Harten credits Magic team for MVP award
Press Release June 20, 2014
Kia Magic shooter Jo Harten has capped a stellar season after being named joint winner of the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award for the 2014 ANZ Championship netball competition.
With points allotted (on a one, two, three basis) across all 14 rounds of the regular season, taking in 65 matches, Harten shared the top honour with NSW Swifts midcourter and captain Kim Green, on 19 votes.
In her first season with Magic after moving north from the Mainland Tactix, England import Harten was a model of consistency and accuracy in helping steer the under-rated Waikato/Bay of Plenty team to the preliminary final.
``I’m very happy,’’ Harten said. ``It’s a great accolade but it really is credit to the team. You can’t win an award like that without having a great team behind you.
``Even though it’s an individual thing, I do really base it on the team performance and how we came together this year.’’
The sharpshooter finished the year as one of four players to finish the season with 500 goals or more, averaging 33.3 goals per game at 88 percent accuracy, along with ending the year in the top 10 for offensive rebounds.
Harten, 25, revelled in a new-look Magic under the guidance of coach Julie Fitzgerald as the team belied pre-season form to make the play-offs for a record seventh successive year.
Possessing an unflappable temperament but a mischievous side beneath the exterior, the willowy 1.88m Harten has long given glimpses of her undoubted ability and broke new ground this year with impressive improvement to her all-round game.
``I’d have to say it’s probably my best season of netball to date,’’ she said. ``It’s (Magic) a really exciting team to be a part of, so I think I’ve made some good improvements with this team and under Julie and I’m pleased with how it all went.
``I’ve loved every single minute of being a part of this team, from the highs and the lows, winning straight games and then losing a couple, then making finals for the first time, to me it’s been great and an awesome experience.’’
With the wealth of talent on show across the 10 teams, Harten was humbled by the honour.
``It is a highlight of my career and I feel really privileged to have been even playing in the competition let alone taking an award like this,’’ she said.
``I moved to Magic at the start of the season so I could try and make finals and try and take a step up in my career. I think I’ve done that this year.
``I’ve tried to be more consistent and more accurate in my shooting and performance and that’s really credit to this team and how they’ve allowed me to improve and learn.’’
Harten has already headed back to the UK where she will link with her England team ahead of next month’s Commonwealth Games.
The inspiring captain/coach combination of Casey Kopua and Fitzgerald was also acknowledged in the All Stars team, voted on entirely by the public. Kopua, the only New Zealanders in the team, stitched up the goal defence position while Fitzgerald got the vote as the team coach after a stunning return to the competition following her 2008-11 stint with the Swifts.
Jane Hunt
Kia Magic media liaison
Ph: 021-107-0287
