1 00:00:06,667 --> 00:00:10,547 Speaker 1: You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine 2 00:00:10,707 --> 00:00:11,507 Speaker 1: from Newstalks. 3 00:00:11,587 --> 00:00:15,267 Speaker 2: EDB net Ball season is upon us and there's a 4 00:00:15,267 --> 00:00:18,627 Speaker 2: new face and the defending champion Northern Mystics lineup this season. 5 00:00:18,707 --> 00:00:22,107 Speaker 2: This is quite the coup. The Mystics have acquired the 6 00:00:22,147 --> 00:00:26,867 Speaker 2: services of Australian shooter Danell Wallom. It's the first to 7 00:00:26,867 --> 00:00:30,347 Speaker 2: go ahead by two. After that Walem, I couldn't get 8 00:00:30,347 --> 00:00:34,867 Speaker 2: the ball for Doji. Now back to Australia Weston. 9 00:00:35,387 --> 00:00:38,867 Speaker 3: She finds proud Walem to win up Australia. 10 00:00:40,387 --> 00:00:45,307 Speaker 2: But you have written that if you tried Danel Warllhem. Yes, so, 11 00:00:45,427 --> 00:00:47,867 Speaker 2: Donell Wallam is now a Northern Mystics player and she 12 00:00:48,027 --> 00:00:50,987 Speaker 2: is with us in studio. Dennell, thank you for joining us, 13 00:00:51,227 --> 00:00:53,987 Speaker 2: Congratulations on the move, Welcome to New Zealand. How did 14 00:00:53,987 --> 00:00:54,947 Speaker 2: this all come about? 15 00:00:55,907 --> 00:00:59,867 Speaker 3: Thank you so much for having me. Yeah, so Mystics 16 00:00:59,867 --> 00:01:02,187 Speaker 3: reached out to my management at the end of last 17 00:01:02,267 --> 00:01:05,547 Speaker 3: year and I was obviously looking for a contract and 18 00:01:06,427 --> 00:01:08,307 Speaker 3: I was tossing up between the UK and New Zealand. 19 00:01:08,347 --> 00:01:11,787 Speaker 3: But after speaking to Tia at the Mystics here, I 20 00:01:12,067 --> 00:01:14,187 Speaker 3: knew that Mystics was a team I wanted to come to. 21 00:01:14,987 --> 00:01:18,107 Speaker 2: How easy has the Mystics environment been to fit into? 22 00:01:18,907 --> 00:01:22,107 Speaker 3: Oh? So easy. It's just you know, everyone has been 23 00:01:22,147 --> 00:01:26,387 Speaker 3: so welcoming and just probably the biggest barrier is like 24 00:01:26,507 --> 00:01:30,867 Speaker 3: just the difference in language that we use for netball. 25 00:01:30,987 --> 00:01:33,947 Speaker 3: It's just so interesting how so many people can interpret 26 00:01:33,987 --> 00:01:36,627 Speaker 3: the game so differently. But now I felt like a 27 00:01:36,667 --> 00:01:38,787 Speaker 3: smooth transition over here, and it's just been great. 28 00:01:39,307 --> 00:01:40,707 Speaker 2: So what are some of the examples that do we 29 00:01:40,787 --> 00:01:43,147 Speaker 2: just use different words over here for different things on 30 00:01:43,187 --> 00:01:44,107 Speaker 2: court and things like that? 31 00:01:44,307 --> 00:01:46,387 Speaker 3: Yeah, that's all right, just using different words. And then 32 00:01:46,427 --> 00:01:48,227 Speaker 3: I'm like, I don't really know what that means until 33 00:01:48,227 --> 00:01:50,547 Speaker 3: we start getting into it, and I'm like, oh, okay, yep. 34 00:01:51,587 --> 00:01:53,787 Speaker 2: Fair enough, and I'm glad you've got up to speed 35 00:01:53,827 --> 00:01:55,467 Speaker 2: with the season now here. Now this is the question 36 00:01:55,547 --> 00:01:57,307 Speaker 2: I'm sure you've been asked more than any other question. 37 00:01:57,547 --> 00:02:00,587 Speaker 2: Do you feel any pressure at all replacing Grace Wiki 38 00:02:00,787 --> 00:02:02,187 Speaker 2: in the Mystics lineup? 39 00:02:02,667 --> 00:02:04,787 Speaker 3: Yeah, I did feel a little bit, a little bit 40 00:02:04,827 --> 00:02:07,227 Speaker 3: of pressure. You know, she's got an amazing shooter and 41 00:02:07,267 --> 00:02:09,747 Speaker 3: there's a big shoes to feel there. But something that 42 00:02:10,067 --> 00:02:12,507 Speaker 3: Tears said to me in the in our initial meeting 43 00:02:12,627 --> 00:02:15,867 Speaker 3: was that they just wanted me for me, and to 44 00:02:15,907 --> 00:02:19,547 Speaker 3: come over and be myself and bring the skills that 45 00:02:19,627 --> 00:02:22,107 Speaker 3: I bring. And so that kind of took the pressure 46 00:02:22,147 --> 00:02:24,627 Speaker 3: off and I knew that I didn't have to live 47 00:02:24,707 --> 00:02:26,267 Speaker 3: up to anybody else's expectations. 48 00:02:26,267 --> 00:02:28,827 Speaker 2: I just got to come and be me fantastic. So 49 00:02:28,907 --> 00:02:30,547 Speaker 2: here we are on the eve of the first game. 50 00:02:30,587 --> 00:02:33,867 Speaker 2: How are you feeling as a team hitting into weekend 51 00:02:33,907 --> 00:02:35,467 Speaker 2: one of the AMJ Premiership. 52 00:02:35,747 --> 00:02:37,707 Speaker 3: Yeah, I'm really excited. As you said, it's a bit 53 00:02:37,707 --> 00:02:39,987 Speaker 3: of a new look team as well, so I'm excited 54 00:02:39,987 --> 00:02:42,547 Speaker 3: to see what we can do out on court, you know, 55 00:02:42,627 --> 00:02:45,947 Speaker 3: in that game, real game scenario. So I'm looking forward 56 00:02:45,947 --> 00:02:48,867 Speaker 3: to it. I can't wait. It's the Auckland Derby between 57 00:02:49,027 --> 00:02:50,907 Speaker 3: Mystics and Stars, so that's really exciting. 58 00:02:51,547 --> 00:02:55,267 Speaker 2: So did you play basketball to quite a high level 59 00:02:55,267 --> 00:02:55,747 Speaker 2: growing up? 60 00:02:56,427 --> 00:02:59,187 Speaker 3: I did play basketball to I think they call it 61 00:02:59,307 --> 00:03:03,947 Speaker 3: NBL one now. Yeah, so, but I've just basketball was 62 00:03:04,067 --> 00:03:06,027 Speaker 3: probably the sport I've played my whole childhood. But I've 63 00:03:06,027 --> 00:03:09,067 Speaker 3: played bit of netball as well socially from my hometown. 64 00:03:09,187 --> 00:03:12,787 Speaker 3: And yeah, so I think there's a lot of similarities 65 00:03:12,787 --> 00:03:13,547 Speaker 3: in the two sports. 66 00:03:13,747 --> 00:03:15,427 Speaker 2: Well, the reason I ask a course is the two 67 00:03:15,467 --> 00:03:18,827 Speaker 2: point shot, which which is a new innovation we're all 68 00:03:18,827 --> 00:03:21,227 Speaker 2: looking forward to seeing in the A and Z Premiership 69 00:03:21,227 --> 00:03:23,787 Speaker 2: this year. Does that excite you as a as a 70 00:03:23,827 --> 00:03:26,027 Speaker 2: former basketball Yeah, I love it. 71 00:03:26,027 --> 00:03:27,827 Speaker 3: And you know, the SSN have been playing with it 72 00:03:27,827 --> 00:03:30,107 Speaker 3: for a few years, so I know how much it 73 00:03:30,187 --> 00:03:31,907 Speaker 3: excites the crowd as well, and how much it can 74 00:03:31,947 --> 00:03:33,947 Speaker 3: bring the crowd into the game, which is just so 75 00:03:34,067 --> 00:03:37,027 Speaker 3: good for Netbell. I think it just can change the 76 00:03:37,067 --> 00:03:39,347 Speaker 3: way a game goes as well. So I'm a big 77 00:03:39,347 --> 00:03:40,307 Speaker 3: fan of the super shot. 78 00:03:41,027 --> 00:03:44,107 Speaker 2: So can you tell us how the evolution of it 79 00:03:44,107 --> 00:03:48,667 Speaker 2: has worked, because it's new to us obviously, and talking 80 00:03:48,667 --> 00:03:50,467 Speaker 2: to a couple of the other teams, they're all sort 81 00:03:50,467 --> 00:03:52,627 Speaker 2: of in a little bit of an experimental phase as 82 00:03:52,627 --> 00:03:55,027 Speaker 2: to how best to use it both to shoot as 83 00:03:55,027 --> 00:03:58,467 Speaker 2: shooters and in the defensive circle as well. Are you 84 00:03:58,667 --> 00:04:01,667 Speaker 2: trying to score as many two pointers as possible in 85 00:04:01,707 --> 00:04:03,507 Speaker 2: that in those segments of the game or are you 86 00:04:03,587 --> 00:04:05,987 Speaker 2: still relying on the you know, under the hoop one 87 00:04:06,027 --> 00:04:07,067 Speaker 2: point as well. 88 00:04:07,627 --> 00:04:10,027 Speaker 3: Yeah, so I guess it depends where we're at in 89 00:04:10,067 --> 00:04:12,147 Speaker 3: the game. You know, if we've got a big lead, 90 00:04:12,187 --> 00:04:14,227 Speaker 3: then I guess we can afford to just take the 91 00:04:14,227 --> 00:04:17,147 Speaker 3: ones and keep kicking the scoreboard over. But if you're 92 00:04:17,227 --> 00:04:21,107 Speaker 3: chasing the lead, then you kind of have to back 93 00:04:21,147 --> 00:04:24,187 Speaker 3: yourself and go for those two pointers. It's high risk, but. 94 00:04:24,187 --> 00:04:26,707 Speaker 2: High reward, absolutely, And so what of it? I mean, 95 00:04:26,947 --> 00:04:29,307 Speaker 2: I know you obviously do you know you operate at 96 00:04:29,347 --> 00:04:31,987 Speaker 2: the at the offensive end of the court, But have 97 00:04:32,067 --> 00:04:35,187 Speaker 2: you noticed the defenders and the team coming up with 98 00:04:35,227 --> 00:04:38,467 Speaker 2: their strategies. Obviously they've got to defend further out if 99 00:04:38,467 --> 00:04:40,067 Speaker 2: people aren't taking two point shots. 100 00:04:40,267 --> 00:04:42,867 Speaker 3: Yeah, I think it's tricky for the defenders because you know, 101 00:04:42,907 --> 00:04:45,747 Speaker 3: they've been told any other time to push the defenders, 102 00:04:46,027 --> 00:04:48,387 Speaker 3: push the attackers out and make them shoot from you know, 103 00:04:48,467 --> 00:04:51,107 Speaker 3: long range. But soon as that supershot buzzer goes off, 104 00:04:51,147 --> 00:04:54,067 Speaker 3: they've got to do the complete opposite. So I think, yeah, 105 00:04:54,267 --> 00:04:57,027 Speaker 3: I'm in awe of the defenders when you know they've 106 00:04:57,027 --> 00:04:59,667 Speaker 3: got to try and switch their game plan around. 107 00:04:59,787 --> 00:05:04,747 Speaker 2: So yeah, coming into a new environment, Danelle, how hard 108 00:05:04,787 --> 00:05:07,467 Speaker 2: have you worked on establishing connect with you know, with 109 00:05:07,547 --> 00:05:09,467 Speaker 2: your fellow shooters, but also the mid quarters who are 110 00:05:09,467 --> 00:05:11,787 Speaker 2: going to be feeding you most off and across the season. 111 00:05:12,107 --> 00:05:14,667 Speaker 3: Yeah, that's been really important to me to try, and 112 00:05:14,867 --> 00:05:17,147 Speaker 3: you know, we had a shorter preseason, so I had 113 00:05:17,147 --> 00:05:21,387 Speaker 3: to kind of work on those connections really fast. But 114 00:05:21,627 --> 00:05:24,187 Speaker 3: thankfully we've had a few pre season games, so we've 115 00:05:24,227 --> 00:05:26,787 Speaker 3: got to figure each other out on the court and 116 00:05:26,987 --> 00:05:28,747 Speaker 3: also figure each other out off the court. I think 117 00:05:28,787 --> 00:05:32,307 Speaker 3: that's just as important as well. So we feel very 118 00:05:32,307 --> 00:05:35,227 Speaker 3: connected and I'm excited for us to have a crack 119 00:05:35,267 --> 00:05:35,867 Speaker 3: this weekend. 120 00:05:36,787 --> 00:05:39,067 Speaker 2: And you've been part of the Australian Diamond set up 121 00:05:39,067 --> 00:05:40,987 Speaker 2: for the last few years. Is that still a focus 122 00:05:41,027 --> 00:05:42,427 Speaker 2: for you to represent Australia. 123 00:05:42,747 --> 00:05:45,707 Speaker 3: Yeah, definitely. Like I'm just taking this season as it comes, 124 00:05:45,747 --> 00:05:48,107 Speaker 3: game by game, but you know, the ultimate goal is 125 00:05:48,147 --> 00:05:50,587 Speaker 3: to hopefully pull on the green and gold dress again. 126 00:05:50,747 --> 00:05:53,787 Speaker 3: So for me, I'm just coming over learning as much 127 00:05:53,787 --> 00:05:57,187 Speaker 3: as I can playing over here, and yeah, whatever will 128 00:05:57,227 --> 00:05:57,627 Speaker 3: be will be. 129 00:05:58,147 --> 00:06:00,507 Speaker 2: What's the situation with because I'm sure you've picked up 130 00:06:00,507 --> 00:06:02,707 Speaker 2: on this that there's a bit of an eligibility discussion 131 00:06:02,787 --> 00:06:05,747 Speaker 2: going on over here around mainly around Grace actually and 132 00:06:05,907 --> 00:06:08,307 Speaker 2: the fact that she's playing in Australia, which prevents her 133 00:06:08,667 --> 00:06:11,027 Speaker 2: currently from playing for the Silver Ferns. Is that the 134 00:06:11,067 --> 00:06:14,107 Speaker 2: same rule that applies for Australia, like can you represent 135 00:06:14,147 --> 00:06:15,787 Speaker 2: Australia while playing for the Mystics. 136 00:06:16,187 --> 00:06:18,987 Speaker 3: Yeah, no, that's we don't have that rule in Australia. 137 00:06:18,987 --> 00:06:22,627 Speaker 3: And I spoke to Stacey Amrikovich, the Australian coach, and 138 00:06:22,827 --> 00:06:25,747 Speaker 3: she reassured me that, you know, she'd rather be playing 139 00:06:25,787 --> 00:06:29,107 Speaker 3: that ball than staying home in OZ to get a 140 00:06:29,147 --> 00:06:31,947 Speaker 3: training partner contract if that was the case. But she 141 00:06:32,027 --> 00:06:36,227 Speaker 3: said that over here, I'm still eligible for selection. Yeah. 142 00:06:36,267 --> 00:06:38,547 Speaker 2: I feel like playing netball is the main thing, isn't 143 00:06:38,587 --> 00:06:40,227 Speaker 2: it Isn't you know playing is are going to be 144 00:06:40,227 --> 00:06:42,667 Speaker 2: a lot more beneficial than, as you say, being a 145 00:06:42,667 --> 00:06:43,347 Speaker 2: training partner. 146 00:06:43,467 --> 00:06:46,467 Speaker 3: Yeah, absolutely so. Yeah, that, like I said, it just 147 00:06:46,507 --> 00:06:49,947 Speaker 3: reassured me that coming over here was the right choice 148 00:06:49,947 --> 00:06:51,147 Speaker 3: for me as well. 149 00:06:51,147 --> 00:06:52,587 Speaker 2: Hopefully the powers will be on the side of the 150 00:06:52,627 --> 00:06:56,587 Speaker 2: Tasman will have a similar epiphany and the rules over here. 151 00:06:56,587 --> 00:06:58,667 Speaker 2: But I know that's got nothing to do with you, Deanell. 152 00:06:58,787 --> 00:07:01,427 Speaker 2: All your focusing on is the Mystics at the moment. 153 00:07:01,507 --> 00:07:03,587 Speaker 2: Look really appreciate your stepping into the studio and having 154 00:07:03,587 --> 00:07:05,627 Speaker 2: a chat to us. All the best for the season 155 00:07:05,667 --> 00:07:07,907 Speaker 2: ahead as the Mystics look to go back to back. 156 00:07:08,067 --> 00:07:10,187 Speaker 2: Thank you so much, No, thank you for stopping in 157 00:07:10,227 --> 00:07:12,707 Speaker 2: Dannel Dannell Wall. I'm there a new recruit for the 158 00:07:12,747 --> 00:07:16,627 Speaker 2: Northern Mystics, the defending champion Northern Mystics, of course, who 159 00:07:16,707 --> 00:07:19,867 Speaker 2: opened their campaign in a couple of hours four o'clock 160 00:07:20,147 --> 00:07:23,187 Speaker 2: center Pass against the Northern Stars at event find A 161 00:07:23,267 --> 00:07:27,027 Speaker 2: Stadium in Auckland. The Mainland Tactics hosting the Southern Steel 162 00:07:27,107 --> 00:07:31,067 Speaker 2: from seven o'clock this evening at Wolfbrook Arena in christ Church. 163 00:07:31,107 --> 00:07:34,107 Speaker 2: The season under way yesterday in Palmerston North, where the 164 00:07:34,147 --> 00:07:37,587 Speaker 2: Central Pulse were very impressive in beating the White Cuttle 165 00:07:37,667 --> 00:07:40,827 Speaker 2: Bay of plenty Magic fifty seven forty four. It was 166 00:07:40,867 --> 00:07:43,107 Speaker 2: the first chance to see the two point shot clearly. 167 00:07:43,107 --> 00:07:45,987 Speaker 2: Amelioraniicanassio has been working on it. I was watching it 168 00:07:46,067 --> 00:07:49,147 Speaker 2: yesterday and she was hitting two or three from out 169 00:07:49,187 --> 00:07:52,427 Speaker 2: in the two point area. If you've only just caught 170 00:07:52,507 --> 00:07:54,787 Speaker 2: up with us. Basically you think of the shooting circle 171 00:07:54,947 --> 00:07:59,347 Speaker 2: in netball, and the outer reaches of the shooting circle 172 00:08:00,107 --> 00:08:02,827 Speaker 2: that is now shaded on the court, and so if 173 00:08:02,827 --> 00:08:04,387 Speaker 2: you take a shot, it's only in the last two 174 00:08:04,387 --> 00:08:06,307 Speaker 2: minutes of each quarter. But if you take a shot 175 00:08:06,427 --> 00:08:11,147 Speaker 2: from in that shaded area, so the outside part of 176 00:08:11,187 --> 00:08:14,307 Speaker 2: the shooting circle and you land it, you get two points. 177 00:08:14,347 --> 00:08:16,667 Speaker 2: It's a new innovation this year, so'm be interesting to 178 00:08:16,667 --> 00:08:20,187 Speaker 2: see how it plays out and how teams will cope 179 00:08:20,227 --> 00:08:23,707 Speaker 2: with certainly having to defend it, but also how they 180 00:08:23,747 --> 00:08:26,587 Speaker 2: strategize about using it. It, I guess gives teams a 181 00:08:26,667 --> 00:08:29,787 Speaker 2: chance as well who might feel like there's a big 182 00:08:29,787 --> 00:08:32,107 Speaker 2: deficit to pull back. You know, eight to ten points 183 00:08:32,187 --> 00:08:34,827 Speaker 2: in the past, that might seem like, you know, a 184 00:08:34,867 --> 00:08:36,747 Speaker 2: few too many, But when you got two point shots 185 00:08:36,787 --> 00:08:39,267 Speaker 2: to rely on, maybe it's not quite so big a 186 00:08:39,347 --> 00:08:40,467 Speaker 2: deficit to pull back. 187 00:08:41,027 --> 00:08:44,227 Speaker 1: For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live 188 00:08:44,347 --> 00:08:47,627 Speaker 1: to News Talk zed B weekends from midday, or follow 189 00:08:47,667 --> 00:08:49,267 Speaker 1: the podcast on iHeartRadio