Northern Mystics
Encyclopedia
The Northern Mystics are a New Zealand
netball
team based in Auckland
that currently compete in the trans-Tasman ANZ Championship
. The franchise was formed in 2007 as an amalgamation of two teams from the National Bank Cup
– the Northern Force
and the Auckland Diamonds
– after the competition was retired that year. In 2008, the Mystics joined four other New Zealand franchises in the new ANZ Championship, representing the New Zealand regions of Northland and Auckland
.
Home games in the ANZ Championship are usually played at Trusts Stadium
in Waitakere, although some matches are played at the North Shore Events Centre
and Vector Arena
. The team uniform is primarily blue – consistent with traditional Auckland sporting colours – in addition to red and white. Former Silver Fern Debbie Fuller
currently coaches the Mystics, stepping up from the role of assistant coach in 2011. The team are captained by veteran Silver Ferns midcourter Temepara George
, who has led them in every match since the start of their inaugural season.
In four seasons of the ANZ Championship, the Mystics have continually made widespread changes to their playing roster and coaching staff. Their first three years have seen the Auckland-based side finished no higher than sixth, although an international-laden lineup saw improved performances in 2010. The Mystics had their most successful season in 2011, qualifying for their first finals and earning a spot in the grand final, before finishing runners up to the Queensland Firebirds
.
in New Zealand and the Commonwealth Bank Trophy
in Australia, which both played their final season in 2007. When the new trans-Tasman competition was announced, the competition was reported to feature five teams from each country. For the new competition, five New Zealand franchises were formed from amalgamations of National Bank Cup teams. A franchise based in Auckland was proposed early in the selection process. The five New Zealand franchises were finalised and approved in May 2007, including one representing the northern regions of Northland and Auckland, formed as an amalgamation of the Northern Force
and Auckland Diamonds
from the National Bank Cup.
The new northern franchise started interviewing coaches in August 2007 for the inaugural season in 2008. As of September 2007, Yvonne Willering, who had previously coached the Northern Force, had been confirmed as the coach for the new northern franchise. The name of the franchise had been confirmed by December that year as the "Northern Mystics"; the team signed LG Electronics
as its naming sponsor, officially becoming the LG Northern Mystics.
. The dispute over import players was a particular problem for the Mystics, since both the Northern Force and Auckland Diamonds had considerable numbers of Pacific Islander players. The negotiations were settled on 22 December, allowing New Zealand franchises to start formally signing players.
Most of the Northern Mystics team for the 2008 season had been confirmed by the start of February, with the exception of Vilimaina Davu, who as a Silver Ferns
-ineligible player had to be approved by Netball New Zealand. After being initially denied entry into the team, Davu was cleared in mid-March to play for the Mystics, roughly two weeks before the start of the competition. The finalised 2008 team included Silver Ferns players Leana de Bruin, Paula Griffin and Sheryl Scanlan, as well as high-profile former Silver Ferns Davu and Temepara George.
The Mystics started the inaugural season with a 44–48 loss at home to the Canterbury Tactix. They played 13 games throughout the season, finishing seventh overall with a 5–8 win-loss record. After a disappointing first season, the club axed Willering as head coach and appointed as her replacement former assistant coach Te Aroha Keenan for the next season.
, a shooter in the England national team
, is the other import player for the Mystics. With a longer preseason for the 2009 competition, the Mystics enlisted New Zealand rugby sevens
coach Gordon Tietjens
to help with fitness training, which was credited with helping the Mystics to go through a pre-season tournament in Queenstown undefeated. Nevertheless, the 2009 season proved disappointing for the Mystics who finished in 8th place, one spot lower than in the previous season.
For the 2010 season, the Mystics squad had the most changes of any ANZ Championship team, with only four players from last years squad Temepara George, Grace Rasmussen, Finau Pulu and Cathrine Latu. The Mystics gained Silver Ferns stalwarts Maria Tutaia
and Joline Henry
from the Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic, as well as Althea Byfield
(Jamaican international) from the Central Pulse and Jenny-May Coffin from retirement. The 2010 season was the Mystics' best finish in their short history, finishing at sixth place. While this was an improvement on previous seasons, it was below what many commentators had predicted for the international-laden lineup. Some notable wins include their first ever victory over an Australian team, the Adelaide Thunderbirds, and another nail-biting win against the Central Pulse, where the match tied after regulation time and was won by one goal after extra time (the same score as in last year). The Mystics were no longer have the worst record against the Australian teams after winning against the Thunderbirds in round 1 and the Fever in round 12. This means the Pulse are officially the New Zealand team with the worst record against the Australian teams.
from volleyball, and in a major coup signed Megan Dehn
after her attempts at gaining New Zealand residency for the Southern Steel
were unsuccessful.
In rounds five and six, coach Debbie Fuller was due to have a baby. As a result, assistant coach Jenny May Coffin became head coach for the Mystics during that time. After the round-robin matches the Mystics finished in 4th place, qualifying for their first finals series. The Auckland team headed to Sydney to face the New South Wales Swifts in the minor semi-final, defeating the hosts in an upset victory. A second victory against the Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic earned the Mystics a place in the 2011 grand final against the Queensland Firebirds in Brisbane. The undefeated Firebirds claimed victory on home soil and their first ANZ Championship, defeating the Mystics by 57–44.
The Mystics play their home games at three venues in Auckland. Most home games are played at the Trusts Stadium
in Waitakere
, which has a maximum capacity of 4,901. It was also the host venue of the 2007 Netball World Championships
. Other matches are also held at the North Shore Events Centre
– which has a maximum capacity of less than 5,000 – and at Vector Arena
, the largest indoor sports arena in New Zealand, with a capacity of over 12,000.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
netball
Netball
Netball is a ball sport played between two teams of seven players. Its development, derived from early versions of basketball, began in England in the 1890s. By 1960 international playing rules had been standardised for the game, and the International Federation of Netball and Women's Basketball ...
team based in Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
that currently compete in the trans-Tasman ANZ Championship
ANZ Championship
The ANZ Championship is the pre-eminent netball league in the world. The competition is held annually between April and July, comprising 69 matches played over 17 weeks. It is contested by ten teams, five from Australia and five from New Zealand...
. The franchise was formed in 2007 as an amalgamation of two teams from the National Bank Cup
National Bank Cup
The National Bank Cup was the pre-eminent national netball competition in New Zealand between 1998 and 2007. From 2008, it was replaced by the ANZ Championship.-Format:...
– the Northern Force
Northern Force
The Northern Force were the northern-most team in Netball New Zealand's former premier competition - the National Bank Cup. For the 2008 ANZ Championship the Force merged with the Auckland Diamonds to create the Northern Mystics....
and the Auckland Diamonds
Auckland Diamonds
The Auckland Diamonds were a regional netball team which represented Auckland-Waitakere and Counties Manukau Netball in New Zealand's National Bank Cup...
– after the competition was retired that year. In 2008, the Mystics joined four other New Zealand franchises in the new ANZ Championship, representing the New Zealand regions of Northland and Auckland
Auckland Region
The Auckland Region was one of the sixteen regions of New Zealand, named for the city of Auckland, the country's largest urban area. With one third of the nation's residents, it was by far the biggest population and economy of any region of New Zealand, but the second-smallest land area.On 1...
.
Home games in the ANZ Championship are usually played at Trusts Stadium
Trusts Stadium
Trusts Stadium is an indoor arena located in Waitakere City, Auckland, New Zealand. It is a multi-purpose stadium that primarily holds sports events and music concerts...
in Waitakere, although some matches are played at the North Shore Events Centre
North Shore Events Centre
North Shore Events Centre is an indoor arena, located in Auckland, New Zealand. The arena opened in 1992 and has a capacity of 4,500 people.The Centre primarily hosts basketball games and is the home arena of the New Zealand Breakers who play in the Australasian NBL. It also hosts concerts and...
and Vector Arena
Vector Arena
Vector Arena is a 12,000-seat arena for sports and entertainment events in Auckland, New Zealand. Named for a sponsor, Vector Limited, the arena is located at Quay Park, Parnell, very close to the former Auckland Railway Station...
. The team uniform is primarily blue – consistent with traditional Auckland sporting colours – in addition to red and white. Former Silver Fern Debbie Fuller
Debbie Fuller (netball)
Debbie Fuller is a New Zealand netball coach and former international netball player. Fuller was a defender in the New Zealand national netball team, the Silver Ferns, from 1993–96, during which time she competed at the 1995 Netball World Championships in Birmingham. Fuller retired from the Silver...
currently coaches the Mystics, stepping up from the role of assistant coach in 2011. The team are captained by veteran Silver Ferns midcourter Temepara George
Temepara George
Temepara Anne George , formerly Temepara Clark, is a New Zealand international netball player. She was a member of the Silver Ferns national squad in 1996, and from 2000–2011. George retired from international duties after the 2011 World Netball Championships in Singapore...
, who has led them in every match since the start of their inaugural season.
In four seasons of the ANZ Championship, the Mystics have continually made widespread changes to their playing roster and coaching staff. Their first three years have seen the Auckland-based side finished no higher than sixth, although an international-laden lineup saw improved performances in 2010. The Mystics had their most successful season in 2011, qualifying for their first finals and earning a spot in the grand final, before finishing runners up to the Queensland Firebirds
Queensland Firebirds
The Queensland Firebirds are an Australian netball team based in Brisbane that currently compete in the trans-Tasman ANZ Championship. The Firebirds were formed as one of the foundation teams of the Commonwealth Bank Trophy , previously the premier netball league in Australia, which was contested...
.
Background
The ANZ Championship was founded in 2007 as the new elite domestic netball competition in New Zealand and Australia. It replaced the National Bank CupNational Bank Cup
The National Bank Cup was the pre-eminent national netball competition in New Zealand between 1998 and 2007. From 2008, it was replaced by the ANZ Championship.-Format:...
in New Zealand and the Commonwealth Bank Trophy
Commonwealth Bank Trophy
The Commonwealth Bank Trophy was the pre-eminent national netball competition in Australia from 1997 to 2007.It was established in 1997 as a true national league to replace the ailing, state club-based Mobil League. Designed from the beginning to be more marketable to the general public, it saw...
in Australia, which both played their final season in 2007. When the new trans-Tasman competition was announced, the competition was reported to feature five teams from each country. For the new competition, five New Zealand franchises were formed from amalgamations of National Bank Cup teams. A franchise based in Auckland was proposed early in the selection process. The five New Zealand franchises were finalised and approved in May 2007, including one representing the northern regions of Northland and Auckland, formed as an amalgamation of the Northern Force
Northern Force
The Northern Force were the northern-most team in Netball New Zealand's former premier competition - the National Bank Cup. For the 2008 ANZ Championship the Force merged with the Auckland Diamonds to create the Northern Mystics....
and Auckland Diamonds
Auckland Diamonds
The Auckland Diamonds were a regional netball team which represented Auckland-Waitakere and Counties Manukau Netball in New Zealand's National Bank Cup...
from the National Bank Cup.
The new northern franchise started interviewing coaches in August 2007 for the inaugural season in 2008. As of September 2007, Yvonne Willering, who had previously coached the Northern Force, had been confirmed as the coach for the new northern franchise. The name of the franchise had been confirmed by December that year as the "Northern Mystics"; the team signed LG Electronics
LG Electronics
LG Electronics is a global electronics and telecommunications company headquartered in Yeouido, Seoul, South Korea. The company operates its business through five divisions: mobile communications, home entertainment, home appliance, air conditioning and business solution...
as its naming sponsor, officially becoming the LG Northern Mystics.
2008: Inaugural season
Player selection for New Zealand franchises was delayed due to ongoing negotiations between the New Zealand Players Association and Netball New ZealandNetball New Zealand
Netball New Zealand is the national body which oversees, promotes and manages netball in New Zealand, including the Silver Ferns.Other competitions overseen include:*ANZ Championship – Premier Domestic Competition...
. The dispute over import players was a particular problem for the Mystics, since both the Northern Force and Auckland Diamonds had considerable numbers of Pacific Islander players. The negotiations were settled on 22 December, allowing New Zealand franchises to start formally signing players.
Most of the Northern Mystics team for the 2008 season had been confirmed by the start of February, with the exception of Vilimaina Davu, who as a Silver Ferns
Silver Ferns
The New Zealand national netball team, commonly known as the Silver Ferns, represent New Zealand in international netball. The team take their nickname from the Silver Tree Fern , which is an iconic emblem for many New Zealand sports teams. The Silver Ferns were formed in 1938 as a representative...
-ineligible player had to be approved by Netball New Zealand. After being initially denied entry into the team, Davu was cleared in mid-March to play for the Mystics, roughly two weeks before the start of the competition. The finalised 2008 team included Silver Ferns players Leana de Bruin, Paula Griffin and Sheryl Scanlan, as well as high-profile former Silver Ferns Davu and Temepara George.
The Mystics started the inaugural season with a 44–48 loss at home to the Canterbury Tactix. They played 13 games throughout the season, finishing seventh overall with a 5–8 win-loss record. After a disappointing first season, the club axed Willering as head coach and appointed as her replacement former assistant coach Te Aroha Keenan for the next season.
2009–10: Continuing struggles
The Mystics squad for the second season was published by Netball New Zealand on 5 November 2008. However, the Mystics squad list was contingent on Cathrine Latu receiving international clearance, and former Silver Fern and Fijian coach Vilimaina Davu being approved for New Zealand citizenship; Pamela CookeyPamela Cookey
Pamela Cookey is an English netball player, usually posted to goal attack . Cookey was a surprise inclusion in the England national netball team as a seventeen-year-old, for the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester, but was unable to participate due to a knee injury...
, a shooter in the England national team
England national netball team
The England national netball team represent England in international netball competition. The team are presently co-captained by Karen Atkinson and Sonia Mkoloma, and were coached by Australian Sue Hawkins through to the end of the 2011 World Netball Championships in Singapore...
, is the other import player for the Mystics. With a longer preseason for the 2009 competition, the Mystics enlisted New Zealand rugby sevens
New Zealand national rugby union team (sevens)
The New Zealand national rugby union sevens team is the New Zealand representative team in rugby union sevens and competes in the IRB Sevens World Series, Rugby World Cup Sevens and the Commonwealth Games.-IRB Sevens:...
coach Gordon Tietjens
Gordon Tietjens
Gordon Tietjens, CNZM is the current coach of the New Zealand Sevens team. He is regarded as one of the most successful sevens coaches in the world....
to help with fitness training, which was credited with helping the Mystics to go through a pre-season tournament in Queenstown undefeated. Nevertheless, the 2009 season proved disappointing for the Mystics who finished in 8th place, one spot lower than in the previous season.
For the 2010 season, the Mystics squad had the most changes of any ANZ Championship team, with only four players from last years squad Temepara George, Grace Rasmussen, Finau Pulu and Cathrine Latu. The Mystics gained Silver Ferns stalwarts Maria Tutaia
Maria Tutaia
Solonaima Maria Tuta'ia is a New Zealand international netball player. She can play at goal attack and goal shooter, and stands at 1.88 m....
and Joline Henry
Joline Henry
Joline Henry is a New Zealand netball player. Henry is a current member of the New Zealand national netball team, the Silver Ferns, and plays with the Northern Mystics in the ANZ Championship....
from the Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic, as well as Althea Byfield
Althea Byfield
Althea Latoya Byfield is a Jamaican international basketball and netball player. Byfield has represented Jamaica in both sports, and is a current member of the Jamaican netball team.-Early life:...
(Jamaican international) from the Central Pulse and Jenny-May Coffin from retirement. The 2010 season was the Mystics' best finish in their short history, finishing at sixth place. While this was an improvement on previous seasons, it was below what many commentators had predicted for the international-laden lineup. Some notable wins include their first ever victory over an Australian team, the Adelaide Thunderbirds, and another nail-biting win against the Central Pulse, where the match tied after regulation time and was won by one goal after extra time (the same score as in last year). The Mystics were no longer have the worst record against the Australian teams after winning against the Thunderbirds in round 1 and the Fever in round 12. This means the Pulse are officially the New Zealand team with the worst record against the Australian teams.
2011 season
The coaching staff of the Mystics was changed with head coach Te Aroha Keenan stepping down and last year's assistant coach Debbie Fuller taking over. In addition, Jenny-May Coffin stepped up from her playing role to take the position of assistant coach for the Mystics. The Mystics have also successfully gained Silver Fern defender Anna ScarlettAnna Scarlett
Anna Maree Scarlett is a New Zealand netball and beach volleyball player. She stands at 1.87 m, and in netball plays as goal-keep, goal-defence and wing-defence....
from volleyball, and in a major coup signed Megan Dehn
Megan Dehn
Megan Dehn is an Australian international netballer from Woy Woy, New South Wales. A former Australian representative player, she currently plays in the ANZ Championship for New Zealand–based team the Northern Mystics....
after her attempts at gaining New Zealand residency for the Southern Steel
Southern Steel
The Southern Steel are a New Zealand netball team based in Invercargill that compete in the trans-Tasman ANZ Championship. The franchise was formed as an amalgamation of two teams from the National Bank Cup, the Dunedin-based Otago Rebels and the Invercargill-based Southern Sting...
were unsuccessful.
In rounds five and six, coach Debbie Fuller was due to have a baby. As a result, assistant coach Jenny May Coffin became head coach for the Mystics during that time. After the round-robin matches the Mystics finished in 4th place, qualifying for their first finals series. The Auckland team headed to Sydney to face the New South Wales Swifts in the minor semi-final, defeating the hosts in an upset victory. A second victory against the Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic earned the Mystics a place in the 2011 grand final against the Queensland Firebirds in Brisbane. The undefeated Firebirds claimed victory on home soil and their first ANZ Championship, defeating the Mystics by 57–44.
Notable former players
- Althea ByfieldAlthea ByfieldAlthea Latoya Byfield is a Jamaican international basketball and netball player. Byfield has represented Jamaica in both sports, and is a current member of the Jamaican netball team.-Early life:...
: 2010 - Jenny-May CoffinJenny-May CoffinJenny-May Coffin is a New Zealand netball player and sports commentator. Coffin previously played for the Silver Ferns, New Zealand's national netball team, for which she was the vice-captain in 2001...
: 2010 - Leana de BruinLeana de BruinLeana de Bruin is a South African and New Zealand international netball player. De Bruin played 34 tests for South Africa before moving to New Zealand in 2000...
: 2008 - Pamela CookeyPamela CookeyPamela Cookey is an English netball player, usually posted to goal attack . Cookey was a surprise inclusion in the England national netball team as a seventeen-year-old, for the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester, but was unable to participate due to a knee injury...
: 2009 - Vilimaina DavuVilimaina DavuVilimaina Davu is a Fijian and New Zealand netball player, who has represented both countries in international netball as a goal keeper. She has also played basketball at an international level.-Netball career:...
: 2008–09 - Paula GriffinPaula GriffinPaula Griffin is a New Zealand netball player. She is currently a member of the New Zealand national netball team, the Silver Ferns, and plays in the ANZ Championship, signing with the Central Pulse for 2012....
: 2008 - Sheryl ScanlanSheryl ScanlanSheryl Scanlan is a New Zealand and Samoan international netball player. She played for the Northern Force in the National Bank Cup from 1998 until the conclusion in 2007, when the new ANZ Championship competition was announced, signing with the Northern Mystics for 2008. In 2009 though she has...
: 2008 - Debbie WhiteDebbie WhiteDebbie White is a New Zealand netball player. White played domestic netball for the Otago Rebels in the National Bank Cup from 1999 to 2007, becoming the franchise's most capped player. In 2005, she gained selection for the New Zealand national squad, the Silver Ferns, and debuted for the team in...
: 2009
Venues
Trusts Stadium
Trusts Stadium is an indoor arena located in Waitakere City, Auckland, New Zealand. It is a multi-purpose stadium that primarily holds sports events and music concerts...
in Waitakere
Waitakere
Waitakere City was the name of a city which existed from 1989 until 2010 in the Auckland region. It was New Zealand's fifth largest city, with an annual growth of about 2%...
, which has a maximum capacity of 4,901. It was also the host venue of the 2007 Netball World Championships
2007 Netball World Championships
The 2007 World Netball Championships was the 12th staging of the World Netball Championships, a quadrennial international netball world championship co-ordinated by the International Federation of Netball Associations , inaugurated in 1963....
. Other matches are also held at the North Shore Events Centre
North Shore Events Centre
North Shore Events Centre is an indoor arena, located in Auckland, New Zealand. The arena opened in 1992 and has a capacity of 4,500 people.The Centre primarily hosts basketball games and is the home arena of the New Zealand Breakers who play in the Australasian NBL. It also hosts concerts and...
– which has a maximum capacity of less than 5,000 – and at Vector Arena
Vector Arena
Vector Arena is a 12,000-seat arena for sports and entertainment events in Auckland, New Zealand. Named for a sponsor, Vector Limited, the arena is located at Quay Park, Parnell, very close to the former Auckland Railway Station...
, the largest indoor sports arena in New Zealand, with a capacity of over 12,000.
Competitive record
- 2008: 7th of 10
- 2009: 8th of 10
- 2010: 6th of 10
- 2011: 2nd of 10