Casterton Sandford v South Gambier
There is a fair bit on the line as South Gambier heads to Island Park to take on Casterton Sandford with the 2024 head-to-head sitting at one each.
For South to lift itself off the bottom they would need to secure a massive victory, much like their final round victory in 2023, but securing a second win this season to draw level with the Cats in that stat would be the motivation.
History suggests it will be a tight struggle.
Their first clash in 2024 saw the Cats hold sway narrowly for the first three quarters before running away with a double digit win to break their drought.
The second clash was in wet and windy conditions and it took until the final few minutes for South to secure a narrow victory.
The Demons had Alyssa Duncan in that clash and her experience was telling but this weekend looms as an arm wrestle.
The Cats have been really moving the chess pieces for the past month, covering player unavailability as well as trying to combat opposition strengths and it is tough to know what line-up coach Jodie Humphries will put out on court and you can almost guarantee she will happily make the most of her deep and versatile bench to ensure a win.
South has a more settled line but reducing errors and maintaining a more consistent level of defensive pressure will be required if they are to go home with the win.
Ellie Bouchier is crucial to the Demons’ chances, while the mid court of Teresa Humphris, Tully McShane, Sophie Wight and Megan Reid will need to use patience and care with ball in hand to make sure possession turns into scoring opportunities.
Accuracy in both shooting circles will also be critical.
The Cats have Chelsea Hulm, Caeleigh Humphries, Holly Smith and Madalene Cleary who can take a shooting role while the Demons will rely on Gracie Dalton, Ash Widdison and Reid.
This clash really is a toss of the coin but perhaps the Cats in a nailbiter.
East Gambier v West Gambier
East Gambier hosts top ranked West Gambier this weekend knowing the Roos are demolishing opposition line-ups as they charge towards the 2024 finals.
The Bulldogs had good patches against North Gambier but just could not generate enough scoring opportunities.
Stopping the ball movement of the Roos will loom as the main challenge – just as it was against the slick Tigers frontline – and that will need to start with the mid court and goalers working hard in the mid court to not allow the strong drives from Tara Bryant and Chelsea Tremelling and the quick connection between Lisa McGregor and Sarah Ritter.
Ritter is again scoring at will in 2024 and her ability to knock down shots from long range as well makes her the toughest defensive assignment in the competition and with McGregor, Bryant and the reliable Jess Holmes delivering with precision, Ritter always had a good 20 scoring opportunities a quarter.
At the other end, the East frontline will need to use their smarts to work their way through Amy Cram and Mikaela Horrigan and keeping the ball out of the air would be a good start.
Casey Horrigan and Tegan Nunan will need to do a mountain of work to enable their goalers to shake off the tight checking of the Roos defenders and accuracy on the finish will also be a key given the rebounding strength in the West defensive circle.
It is hard to mount a case for East Gambier to secure an upset with arguably the clash of the day being East defender Bo Creek and West goal attack McGregor – two quality veterans who continue to be two of the premier players in the competition.
Millicent v North Gambier
If Millicent harbours aspirations of finishing with a double chance, as unlikely as that is now with two rounds to play, the Saints have to send North Gambier home from McLaughlin Park without any premiership points.
That top two finish aside, the Saints will be looking to finetune and build some momentum heading into what looms as a high quality, nail biting finals series.
North Gambier has shown few weaknesses, if any, and they will also be relishing the chance to play a contender as the finals fast approach.
The offensive end of the Tigers is settled and despite being a completely new look frontline in 2024 has developed great connection, allowing them to play with speed of ball, using short sharp ball movement into the accurate finishing Macey Griffith and Kelly Lockwood.
The defensive end has had more changes with injury and player unavailability but the good news for coach Kaitlin Egan is she has multiple combinations that work and her back four are versatile across the three defensive posts.
Mel Renko has held the goal defence bib since covering for injured Lauran Norman despite Norman returning to the court but she has used her athleticism to great effect in wing defence, where Ava Collins, who can also easily transfer into the defensive circle, has also been prominent, with Stella Mobbs not only impressing in goal keeper, but having a rare foray into the shooting circle at the weekend for a quarter and giving Egan another weapon if required.
Millicent’s new shooting combination of Demi Verbena and Nikeisha Facey is starting to find its chemistry just in time for the major round and Daisy Tunkin and Lillie Paul are as reliable feeders as there are in the competition.
Lisa Duldig also patrols the mid court, while the young defensive line of Lauren Van Eeden, Edie Easterby and Portia McRae are as good at shutting down time and space as any team’s backline and they will need to be at their best to deny North easy scoring opportunities.
North still look the better side – just – but if any club knows how to perform at the business end of the season it is the Saints.
