2021 Northern Mystics season

The 2021 Northern Mystics season saw Northern Mystics compete in the 2021 ANZ Premiership.[1][2] With a team coached by Helene Wilson, captained by Sulu Fitzpatrick and featuring Ama Agbeze, Bailey Mes and Grace Nweke, Mystics won their first ever premiership.[3][4][5][6] After finishing the regular season as minor premiers,[7][8] they defeated Mainland Tactix 61–59 in the grand final.[9][10][11][12][13][14]

Northern Mystics
2021 season
Head coachHelene Wilson
Asst. coachRob Wright
Tia Winikerei
ManagerMeghan Robinson
CaptainSulu Fitzpatrick
Main venueThe Trusts Arena
Season results
Wins–losses11–4
Regular season1st
Finals placing1st
Team colours
Team colours
Team colours
Northern Mystics seasons
← 2020

Players edit

Player movements edit

  Gains   Losses
  • Emma Iversen
  • Asher Grapes
  • Emily Burgess
  • Courtney Elliott

Source:[1][2][18]

Roster edit

2021 Northern Mystics roster
Players Coaching staff
Nat. Name Position(s) DoB Height
  Ama Agbeze (TRP) GD, GK, WD (1982-11-12)12 November 1982 (aged 38) 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)
  Kate Burley GD, GK (1997-04-23)23 April 1997 (aged 23) 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)
  Tayla Earle C, WA, WD, GD (2000-04-22)22 April 2000 (aged 20) 1.74 m (5 ft 9 in)
  Sulu Fitzpatrick (c) GD, GK (1992-08-20)20 August 1992 (aged 28) 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)
  Fa'amu Ioane WD, C (1996-03-11)11 March 1996 (aged 25) 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
  Phoenix Karaka   GD, GK, WD (1993-11-06)6 November 1993 (aged 27) 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
  Bailey Mes GA, GS (1989-05-27)27 May 1989 (aged 31) 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)
  Grace Nweke GS (2002-02-07)7 February 2002 (aged 19) 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)
  Claire O'Brien WA, C (1997-03-11)11 March 1997 (aged 24) 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
  Michaela Sokolich-Beatson   GD, WD, GK (1996-10-02)2 October 1996 (aged 24) 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)
  Elisapeta Toeava WA, C (1994-03-10)10 March 1994 (aged 27) 1.61 m (5 ft 3 in)
  Saviour Tui GS, GA (2001-10-17)17 October 2001 (aged 19) 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in)
  Filda Vui GS, GA, WA (1996-04-16)16 April 1996 (aged 25) 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Head coach
  • Helene Wilson
Assistant coach
  • Rob Wright
    Tia Winikerei

Manager:
Meghan Robinson
Physiotherapist:
Pat Hunt
Strength and conditioning:
Kieran Griffiths


Notes
  • (c) – Captain
  • (cc) – Co-captain
  • (vc) – Vice-captain
  •   – Injury / maternity leave
  • (TRP) – Temporary Replacement Player

Source:[1][5][6][19][20]

Pre-season edit

Otaki tournament edit

Northern Mystics participated in the official ANZ Premiership tournament at Te Wānanga o Raukawa in Otaki between 26 and 28 March. All six ANZ Premiership teams took part.[21]

Fri 26 Mar Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic 40–32 Northern Mystics Te Wānanga o Raukawa  
12.00pm
Sat 27 Mar Mainland Tactix 64–56 Northern Mystics Te Wānanga o Raukawa  
9:00am
Sat 27 Mar Northern Mystics 66–57 Southern Steel Te Wānanga o Raukawa  
5:00pm
Sun 28 Mar Central Pulse 55–53 Northern Mystics Te Wānanga o Raukawa  
2:00 pm

Sources:[22][23][24][25]

Regular season edit

Fixtures and results edit

Round 1
Mon 19 Apr Northern Mystics 60–64 Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic The Trusts Arena  
7.15pm Grace Nweke   36/41 (88%)
Bailey Mes   6/9 (67%)
Filda Vui   5/6 (83%)
Report
Stats
Caitlin Bassett   36/41 (88%)
Chiara Semple   16/22 (73%)
Khiarna Williams   12/14 (86%)
Round 2
Sat 24 Apr Northern Mystics 64–58 Southern Steel Eventfinda Stadium  
5.15pm Grace Nweke   56/60 (93%)
Bailey Mes   8/9 (89%)
Report
Stats
George Fisher   42/42 (100%)
Tiana Metuarau   16/21 (76%)
Round 3
Mon 3 May Northern Mystics 53–52 Mainland Tactix The Trusts Arena  
7.15pm Grace Nweke   49/56 (88%)
Bailey Mes   4/8 (50%)
Report
Stats
Ellie Bird   39/45 (87%)
Te Paea Selby-Rickit   10/18 (56%)
Jess Prosser   3/6 (50%)
Round 4
Mon 10 May Central Pulse 47–58 Northern Mystics TSB Bank Arena  
7.15pm Aliyah Dunn   27/34 (79%)
Te Amo Amaru-Tibble   18/24 (75%)
Whitney Souness   2/4 (50%)
Report
Stats
Grace Nweke   51/55 (93%)
Bailey Mes   5/7 (71%)
Saviour Tui   2/3 (67%)
Round 5
Mon 17 May Mainland Tactix 64–63 Northern Mystics Christchurch Arena  
6.15pm Ellie Bird   44/53 (83%)
Te Paea Selby-Rickit   20/29 (69%)
Report
Stats
Grace Nweke   59/64 (92%)
Bailey Mes   4/9 (44%)
Round 6
Mon 24 May Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic 59–67 Northern Mystics Trustpower Baypark Arena  
8.15pm Caitlin Bassett   26/28 (93%)
Khiarna Williams   30/36 (83%)
Chiara Semple   3/3 (100%)
Report
Stats
Grace Nweke   47/55 (85%)
Bailey Mes   8/13 (62%)
Filda Vui   12/14 (86%)
Round 7
Sun 30 May Northern Mystics 58–63 Southern Steel The Trusts Arena  
4.00pm Grace Nweke   52/61 (85%)
Bailey Mes   6/9 (67%)
Filda Vui   0/2 (0%)
Report
Stats
George Fisher   47/52 (90%)
Tiana Metuarau   16/19 (84%)
Round 8
Sun 6 Jun Northern Mystics 63–60 Northern Stars The Trusts Arena  
6.15pm Grace Nweke   60/64 (94%)
Bailey Mes   3/3 (100%)
Report
Stats
Maia Wilson   34/38 (89%)
Jamie Hume   10/15 (67%)
Amorangi Malesala   16/17 (94%)
Round 9
Mon 14 Jun Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic 63–68 Northern Mystics Claudelands Arena  
Caitlin Bassett   36/41 (88%)
Chiara Semple   17/20 (85%)
Khiarna Williams   10/14 (71%)
Report
Stats
Grace Nweke   57/61 (93%)
Filda Vui   8/11 (73%)
Bailey Mes   3/5 (60%)
Round 10
Sun 20 Jun Northern Mystics 64–51 Central Pulse The Trusts Arena  
2.15 pm Grace Nweke   54/63 (86%)
Bailey Mes   2/9 (22%)
Saviour Tui   2/3 (67%)
Report
Stats
Aliyah Dunn   31/39 (79%)
Te Amo Amaru-Tibble   16/20 (80%)
Whitney Souness   4/7 (57%)
Round 11
Sun 27 Jun Northern Stars 57–65 Northern Mystics Pulman Arena  
6.15pm Maia Wilson   35/41 (85%)
Amorangi Malesala   22/27 (81%)
Report
Stats
Grace Nweke   55/59 (93%)
Bailey Mes   3/4 (75%)
Filda Vui   7/8 (88%)
Round 12
Sun 4 Jul Northern Mystics 69–61 Northern Stars The Trusts Arena  
4.15pm Grace Nweke   54/65 (83%)
Filda Vui   11/14 (79%)
Bailey Mes   4/9 (44%)
Report
Stats
Maia Wilson   40/46 (87%)
Amorangi Malesala   20/33 (61%)
Monica Falkner   1/1 (100%)
Round 13
Sun 11 Jul Southern Steel 61–58 Northern Mystics Stadium Southland  
6.15pm George Fisher   39/41 (95%)
Tiana Metuarau   22/46 (48%)
Report
Stats
Grace Nweke   50/57 (88%)
Filda Vui   6/6 (100%)
Bailey Mes   2/3 (67%)
Round 14
Sun 18 Jul Central Pulse 54–56 Northern Mystics TSB Bank Arena  
6.15pm Aliyah Dunn   31/36 (86%)
Te Amo Amaru-Tibble   18/26 (69%)
Ivana Rowland   5/10 (50%)
Report
Stats
Grace Nweke   52/61 (85%)
Filda Vui   2/3 (67%)
Bailey Mes   2/5 (40%)

Source:[7]

Round 15
Sun 25 Jul Mainland Tactix 59–63 Northern Mystics Christchurch Arena  
Ellie Bird   42/44 (95%)
Te Paea Selby-Rickit   17/25 (68%)
Report
Stats
Grace Nweke   49/51 (96%)
Filda Vui   11/13 (85%)
Saviour Tui   2/2 (100%)
Bailey Mes   1/1 (100%)

Source:[5]

Final standings edit

Pos Team P W D L GF GA GD G% BP Pts
1 Northern Mystics 15 11 0 4 929 873 56 106.4% 4 37
2 Southern Steel 15 11 0 4 818 801 17 102.1% 0 33
3 Mainland Tactix 15 9 0 6 801 775 26 103.4% 4 31
4 Northern Stars 15 9 0 6 825 791 34 104.3% 2 29
5 Central Pulse 15 4 0 11 789 810 -21 97.4% 8 20
6 Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic 15 1 0 14 802 914 -112 87.7% 7 10
Last updated: 9 August 2022

  Qualified for Grand final
  Qualified for Elimination final

Source:[8]


Finals series edit

Grand final edit

Sun 8 Aug
Stats
Northern Mystics 61–59 Mainland Tactix    Spark Arena[26]
Attendance: 5,000
SKYSport
Scoring by quarter: 17–14, 33–28, 48–46, 61–59
Grace Nweke   58/62 (94%)
Filda Vui   2/3 (67%)
Bailey Mes   1/1 (100%)
Ellie Bird   38/44 (86%)
Te Paea Selby-Rickit   21/39 (54%)

Source:[9][10][11][12][13][14]

Award winners edit

New Zealand Netball Awards edit

Award Winner
Dame Lois Muir Supreme Award Sulu Fitzpatrick
ANZ Premiership Coach of the Year Helene Wilson
National Netball League Player of the Year Saviour Tui

Source:[5][27][28][29][30]

ANZ Premiership Awards edit

Award Winner
Grand Final MVP[12][14] Elisapeta Toeava

Mystics Awards edit

Award Winner
Fans Choice Sulu Fitzpatrick
Manawaroa Elisapeta Toeava
Mystics Mana Fa'amu Ioane
Barfoot & Thompson MVP Grace Nweke/Elisapeta Toeava

Source:[6][31]

Northern Marvels edit

In 2021 Northern Marvels, the Mystics reserve team, were National Netball League premiers, defeating Northern Comets 64–56 in the grand final at The Trusts Arena. Mystics players Claire O'Brien, Filda Vui and Saviour Tui all regularly played for Marvels during the NNL season.[5][32] Tui was named the NNL's 2021 Player of the Year.[27][28]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c "ANZ Premiership 2021 Media Guide" (PDF). anzpremiership.co.nz. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 October 2022. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
  2. ^ a b Brendon Egan (17 April 2021). "ANZ Premiership: Your team-by-team guide to the 2021 competition". stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 16 November 2022.
  3. ^ "Fitzpatrick named Mystics captain for 2021". www.anzpremiership.co.nz. 24 February 2021. Retrieved 2 August 2022.
  4. ^ "Is this the Northern Mystics' year? Captain Sulu Fitzpatrick weighs in". stuff.co.nz. 4 July 2021. Retrieved 2 August 2022.
  5. ^ a b c d e "Netball Northern 2021 Annual Report" (PDF). www.netballnorthern.co.nz. 3 March 2022. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
  6. ^ a b c "Northern Mystics – History". www.northernmystics.co.nz. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
  7. ^ a b "Mystics clinch minor premiership with nail-biting win". www.anzpremiership.co.nz. 18 July 2021. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
  8. ^ a b "(2021) Fixtures & results". www.anzpremiership.co.nz. Archived from the original on 4 August 2021. Retrieved 9 August 2022.
  9. ^ a b "History-making Mystics win Grand Final thriller". www.anzpremiership.co.nz. 8 August 2021. Retrieved 9 August 2022.
  10. ^ a b "Mystics' magic claims first ever title for team in blue". www.northernmystics.co.nz. 8 August 2021. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  11. ^ a b "Nweke inspires Mystics to maiden title". www.rnz.co.nz. 8 August 2021. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
  12. ^ a b c "Netball: Northern Mystics claim first ANZ Premiership title with win over Mainland Tactix". www.nzherald.co.nz. 8 August 2021. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
  13. ^ a b Brendon Egan (8 August 2021). "Northern Mystics v Mainland Tactix live - ANZ Premiership grand final". stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
  14. ^ a b c "ANZ Premiership: Mystics dedicate grand final win to late Silver Fern Margaret Forsyth". stuff.co.nz. 8 August 2021. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
  15. ^ "Gold medallist joins Mystics defence". anzpremiership.co.nz. 18 March 2021. Retrieved 9 August 2022.
  16. ^ "Former England Roses captain rekindles career in NZ". www.rnz.co.nz. 22 March 2021. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
  17. ^ a b "The 'Old married couple' of the Mystics". www.northernmystics.co.nz. 2 April 2021. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
  18. ^ "2021 ANZ Premiership team rosters". anzpremiership.co.nz. 1 April 2021. Retrieved 13 November 2022.
  19. ^ "Northern Mystics complete 2021 ANZ Premiership team". www.northernmystics.co.nz. 8 September 2020. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
  20. ^ "Mystics complete 2021 ANZ Premiership team". anzpremiership.co.nz. 8 September 2020. Retrieved 9 August 2022.
  21. ^ "Last chance for teams to test the waters at Ōtaki pre-season". www.pulse.org.nz. 10 March 2021. Retrieved 11 November 2022.
  22. ^ "Rousing response from Pulse after loss of captain". www.pulse.org.nz. 26 March 2021. Retrieved 11 November 2022.
  23. ^ "Souness shines in Pulse thriller". www.pulse.org.nz. 27 March 2021. Retrieved 11 November 2022.
  24. ^ "Pulse starting to show their true colours". www.pulse.org.nz. 28 March 2021. Retrieved 11 November 2022.
  25. ^ "Pulse close pre-season tournament with a win". anzpremiership.co.nz. 28 March 2021. Retrieved 12 November 2022.
  26. ^ "ANZ Premiership Grand Final confirmed for Spark Arena". anzpremiership.co.nz. 6 July 2021. Retrieved 9 August 2022.
  27. ^ a b "Silver Fern Sulu Fitzpatrick completes stunning rise with Dame Lois Muir Supreme Medal". stuff.co.nz. 8 December 2021. Retrieved 15 April 2022.
  28. ^ a b "Silver Ferns defender Sulu Fitzpatrick claims top honour at Netball NZ awards". www.nzherald.co.nz. 8 December 2021. Retrieved 15 April 2022.
  29. ^ "Netball's best honoured at New Zealand Netball Awards". www.northernmystics.co.nz. 10 December 2021. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  30. ^ "New Zealand Netball Awards – Winners". nznetballawards.co.nz. Retrieved 15 April 2022.
  31. ^ "Community Newsletter - Netball Northern - September 2021" (PDF). www.netballnorthern.co.nz. 7 November 2021. Retrieved 9 August 2022.
  32. ^ "History-making win for Northern Marvels". www.netballnorthern.co.nz. 9 July 2021. Retrieved 1 May 2022.