Tasmanian Magpies coach Kate Upton is showing no signs of panic by the late dip of her side’s flagging form.
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The Tasmanians will enter next weekend’s Australian Netball League finals series under pressure after another defeat to Victoria Fury 57-53.
“They’re a top side and you have to give respect where respect is due,” Upton said.
“They actually had a really good defensive structure that made it quite for hard us to get the ball into our goal circle easily, even our goal third.
“So, we just had to second guess a little bit at the attack end. Jane [Cook] came back from illness and wasn’t 100 per cent, so we did struggle.”
The third loss in four games is a far cry from stringing nine straight wins together.
Upton felt the game was more about preparation and a possible meeting with the Fury in Sunday’s grand final.
“This was never really a win or loss situation for us,” she said. “It was how did we tick the boxes of what we were focusing on.
“We didn’t tick all the boxes this week, but we’ll get to try again next week.
“I think if we don’t learn from it, it probably wasn’t a great opportunity in not coming away with the win.”
The Magpies take on third-placed Netball NSW Waratahs – two of the 10 wins – in Saturday’s semi-finals.
Upton is confident the side can improve its execution.
“I think it was good to find out where areas that we really need to focus on and tighten up,” she said.
“So I don’t think the losses were a negative thing.”