July 26, 2025 • 6 mins
The Tactix are hoping for a positive outcome ahead of the ANZ Premiership netball final against the Mystics in Auckland.
The Mainland side rallied from a seven goal deficit in the third quarter to beat the Pulse 57-52 in the elimination final.
Tactix shooter Ellie Bird joined Piney to discuss.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from News Talks EDB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
The Tactics and their place in the final with victory
over the Pulse last weekend.
Speaker 3 (00:18):
They have been undefeated here in twenty twenty five and
it will stay that way. The Tactics are going back
to the AINSID Premiership trand Final, an incredible comeback and
(00:40):
ton of their home.
Speaker 2 (00:42):
Fans tactic shooter Ali Birds with us. Let's start there.
How do you evaluate the win over the Pulse in
the elimination final last weekend, Elie, Well, it just.
Speaker 4 (00:51):
Felt very good, you know, really exciting, really happy with
the performance that we put out. Kind of a game
of two halves, but it just showed what we can do.
So very very happy about that.
Speaker 2 (01:02):
It certainly seemed to change after halftime. Third and fourth
quarter were certainly in your favor. Were there any specific
conversations at halftime that turned the tide in the second half?
Speaker 4 (01:13):
Oh, it was just a bit of like this could
be our last game, so what you know, how are
we going to go out and play our last half
of netball? We can go out and play half a
game of netble that leads to another game so that's
what we did.
Speaker 2 (01:27):
You did. Indeed, it also meant, of course you went
through the entire home season unbeaten. So how proud of
you or how proud are you of that as a team?
Speaker 4 (01:37):
Well, you know, that's awesome. I mean, our crowd a great.
I mean, personally, that's my absolute favorite place to play.
It's played a massive role in my career. I suppose
you could say, and yeah, awesome crowd, and just you're
very proud of the girls that we can go out
there and you know, do Kennerbury proud.
Speaker 2 (01:58):
Well, we're into the final now, of course this is
undoubtedly a difficult question to answer, but what is the
key to beating the double defending Chainmian mystics?
Speaker 4 (02:09):
If we just stick to our processes, then we can
definitely do it. It's definitely a mindset thing. As long
as we just kind of believe in ourselves, I think,
and back each other up, you know, do everything that
we can. I actually empty the tank, then we can
beat them.
Speaker 2 (02:28):
Yeah, well you already have once this season, albeit at home.
You beat them back in round four. Now, in that game, Ellie,
you shot fifty from fifty? Is that your highest score?
With one hundred percent shooting.
Speaker 4 (02:42):
Yeah, I think so.
Speaker 2 (02:44):
I mean, what went so well for you in that game?
Speaker 4 (02:48):
Well? I did actually miss a few, but they were
just called obstructions or contacts, you know, So I actually
didn't know because I still remember that I missed some
even though they weren't counted. I didn't even know until
after the game that I had got one hundred percent.
So I don't know, it just happens. I don't know
(03:09):
what to put it down to, just focusing on the
current moment. Probably, Yeah, Well.
Speaker 2 (03:15):
I hope you can do a similar thing in the final.
It did lead to a win, of course. Is there
anything from that game that went over the Mystics that
will be useful in trying to beat them again in
the final?
Speaker 4 (03:28):
Yeah, we kind of went into that game whether we've
got nothing to lose attitude, which is the same thing
that we've got here right now. That well in the
position that we're currently in. So yeah, taking that, I suppose.
Speaker 2 (03:42):
Yeah, just looking at the stats and CC you've taken
just the one two point shot this season. Was it
just sort of a Hei l Mary late in the
game or something?
Speaker 4 (03:53):
Oh? No, No, I was against the Magic and we
were by about ten. I was the magic I can't remember,
but I had said to Donna. I was like, I
just want to put one up and she's like, well,
don't do it at a stupid time, and I was like, okay,
I won't. We was forty six to go and there's
no chance of them catching us. We're getting a bonus
point in that forty second, so I just had to go.
Speaker 2 (04:11):
Yeah, well, fair enough to It didn't go in unfortunately,
so so no success from it. But in wider terms,
what is the tactics team strategy with this new innovation
of the two point shot?
Speaker 4 (04:26):
I don't know if I can give that away. No, Well,
obviously it comes down to whether you're as a shooter.
You're confident because you know you can put pressure on
yourselves to shoot twos and if you're off, you're off
kind of thing. But if we want to score one
(04:48):
off all of our center passes, so if we're taking twos,
it will be offer once we've gained all off their center.
Speaker 2 (04:55):
Pass gotcha, gotcha? And obviously you're doing all your work
down at the attacking end, But can ask you about
a couple of your teammates at the other end of
the defensive circle. Jane Watson and Karen Berger who's played
a bit of wing defense but also goal defense for you.
How key have they been to your success this season.
Speaker 1 (05:13):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (05:13):
Obviously they're you know, very experienced players and they obviously
know their jobs very well. So yeah, they're just a
massive part of the la guess backbone of our team. Yeah,
and I'd love to playing with them. Over the past,
however many years it's been quite fee Now just yeah,
you just know that they're all it's going to do
their job.
Speaker 2 (05:34):
So Tactics beaten finalists in twenty twenty and again in
twenty twenty one. How desperate are you to win one
of these things?
Speaker 4 (05:42):
Oh? I would love to just for me, I think, well,
our whole team obviously we would love to. You know,
this is my eighth season with the Tactics and we
raised massive strides over that time. It would be good
to just get that you know, final gold medal.
Speaker 2 (05:59):
And we all thought, I think that you'd retired, but
of course you came back last year to cover for
injury and ended up staying for the whole season. You've
played this entire season, So what are we just sort
of carrying on now? O? No, so is this definitely it.
Speaker 4 (06:16):
Yeah, this is it. Well I say never, say neither,
but for now this is it.
Speaker 2 (06:21):
All right. Well, let's see what happens after the Grand Final.
Hopefully if it is the end, you can go out
on a high. Ellie, all the best to you and
to the Tactics for the final against the Mystics. Thanks
for the chat.
Speaker 4 (06:33):
Yeah, thank you so much.
Speaker 2 (06:34):
No, thank you, Ellie, Ali Bird there out of the Tactics,
Tactics Mystics four o'clock this afternoon, Live commentary over on
Gold Sport as we find our a m Z Premiership champion.
Speaker 1 (06:43):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to News Talk said B weekends from midday or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from News Talks EDB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
The Tactics and their place in the final with victory
over the Pulse last weekend.
Speaker 3 (00:18):
They have been undefeated here in twenty twenty five and
it will stay that way. The Tactics are going back
to the AINSID Premiership trand Final, an incredible comeback and
(00:40):
ton of their home.
Speaker 2 (00:42):
Fans tactic shooter Ali Birds with us. Let's start there.
How do you evaluate the win over the Pulse in
the elimination final last weekend, Elie, Well, it just.
Speaker 4 (00:51):
Felt very good, you know, really exciting, really happy with
the performance that we put out. Kind of a game
of two halves, but it just showed what we can do.
So very very happy about that.
Speaker 2 (01:02):
It certainly seemed to change after halftime. Third and fourth
quarter were certainly in your favor. Were there any specific
conversations at halftime that turned the tide in the second half?
Speaker 4 (01:13):
Oh, it was just a bit of like this could
be our last game, so what you know, how are
we going to go out and play our last half
of netball? We can go out and play half a
game of netble that leads to another game so that's
what we did.
Speaker 2 (01:27):
You did. Indeed, it also meant, of course you went
through the entire home season unbeaten. So how proud of
you or how proud are you of that as a team?
Speaker 4 (01:37):
Well, you know, that's awesome. I mean, our crowd a great.
I mean, personally, that's my absolute favorite place to play.
It's played a massive role in my career. I suppose
you could say, and yeah, awesome crowd, and just you're
very proud of the girls that we can go out
there and you know, do Kennerbury proud.
Speaker 2 (01:58):
Well, we're into the final now, of course this is
undoubtedly a difficult question to answer, but what is the
key to beating the double defending Chainmian mystics?
Speaker 4 (02:09):
If we just stick to our processes, then we can
definitely do it. It's definitely a mindset thing. As long
as we just kind of believe in ourselves, I think,
and back each other up, you know, do everything that
we can. I actually empty the tank, then we can
beat them.
Speaker 2 (02:28):
Yeah, well you already have once this season, albeit at home.
You beat them back in round four. Now, in that game, Ellie,
you shot fifty from fifty? Is that your highest score?
With one hundred percent shooting.
Speaker 4 (02:42):
Yeah, I think so.
Speaker 2 (02:44):
I mean, what went so well for you in that game?
Speaker 4 (02:48):
Well? I did actually miss a few, but they were
just called obstructions or contacts, you know, So I actually
didn't know because I still remember that I missed some
even though they weren't counted. I didn't even know until
after the game that I had got one hundred percent.
So I don't know, it just happens. I don't know
(03:09):
what to put it down to, just focusing on the
current moment. Probably, Yeah, Well.
Speaker 2 (03:15):
I hope you can do a similar thing in the final.
It did lead to a win, of course. Is there
anything from that game that went over the Mystics that
will be useful in trying to beat them again in
the final?
Speaker 4 (03:28):
Yeah, we kind of went into that game whether we've
got nothing to lose attitude, which is the same thing
that we've got here right now. That well in the
position that we're currently in. So yeah, taking that, I suppose.
Speaker 2 (03:42):
Yeah, just looking at the stats and CC you've taken
just the one two point shot this season. Was it
just sort of a Hei l Mary late in the
game or something?
Speaker 4 (03:53):
Oh? No, No, I was against the Magic and we
were by about ten. I was the magic I can't remember,
but I had said to Donna. I was like, I
just want to put one up and she's like, well,
don't do it at a stupid time, and I was like, okay,
I won't. We was forty six to go and there's
no chance of them catching us. We're getting a bonus
point in that forty second, so I just had to go.
Speaker 2 (04:11):
Yeah, well, fair enough to It didn't go in unfortunately,
so so no success from it. But in wider terms,
what is the tactics team strategy with this new innovation
of the two point shot?
Speaker 4 (04:26):
I don't know if I can give that away. No, Well,
obviously it comes down to whether you're as a shooter.
You're confident because you know you can put pressure on
yourselves to shoot twos and if you're off, you're off
kind of thing. But if we want to score one
(04:48):
off all of our center passes, so if we're taking twos,
it will be offer once we've gained all off their center.
Speaker 2 (04:55):
Pass gotcha, gotcha? And obviously you're doing all your work
down at the attacking end, But can ask you about
a couple of your teammates at the other end of
the defensive circle. Jane Watson and Karen Berger who's played
a bit of wing defense but also goal defense for you.
How key have they been to your success this season.
Speaker 1 (05:13):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (05:13):
Obviously they're you know, very experienced players and they obviously
know their jobs very well. So yeah, they're just a
massive part of the la guess backbone of our team. Yeah,
and I'd love to playing with them. Over the past,
however many years it's been quite fee Now just yeah,
you just know that they're all it's going to do
their job.
Speaker 2 (05:34):
So Tactics beaten finalists in twenty twenty and again in
twenty twenty one. How desperate are you to win one
of these things?
Speaker 4 (05:42):
Oh? I would love to just for me, I think, well,
our whole team obviously we would love to. You know,
this is my eighth season with the Tactics and we
raised massive strides over that time. It would be good
to just get that you know, final gold medal.
Speaker 2 (05:59):
And we all thought, I think that you'd retired, but
of course you came back last year to cover for
injury and ended up staying for the whole season. You've
played this entire season, So what are we just sort
of carrying on now? O? No, so is this definitely it.
Speaker 4 (06:16):
Yeah, this is it. Well I say never, say neither,
but for now this is it.
Speaker 2 (06:21):
All right. Well, let's see what happens after the Grand Final.
Hopefully if it is the end, you can go out
on a high. Ellie, all the best to you and
to the Tactics for the final against the Mystics. Thanks
for the chat.
Speaker 4 (06:33):
Yeah, thank you so much.
Speaker 2 (06:34):
No, thank you, Ellie, Ali Bird there out of the Tactics,
Tactics Mystics four o'clock this afternoon, Live commentary over on
Gold Sport as we find our a m Z Premiership champion.
Speaker 1 (06:43):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to News Talk said B weekends from midday or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio
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