IT was a pretty disappointing season for the Northern Mystics who only mustered up the four wins for the season. With relatively new connections across the court the Mystics struggled to compete with the top teams in the competition and were unable to put out consistent four quarter performances.

Ladder: 6th
Win-loss: 4-11
Percentage: 91.5%

The attack end struggled to find that connection and easy avenue to goal throughout the season with multiple changes made each game. with an unsettled line-up the Mystics were unable to really assert their dominance and challenge opposition sides. In the off-season they signed Australian shooter Kristina Brice who failed to get game time prompting youngster Grace Nweke to get the call up and she did not look back. Nweke was a revelation in the goal circle for the Mystics well and truly dominating under the post with her strong holds, aerial ability and accuracy to post with 449 goals at 82 percent. The 17-year-old has all the tricks of the trade picking holes in the opposition defence and tearing games apart with her athleticism and strength. While Nweke starred, veteran Bailey Mes toiled away but struggled to have her usual impact under the post sitting at 73 percent for the season. However, Mes did a wealth of work out the front with 276 centre pass receives. The goal attack position often changed with Jamie Hume coming on to relieve Mes with the connection between the goalers all gradually growing.

Through the midcourt Elisapeta Toeava had a huge influence working hard in the attacking third to feed the ball into the likes of Nweke and Mes time and time again. She showcased her netball smarts to gain prime position around the circle edge and use her pin point passes to slice through the defence. With 513 feeds and 180 centre pass receives to her name Toeava proved that she was the real barometer in the attack end, finding space and letting the ball go. While, the combination between Tayla Earle and Emma Iversen was also important for the Mystics throughout the season with the two setting up clever plays, driving in and out of space to re-offer and constantly flicking the ball around. Michaela Sokolich-Beatson and Grace Kukutai both posed a dominant threat in wing defence showing their ability to create turnovers and cover their opponents leads. Sokolich-Beatson did not shy away from the contest continuously going in hard and attacking the ball racking up 23 intercepts for the season credit to her good timing and read of the play.

With Sokolich-Beatson and Kukutai out the front circle defenders Phoenix Karaka and Erena Mikaere worked well to deny easy access into the goal circle and create doubt into the feeders’ minds. Both defenders featured in the top 10 for penalties but their physicality and aerial ability enabled them to win back plenty of ball to keep them in the hunt. Mikaere racked up 35 intercepts, 68 deflections and 22 rebounds credit to her clever body positioning and sheer strength while Karaka also featured highly with 29 intercepts and 18 rebounds. The combination between the two caused headaches when on song applying strong hands over pressure and going out hunting for the intercept.