1 00:00:06,667 --> 00:00:10,387 Speaker 1: You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Fine 2 00:00:10,707 --> 00:00:11,787 Speaker 1: from Newstalk ZEDB. 3 00:00:12,947 --> 00:00:14,347 Speaker 2: Let's get back to the netball the A and Z 4 00:00:14,427 --> 00:00:17,587 Speaker 2: Premiership Grand Final four o'clock today, putting the Central Polse 5 00:00:17,627 --> 00:00:20,307 Speaker 2: who finished top of the table against the Northern Mystics, 6 00:00:20,547 --> 00:00:24,027 Speaker 2: who came through the elimination final against the Tactics last 7 00:00:24,027 --> 00:00:27,747 Speaker 2: week to take their place in the final. Mystics wing 8 00:00:27,827 --> 00:00:31,267 Speaker 2: defense Mikayla sokolch beats and is with us now. Mikayla, 9 00:00:31,307 --> 00:00:34,427 Speaker 2: you're defending champions. Of course you won it last year. 10 00:00:34,507 --> 00:00:36,667 Speaker 2: How motivated are you to go back to back? 11 00:00:37,507 --> 00:00:40,387 Speaker 3: Yeah, we're super motivated to go back to back. Just 12 00:00:40,387 --> 00:00:42,867 Speaker 3: to win the final would be unreal, whether it was 13 00:00:42,907 --> 00:00:45,827 Speaker 3: back to back or not winning as such an awesome achievement, 14 00:00:45,907 --> 00:00:47,947 Speaker 3: but to do it twice in er I was definitely something. 15 00:00:48,067 --> 00:00:50,147 Speaker 2: Caw So, how much confidence do you take into this 16 00:00:50,307 --> 00:00:53,867 Speaker 2: final from your win over the Tactics away from home 17 00:00:53,907 --> 00:00:55,667 Speaker 2: in the elimination final last weekend. 18 00:00:56,027 --> 00:00:58,067 Speaker 3: Yeah, we took heaps of confidence from that, but we've 19 00:00:58,107 --> 00:01:01,907 Speaker 3: actually taken confidence over kind of the last six seven 20 00:01:01,947 --> 00:01:05,107 Speaker 3: weeks because we've kind of been grinding and building in 21 00:01:05,147 --> 00:01:07,947 Speaker 3: every game for us has been must have so yeah, 22 00:01:08,107 --> 00:01:11,827 Speaker 3: been awesome, I guess lead into the finals for us. 23 00:01:11,787 --> 00:01:13,227 Speaker 2: Yeah, or just on that, I mean, you did take 24 00:01:13,267 --> 00:01:15,547 Speaker 2: the hard road, having to go through the elimination final, 25 00:01:15,587 --> 00:01:18,387 Speaker 2: as I say, away from home, playing that extra game. 26 00:01:18,467 --> 00:01:22,907 Speaker 2: Does that bring fatigue into the equation or conversely, do 27 00:01:22,947 --> 00:01:24,707 Speaker 2: you feel like it might give you the advantage of 28 00:01:24,827 --> 00:01:25,707 Speaker 2: a bit of momentum? 29 00:01:26,187 --> 00:01:30,067 Speaker 3: Yeah, I guess for me, I've now been in both scenarios. 30 00:01:30,067 --> 00:01:32,587 Speaker 3: We were bombed straight through and played the Grand Final 31 00:01:33,067 --> 00:01:35,587 Speaker 3: and where we've done this, and honestly, there's not much 32 00:01:35,627 --> 00:01:38,147 Speaker 3: different than the two because when we went straight into 33 00:01:38,227 --> 00:01:41,667 Speaker 3: the final, we actually had we simulated a game day 34 00:01:41,747 --> 00:01:43,467 Speaker 3: in a ways, just so we could keep the legs 35 00:01:43,467 --> 00:01:47,027 Speaker 3: sticking over. I think as well, playing a game means 36 00:01:47,027 --> 00:01:49,627 Speaker 3: you're in that you don't lose focus, you stay very 37 00:01:49,707 --> 00:01:53,587 Speaker 3: much in routine. I think both have pros and cons. 38 00:01:53,387 --> 00:01:56,627 Speaker 2: But no fatigue. There's no question of fatigue in the 39 00:01:56,667 --> 00:01:57,307 Speaker 2: Mystics camp. 40 00:01:58,267 --> 00:02:00,387 Speaker 3: Well. Yeah, the way that we ran it last year 41 00:02:00,467 --> 00:02:03,467 Speaker 3: is we didn't rest anymore than we would not if 42 00:02:03,507 --> 00:02:05,947 Speaker 3: we played the elimination final. Yeah, we've played the game, 43 00:02:06,547 --> 00:02:08,827 Speaker 3: so yeah, hard to say. I don't know what the 44 00:02:08,867 --> 00:02:11,587 Speaker 3: pulse has done with their prep, But yeah, I don't 45 00:02:11,587 --> 00:02:13,227 Speaker 3: think Fatia will be a fact done. 46 00:02:13,067 --> 00:02:14,947 Speaker 2: All right, good to hear. How much of a boost 47 00:02:14,987 --> 00:02:18,027 Speaker 2: Mikayla has it been getting Grace and Wiki back in 48 00:02:18,067 --> 00:02:18,867 Speaker 2: the last month or so. 49 00:02:19,747 --> 00:02:21,867 Speaker 3: It's just nice to have a full team, Like when 50 00:02:21,907 --> 00:02:24,587 Speaker 3: we look around that training now, it's like everyone's and 51 00:02:24,867 --> 00:02:27,147 Speaker 3: that's such a nice feeling when most of the season 52 00:02:27,147 --> 00:02:30,507 Speaker 3: that hasn't been the case. So to have everyone in 53 00:02:30,707 --> 00:02:34,467 Speaker 3: participating and really involved and engaged, there's also a nice 54 00:02:34,587 --> 00:02:35,787 Speaker 3: team morale and culture. 55 00:02:36,547 --> 00:02:39,267 Speaker 2: With Grace, it feels as though she's such a weapon, right, 56 00:02:39,387 --> 00:02:42,227 Speaker 2: such a weapon under that under that hope, do you 57 00:02:42,307 --> 00:02:45,067 Speaker 2: have to in any way avoid the temptation of just 58 00:02:45,147 --> 00:02:48,467 Speaker 2: solely relying on her to win your games of nipple? 59 00:02:49,507 --> 00:02:54,187 Speaker 3: Yeah, good question. And she's a huge, strong target at 60 00:02:54,227 --> 00:02:57,467 Speaker 3: the back. She in the Grand Final last year put 61 00:02:57,547 --> 00:03:00,387 Speaker 3: up seventy goals. We know that she's a sixty goal 62 00:03:00,467 --> 00:03:04,307 Speaker 3: a game shooter, like that's incredible. Step. I'm obviously we're 63 00:03:04,307 --> 00:03:06,467 Speaker 3: going to look into her and as it's working and 64 00:03:06,507 --> 00:03:06,827 Speaker 3: she's on. 65 00:03:06,787 --> 00:03:07,707 Speaker 2: We're going to let the all go. 66 00:03:08,907 --> 00:03:11,667 Speaker 3: So to be honest, we just play what's in front 67 00:03:11,707 --> 00:03:13,267 Speaker 3: of us. So she's on the court. We're going to 68 00:03:13,307 --> 00:03:14,907 Speaker 3: play like we know we need to play with her. 69 00:03:14,907 --> 00:03:16,587 Speaker 3: If she's not on the court, sweep needs pert them 70 00:03:16,627 --> 00:03:19,027 Speaker 3: or rolling or play with them what we see. So 71 00:03:19,427 --> 00:03:22,467 Speaker 3: nothing's not really changes, it's just the personnel changes. 72 00:03:23,067 --> 00:03:25,907 Speaker 2: So the pulse you beat them by ten goals not 73 00:03:25,947 --> 00:03:29,187 Speaker 2: long ago, just three weeks ago. Does that mentally psychologically 74 00:03:29,227 --> 00:03:31,147 Speaker 2: give you any sort of advantage. 75 00:03:31,547 --> 00:03:36,387 Speaker 3: Absolutely not. No. Final netwill is so different to just 76 00:03:36,507 --> 00:03:38,667 Speaker 3: normal round rolling games, and there is no way that 77 00:03:38,707 --> 00:03:41,467 Speaker 3: they're going to let us put that many points on there. 78 00:03:42,227 --> 00:03:44,627 Speaker 3: I just know that they're not going to that's going 79 00:03:44,707 --> 00:03:47,107 Speaker 3: to be such a fight to the end. And we're 80 00:03:47,147 --> 00:03:49,787 Speaker 3: definitely not going into this game lightly. We know that 81 00:03:49,787 --> 00:03:53,147 Speaker 3: they're an incredible team with a whole stacked bench that 82 00:03:53,187 --> 00:03:54,987 Speaker 3: they can roll onto the court at any time. 83 00:03:55,467 --> 00:03:57,907 Speaker 2: And when you're preparing for this match, or any match, 84 00:03:57,907 --> 00:04:00,187 Speaker 2: but in particular a massive match like this, how much 85 00:04:00,227 --> 00:04:03,507 Speaker 2: do you focus on your individual matchups? You look across 86 00:04:03,507 --> 00:04:08,067 Speaker 2: the court and prepare for who will be directly opposite 87 00:04:08,067 --> 00:04:09,227 Speaker 2: you in the pulse side. 88 00:04:09,907 --> 00:04:13,067 Speaker 3: I did, boss. I do my own individual analysis from 89 00:04:13,067 --> 00:04:15,667 Speaker 3: the people that I'll be defending because I need to 90 00:04:15,747 --> 00:04:17,907 Speaker 3: know where their strengths are and how I can try 91 00:04:17,907 --> 00:04:19,707 Speaker 3: and combat that. I need to know the lights that 92 00:04:19,787 --> 00:04:22,787 Speaker 3: they run. And then also with the team, we look 93 00:04:22,827 --> 00:04:25,107 Speaker 3: at betefactures, so how do they work as a unit 94 00:04:25,587 --> 00:04:28,387 Speaker 3: versus the individual? So for me, it's that a fifty 95 00:04:28,387 --> 00:04:29,147 Speaker 3: to fifty split. 96 00:04:29,507 --> 00:04:32,147 Speaker 2: And when you look at their shooting circle, their weapons 97 00:04:32,187 --> 00:04:34,907 Speaker 2: and media warm sleed to on a matuto as a 98 00:04:34,987 --> 00:04:38,147 Speaker 2: wing defense, is it a challenging task to prevent the 99 00:04:38,187 --> 00:04:40,547 Speaker 2: ball getting into the shooting circle to those. 100 00:04:40,347 --> 00:04:43,227 Speaker 3: Two definitely, And is one of the best feeders in 101 00:04:43,267 --> 00:04:46,907 Speaker 3: the country. She is very quick she looks, which is 102 00:04:47,027 --> 00:04:48,667 Speaker 3: also me. You want your feeder to be looking in 103 00:04:49,187 --> 00:04:52,307 Speaker 3: So yeah, trying to break down those connections will be huge. 104 00:04:52,587 --> 00:04:55,027 Speaker 3: And we also are realistic. We know we can't do 105 00:04:55,107 --> 00:04:56,667 Speaker 3: that for sixty minutes. We know that they're going to 106 00:04:56,707 --> 00:04:59,387 Speaker 3: get balls past us and through us and that's just 107 00:04:59,467 --> 00:05:02,227 Speaker 3: the game. However, if we can try and shut down 108 00:05:02,747 --> 00:05:05,187 Speaker 3: how quick that they are, that'll be key for us because, 109 00:05:05,587 --> 00:05:07,147 Speaker 3: like I said, very far. 110 00:05:07,707 --> 00:05:11,027 Speaker 2: And beyond this, Mikayla, the silver Ferns have a big 111 00:05:11,067 --> 00:05:13,707 Speaker 2: program coming up in October, the Tiny Jamison Trophy, the 112 00:05:13,707 --> 00:05:16,707 Speaker 2: Constellation Cup. Have you started thinking about the Silver ferns 113 00:05:16,707 --> 00:05:20,467 Speaker 2: and your your hopeful involvement and participation in those tests. 114 00:05:20,827 --> 00:05:24,787 Speaker 3: Not for me, I think because I'm not I'm not 115 00:05:24,867 --> 00:05:27,147 Speaker 3: like a core member of the Silver Fans if I 116 00:05:27,227 --> 00:05:30,187 Speaker 3: have been in consistently and I was someone that you 117 00:05:30,267 --> 00:05:33,987 Speaker 3: know been selected often, maybe because I'm kind of outer 118 00:05:34,067 --> 00:05:37,747 Speaker 3: on this springe for me, no like even to get 119 00:05:37,787 --> 00:05:39,947 Speaker 3: a trial well the team would be nice, but I'm 120 00:05:39,947 --> 00:05:41,627 Speaker 3: definitely not thinking about that yet. 121 00:05:41,707 --> 00:05:43,787 Speaker 2: All right, Well that all lies ahead. Your main point 122 00:05:43,787 --> 00:05:46,707 Speaker 2: of business right now is this afternoon's an Ze Premiership 123 00:05:46,707 --> 00:05:49,707 Speaker 2: Grand Final. All the best against the Pulse McKayla, and 124 00:05:49,747 --> 00:05:51,027 Speaker 2: thanks for taking the time for a chat. 125 00:05:51,347 --> 00:05:52,867 Speaker 3: Thank you very much, appreciate it. 126 00:05:52,907 --> 00:05:55,187 Speaker 2: Now, I appreciate you joining us, Mikayla. Thanks indeed, Mikaela 127 00:05:55,227 --> 00:05:57,787 Speaker 2: Socolege beats in there from the Mystics before that Tiana 128 00:05:57,827 --> 00:06:01,787 Speaker 2: Matido from the Pulse, Pulse playing paying one seventy the 129 00:06:01,787 --> 00:06:04,027 Speaker 2: Mystics two ten to win that game this afternoon. That 130 00:06:04,027 --> 00:06:06,107 Speaker 2: gives you an idea of the favoritism that feels about 131 00:06:06,147 --> 00:06:09,587 Speaker 2: right home advantage. Although the Grace Waki factor I think 132 00:06:09,667 --> 00:06:13,267 Speaker 2: is a massive factor. And look, if she can be 133 00:06:13,347 --> 00:06:15,667 Speaker 2: contained by the Pulse, then they've got to give themselves 134 00:06:15,707 --> 00:06:18,267 Speaker 2: the upper hand. If, on the other hand, the Mystics 135 00:06:18,307 --> 00:06:20,707 Speaker 2: can use her to the best of her ability, then 136 00:06:20,747 --> 00:06:22,747 Speaker 2: it's going to be very, very difficult for the Pulse 137 00:06:22,787 --> 00:06:26,627 Speaker 2: to contain her. Yeah, fascinating battle coming up TSB Arena 138 00:06:26,667 --> 00:06:29,587 Speaker 2: this afternoon. Completely sold out for commentary as I Say 139 00:06:29,627 --> 00:06:33,507 Speaker 2: on Gold Sport and on iHeartRadio. 140 00:06:32,747 --> 00:06:35,907 Speaker 1: For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine. Listen live 141 00:06:36,027 --> 00:06:39,307 Speaker 1: to News Talk sed B weekends from midday, or follow 142 00:06:39,347 --> 00:06:40,907 Speaker 1: the podcast on iHeartRadio.