OUT with the old and in with the new. Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic had a complete overhaul during the off-season with a multitude of new faces joining the fray for the 2021 ANZ Premiership season such as Temalisi Fakahokotau, Chiara Semple and Grace Kara. However one of the biggest names to join the side is that of Australian Diamond, Caitlin Bassett, with the former GIANTS shooter crossing the ditch to ply her trade and ready to leave her mark on the competition.

“A lot does ride on this first game for us and it will be really important for us to get out there and really set the tone for the entire season,” Bassett said. “Really get out there and show everyone across the league that we’re a team to be reckoned with, and put that fear back into the heart that the Magic used to have when they had the likes of a Laura Langman, Casey Kopua and Irene Van Dyk playing for them.”

Struggling to find a level of consistency last season, the Magic and Bassett are keen to iron out those kinks and leave a lasting imprint on the competition to not only work their way up the ladder but earn a spot in the finals with their new found connections and versatility across the court set to leave teams guessing.

“Obviously to make that final,” Bassett said. W’e’ve been working hard and all the things that we’ve been going through preseason even whilst I haven’t been here the girls have been working extremely hard on really realising what the culture is at this club and drawing on things like our history and our soul and past players and things like that which is really important to where we want to go.

“You know, I, I’ve made mentioned and myself and Grace are very strong in the fact that we’re not here to muck around like I haven’t moved to a different country to have a bit of fun and play around on court I’m here because I want to win. And so, that understanding across our team that we’re here, and we’re making sacrifices, we will do anything possible to win is really important in building that winning culture.”

With new inclusions across the court it is clear that Bassett and the Magic alike are keen to make amends for their subpar 2020 season and stamp their authority on the ANZ Premiership with the goal shooter highlighting the influence of captain Sam Winders.

“Her [Winders] energy is just explosive and I don’t know where she gets hold from. We had a really hard training session yesterday, yet she’s still running around contesting ball doing give and go’s. She really does run our attack and also our defence end because she does play wing defence too.”

“So, I think, you know, the leadership that she has within our team, it just comes naturally to her I really enjoy watching her lead and just watching her lead by example. I think it’s been fun and then getting the confidence on the feed we’ve been working a lot together, getting the feed from centre into the goal circle, and it’s coming along nicely which is great.”

Speaking of perfecting the feed into the circle it is hard to go past, Kara who re-joins the Magic after a stint with the Stars and is a player that Bassett has always had an eye on credit to her silky movement and pin-point precision passes.

“When I was younger and was playing for the Diamonds and she was suited up for the Ferns I was always so jealous about the ball that she would put into Irene Van Dyk and I can now I’m lucky to be on the receiving end of that. She’s just so funny, like she just looks in straight away and the ball will have left her hand before I can get eye contact sometimes, so I’ve been loving that supply. And, you know, just the confidence she brings it our attacking end she has so much experience. She’s such a smart player, but she’s just calm and confident out on that line and that really gives the rest of us confidence as well.”

Inside the goal circle, the Magic have retained the services of Khiarna Williams who burst onto the scene last year while also poaching London Pulse goaler, Chiara Semple to add another string to their bow for the upcoming season.

“We’ve got two young goal attacks in Chiara Semple and my little friend Keks as well. So, I’ve been loving playing with them and just having fresh people with fresh eyes, and having different setups. I think that’s what’s been most fun for me is sharing information that I’ve learned over the years listening to what they think and their experiences and trying to put them together to create success and our attacking end.”

Bassett heaped plenty of praise on up and coming youngster Williams who was named in the New Zealand under 21s side crediting her “lovely shot” and movement.

“I think her athleticism is just incredible. And the fact that when I come out of the circle I can put a highball into her is a huge benefit. I think also she’s very smart defensively and she’s got a little bit of that mongrel, that makes it hard to get the ball off her when she does have it.”

With the team really starting to take shape and connections forming across the court, Bassett highlighted just how at home she feels in her new colours.

“I feel really at home here. Kiwis are very, very friendly and the weather has been beautiful. I think what’s been the best is the girls at training and my team have just like welcomed me with open arms and teaching me pronunciations and different Kiwi words which are slowly slipping into my everyday language. So, it’s been quite an easy transition.”

After somewhat of a tumultuous season with the GIANTS in the Suncorp Super Netball, Bassett is focused solely on establishing strong connections with her new teammates across the court to give the Magic the best possible opportunity to cause waves in 2021 and rack up the wins.

“I’m just trying to build connections with my teammates as quickly as possible. I know Magic didn’t perform particularly well last year and I don’t think that one person can totally change the team.”

“You know we do have a few different players within our group and we are learning to play together but I think for me the focus is just getting out there and doing my job, standing tall in the circle and taking the ball strongly and shooting as many goals as I can.”

“Our defensive end is amazing and they’ve been, you know, turning over a lot of ball for us. I guess as the attack it’s our opportunity to finish off. So just preparing for it like I would at the start of any other season.”

Entering into her 18th preseason the goal shooter has enjoyed the unconventional start to her time with the Magic, highlighting how the difference has been a great learning curve for her.

“It’s kind of ridiculous, isn’t it,” she chuckled referring to her 18 seasons. “I’ve been around for a little while and I think preseason is hard, it’s a grind. “It’s about pushing yourself physically and mentally and I think, you know coming over here with the Kiwis and doing it in a slightly different way than I’ve done it before it’s been really good for me. “I’ve been looking at the game a different way I’ve learnt some tricks off my teammates already and they’ve given me a lot of confidence.

The side took plenty of learnings out of their preseason tournament, with Bassett noting the difference in defence key, given her familiarity with one-on-one marking rather than zone style defences an area she hopes to improve throughout the season.

“It is a struggle playing against the zone because it’s something that we don’t get to see a proper zone, very often,” Bassett said. “But I think from playing in preseason matches you know I was happy. “There are definitely teams that play more one on one marking as well so I’m going to get the best of both worlds. “Playing against that amazing New Zealand zone week in week out, and then also getting that one on one defence that I’m used to having in Australia that is going to keep me on my toes.”

With new and old faces across the court, the Magic will have plenty of eyes on them come Round 1 when they take on the Northern Mystics as they look to rise up the ranks after a disappointing 2020 season.