Michaela Sokolich-Beatson: Northern Mystics Captain ahead of their ANZ Premiership clash against the Tactix

The Northern Mystics expect to take on a mirror image of themselves when they battle the Mainland Tactix in their ANZ Premiership netball game in Rangiora this afternoon. 

The Mystics are unbeaten after three rounds and top-of-the-table with nine points, while the Tactix are second on seven points. 

Captain Michaela Sokolich-Beatson points to depth as each team's strength. 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the All Sport Breakfast podcast with Darcy
Waldgrave from News Talk SEDB.

Speaker 2 (00:11):
Eight nineteen four o'clock. This afternoon in Rangiora, there is
a game of netball going to break out between the mystics,
the traveling Mystics almost unbeatable and the Tactics. Mckaylasukoloch beats
and joins us now to talk about that. Good morning morning,
How are you very well looking forward to the action

(00:33):
this afternoon as you will be as well in good
classic Canterbury Auckland clash up, and I expect you'll be
taking some immense energy and positivity with you into that
match after what happened against the Steel last week.

Speaker 3 (00:50):
Yes, definitely. I think that just goes to show that
you have to keep claim until the final asto, and
that we did. I'm definitely taking on that. It was
nice to get pretty much a whole team on the
court as well.

Speaker 2 (01:04):
So you look at the what's happened with this three
and a half meters shot, the two pointer and that's
something that I'm sure all the teams have been juggling
with since its inception and how to best utilize it.
I think we've just seen the best way to use
is how much planning was in there or was it
just a spur of the moment we.

Speaker 3 (01:22):
Go to way and quick to go pretty much. I
guess if you're behind and you're losing, you don't really
have an option, like you just want to try and
go for the turfs. I guess it's different if you're
in the second quarter or third quarterback if you're the
last quarter, you do really need to go for a
two point shot because you want to get ahead. And
that's what it's there for, right It's there to take

(01:44):
the game and change the game.

Speaker 2 (01:46):
But it will change as it develops and people get
used to it. Surely. Sorry, really, I can't help myself
with this, and I'm a dog with a bow. I
find it fascinating about how it has actually applied and
implemented when it is, how it's used from the coaching
staff and the playoffs. But because this is something you're all, well,
you're learning as you go, aren't you, Mkayla Yes.

Speaker 3 (02:06):
And no no, because they've been doing it in Australia
that ages. So we've got a lot of data from
the from them what works and what doesn't work, and
we've been able to watch other teams and see what
their strip, and then a pre season we were also
working and playing around a peak of different the jet.

(02:26):
So I feel like even though it's new, it's not
new in a global netball so we've been able to
do some spying.

Speaker 2 (02:34):
I was having an argument No, I was having a
discussion with the Von Willering about this a couple of
days ago up there in the studio, and she was like,
putting in my place, which is understandable. She knows the
game inside out. But the application of this as it
develops and where it can be best utilized for your
own team not a great area. But is that a

(02:56):
primary space of work? Even though you kind of know
what you're doing, it's going to going to take a
while to set in so you know automatically what you're
supposed to be up to.

Speaker 3 (03:06):
Yes, yes, but I feel like we're pretty across our
game plan. It might change from game to game, but
I think when we go into any game, we're quite
clear on what the coaches want from us and how
they want us to play in that time. Obviously can't
speak up every team, but that's how we are trying
to roll with.

Speaker 2 (03:26):
It, right, We us figured about last week because that
was then and it was a pretty average fourth, but
you managed to get the job done, which is good.
So technics, what have they got that you're worried about?
Or more importantly, what have you got that they should
be worried about?

Speaker 3 (03:39):
Yeah? Nice, I guess what they've got is a good
team very similar to us, pretty much exactly like us.
Roll through their bench and it be seamless. And I
think if you've got a team like that that's a
mass of threat because of one thing's not working, you're
just like, right, we'll just change it straight away. I

(03:59):
think both coaches have confidence to do that, So I
think that's huge for our game roll but also for
our two teams. So I'm looking forward to see how
the coaches kind of use the whole squad.

Speaker 2 (04:11):
What do you know about main Power Stadium in the
goon that's where you're playing. You're not actually in christ
that central nothing.

Speaker 3 (04:18):
I have actually been there before, but i've not played
there for an A and Z game, so I don't
know what it looks like to feel. I know that
it's quite small, so which doesn't do me any justice
because I just know that I'll watch the game back
and I'll be able to hear yelling, but hey, that's okay.

Speaker 2 (04:35):
But you'll be feeling pretty good about we positions right
now because you're at the top. That's a great place
to be. It's still early days, but this is the
progress you require.

Speaker 3 (04:45):
Yeah, I'm so proud of the team to come out
through and we've honestly just been taking every game as
it comes. Actually, after the Steel games that it was
anticipated that Mystics would roll the Steel And it's funny
that that people's outside perception because in camp, we we

(05:06):
treat every game like you know, it's going to be
the hardest game where we played, and the Steel has
been playing incredibly well. So I was surprised to hear
that sort of comment. But yeah, happy with how we've
been tracking.

Speaker 2 (05:19):
You never underestimate the talent, or the drive or the
will of any other team. You do it at your peril.
And michaela Psycholots beats in Aka and Mickey soft beats
that skipper of the Mystics. Thanks for joining us, have
a wonderful afternoon.

Speaker 3 (05:31):
Thank you very much.

Speaker 1 (05:33):
For more from the Your Sport Breakfast with Darcy Watergrave,
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