It’s finals week, which means the MG Mystics are putting in the mahi to not only defend their ANZ Premiership title, but to do the double and go back-to-back.

After 15 weeks of round-robin competition, several sudden-death games and a hotly contested Elimination Final, the Mystics have made it through to the Grand Final where they take on the Te Wānanga O Raukawa Pulse at TSB Arena in Wellington this Sunday 4^th August.

It’s all to play for and so we caught up with none other than last year’s winning captain and Mystics stalwart Sulu Fitzpatrick to give us some insight into what Grand Finals netty is all about and what it will take to win.

Photo Credit ©Michael Bradley

Describe for us what Grand Final netball is like?

If you’re competitive, that’s where every athlete wants to be and that’s where players are able to show what they’re made of. And the same with coaches. So I personally love Grand Finals, because the pressure, the tension, the expectation – it’s all there. Every moment counts. Whoever is able to make decisions under pressure and connect as a team, will be the ones that ultimately win.

What is finals week like and what do you think needs to go into preparations for Sunday?

There will be added pressure, that’s a given. The intensity will ramp up, both in trainings and obviously in the game. The biggest thing is probably being really clear on processes and not doing too much different. I think that intensity level needs to lift. But in terms of those processes that you’ve really trained and practiced during the season, it’s really important that there’s some stability there within the team to build confidence and belief as you get to that Grand Final.

For you personally, how has it been going from playing in the Grand Final last year as captain, to being an observer this season?

I’ve actually really enjoyed watching them grow and carry on the legacy of the Mystics. It’s been tough because I miss them and I have really strong relationships with the whole team and coaching staff. But I’ve also tried to give them that distance so that they can find their own way and be themselves. Sometimes the best thing you can do is to give that space and allow them to do their thing. I will be there in Wellington on Sunday supporting in the stands and I’m looking forward to hopefully seeing them go back-to-back.

You’ve got to be brave and have courage and rather than worrying about not losing, you’ve got to play to win and so that’s the mindset going in.

Speaking of back to back, do you think that’s something that they’ll be thinking about or trying not to?

It’s always there and it’s probably how you frame it. It’s a privilege that they’re in that position and if you look at this season they’ll be grateful to be in the final. You’ve got to be brave and have courage and rather than worrying about not losing, you’ve got to play to win and so that’s the mindset going in. The team’s got a wealth of experience, but also a good balance of youth so I’m looking forward to seeing them all play.

There was a bit of a rough patch that they had to come through mid-season and they had to play sudden death netball for a number of weeks. How do you think that will have prepared them for this moment?

They’ve been under pressure and they’ve sustained and maintained and been able to perform, so that’s prepared them massively for the Grand Final. Challenges are always good in season when you can overcome them and they have done that as a collective. They managed to stay close and tight knit rather than turn on each other and now they’re probably reaping the rewards, as you could see during the Elimination Final when Cat [Catherine Hall] came on and she made a massive impact and also Katie [Katie Te Ao] changed the game for them. That potentially may not have happened if they didn’t have those opportunities during the season.

I think everything happens for a reason, but come Sunday you can’t rest on anything that’s happened during the season. You’ve got to perform in that moment.

Tell us about Miccy [Michaela Sokolich-Beatson]. How important will her leadership be this Sunday?

I’ve loved watching her evolve. Anyone who knows her story knows that she’s battled to be there and she is battling every week to be on that court. She leads by example and she does everything you can possibly think of. She’s the hardest worker in the room and so the key for her will be just doing her job. She loves the Mystics, she loves the girls, she loves the team and so I’m looking forward to seeing her just play and enjoy it. She deserves to be there and I know the girls will follow her.

If you were to share a message with the team this week, what would it be?

My message would be – stay tight, stay in it, and have fun.