the Magic still managed a creditable third last year. But Taurua knew that result, from a team boasting six Silver Ferns, was not good enough.

"We looked at ourselves quite a bit, at our team strategies, and noted there needed to be changes -- we'd become too predictable," Taurua told NZPA.

"We've changed so much, from the planning through the stages, the chemistry of the team, strategies, incorporating new personnnel both on and off the court. It's added excitement and freshness to our whole campaign."

The trans-Tasman league begins again this Saturday, when the Northern Mystics do battle with the Adelaide Thunderbirds in Auckland on Saturday. The Magic have the last game -- and possibly the most challenging -- of the first round when they meet defending champions the Melbourne Vixens across the Tasman on Monday.

Some of Taurua's changes have been forced on her -- the Magic have lost three key players from last year in defender Leana de Bruin, now with the Southern Steel, utility defender Joline Henry and shooter Maria Tutaia, both with the Mystics this season.

On the plus side, Taurua has picked up a class act in Silver Ferns shooter Jodi Brown from the Tactix as well as a scoring a coup with the signing of gritty Australian defender Peta Scholz, who impressed hugely in the World 7's three tests against New Zealand last year.

Taurua has been pleased with the way her newcomers have melded with the Magic's core of established players in Laura Langman, Irene van Dyk, Casey Williams, Frances Solia and Jodi Tod.

"The chemistry is totally different from previously, it's great. We've got players who are very mature, quite experienced and mentally tough, and we've got good options off the bench," Taurua said.

"We've developed new strategies in defence and attack, and now it's time to see how effective they actually are against the best in this competition."

Taurua admits the Magic's chances against a classy Vixens team have been largely written off -- hardly surprising, given the Australians have kept the majority of players which performed so well in winning last year's championship

Led by Australian captain Sharelle McMahon, the Vixens have plenty of strength in all areas of the court: Bianca Chatfield, Natash Chokljat and Julie Corletto tie up the defensive end, while midcourters Renae Hallinan and Chelsea Nash provide a slick link with McMahon and Caitlin Thwaites in the shooting circle.

Taurua is happy for the Magic to be flying under the radar.

"We're going to play the 2009 winners, in Melbourne where no New Zealand team has won before -- the TAB odds have Melbourne whitewashing us," she said. "The expectations from others on us are very low, and that's a great opportunity for us to get out and play."

In another departure from previous years, the Magic have stayed away from pre-season tournaments, preferring instead to concentrate on building their own game in their own time.

"We didn't have any pre-season competition, we've been playing against ourselves and the men's team," Taurua said.

"We looked at how effective the preseasons were, knowing that as a coach you don't put all your main line-up out there. You don't show a lot, because you don't want to show too much to the opposition.

"We've been able to put our own stuff out there without any prying eyes."

However, it was now time for the Magic to test their new-look combinations in the "real world", Taurua said.

"We've had to gauge ourselves and internalise more than we've ever done. But now it's time to see what we have."