Mystics young guns head to Melbourne shootout

The Northern Mystics will be taking all of its young guns to the ANZ Netball Championship’s “Summer Shootout” in Melbourne.

Coach Debbie Fuller has included seven age-group reps, who are all under 21, in the line-up for the official pre-season tournament this weekend.

Team members Elisapeta Toeava, Erikana Pedersen, Nadia Loveday and Temalisi Fakahokotau will be joined by training partners Jessica Bourke, Kirsten Hurley and Tera-Maria Amani at the tournament, in which all 10 trans-Tasman teams will compete.

Amani, Bourke and Hurley will be providing cover for Bailey Mes and Kayla Cullen, who are working towards a return to the court after knee surgery last year, as well as Jodi Tod-Elliott who has an ankle niggle.

Fuller says all seven will be given game time, given the “intense workload” during the two-day tournament. “We’ve got to have a really strong group of players who can hold their own at ANZ Championship level.”

She put her young charges on court at last weekend’s pre-season game against the Vixens in Tasmania in which the Mystics went down 73-79 to the Australian side. “It was a baptism by fire, but it was good for them,” she says.

In that match, Anna Harrison sustained a foot injury – which is still being assessed – so former Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic player Jessica Tuki will provide cover for her this weekend.

ENDS

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