EAST GAMBIER V SOUTH GAMBIER
East Gambier continues to challenge top sides without getting the points so they will have set themselves for this round six clash with South Gambier in a bid to stay inside the top four.
The Demons will be bitterly disappointed after being on the wrong side of the scoreboard last weekend against Casterton Sandford and will see the Bulldogs as a chance to bounce back.
Ellie Bouchier is in outstanding form and just as well as her battle with East coach Malinda Foster will be one of the key match ups of the contest.
Foster is creative and accurate and Bouchier will need to deny her easy possession and her ability to dominate the air will be key, especially in the rebounding duels, given how rarely Foster dishes up a miss.
Last time the two sides met, South was not smart enough with ball in hand and Bo Creek and Morgan Amy dominated the defensive transverse line, continually turning over the ball.
If South can be more patient with Teresa Humphris, Tully McShane and Megan Reid looking to find a way around Creek, Amy and keeper Sharna McKinnon.
Inaccuracy cost the Demons dearly in the weekend’s loss and they will be hoping to make their weight of possession to be reflected on the scoreboard, and accuracy will also be critical as Creek and McKinnon are strong rebounders.
The mid courts are well matched with Teagan Nunan thriving in the top grade and combining well with Casey Horrigan, while Sophie Wight looms as a key for the Demons with her strong aerial work and speed on the ground.
Neither side can lay claim to putting four quarters together in 2024 thus far and it will be the team that can do that and reduce errors that takes the points with East to secure the win in a narrow scoreline.
MILLICENT V CASTERTON SANDFORD
Millicent is coming off a tight loss to North Gambier and will be keen to rebound strongly to the winners’ list when they host Casterton Sandford.
The Cats will be on a high after breaking a three year drought with a win over South Gambier in round five but might find victory over the Saints a bridge too far.
Holly Smith and Chelsea Hulm showed a great chemistry at the weekend and Hulm was unflappable in the final quarter when the game was on the line but they will find things even tougher against the Millicent defensive line of Portia McRae and Lauren Van Eeden.
At the other end of the court, Nikeisha Facey continues to grow in the goal shooter role, while Edie Easterby has shown not only is she a quality defender and dynamic mid courter but also a more than capable goaler and she has dominated the goal attack bib since taking the role in round two.
The Saints shooting duo will be tested by the tight checking of Caeleigh Humphries, Ebany Jarrad and Chloe Finnigan.
The mid court will see Cats utility Madalene Cleary lead her young teammates, including the speedy Indi Longhurst, while experience campaigner Lisa Duldig will do the same for Millicent with Daisy Tunkin, Lillie Paul and Georgia Clarke all set to have an impact as well.
It is hard to see a way for the Cats to take the points but if they bring the intensity and commitment they brought to the round five they will challenge the Saints but Millicent will bounce back with a win.
NORTH GAMBIER V WEST GAMBIER
It is the battle of the top two and looms as a nailbiting contest with neither side showing any obvious weaknesses.
North Gambier is hosting top ranked West Gambier at Vansittart Park with every match up on court set to influence the final result.
Young defenders Ava Collins and Stella Mobbs will get the job on prolific scorer Sarah Ritter, who returned to the court last round after being sidelined with an ankle injury, and they will not only need to be at their tight checking best but will need their teammates to pressure the delivery to the accurate Roos finisher.
Lauran Norman, who came of age in the Anzac Day clash this season, will also have her hands full with Lisa McGregor, who has been shooting more in 2024, and who is the architect of the West frontline.
Norman has the athleticism and fitness to go with McGregor and she will need to wear the Roos coach like a glove, trying to limit her role in transition as well as pressuring her usually accurate feeds to Ritter.
One of the battles of the day will be the unassuming Jess Holmes and quality wing defender Mel Renko.
Holmes just gets to the right spots for the Roos and hits the circle hard, rarely making a mistake with ball in hand, while Renko makes her opponents earn every possession and she will be looking to work in tandem with Brianna Walters to ensure Holmes and the hard running Tara Bryant cannot find that perfect circle position and hopefully draw some passing errors for the Tigers defenders to pounce on.
Kaitlin Egan’s return to North has seen her dominate the attacking wing and her strength in the air and positioning on the circle will test tenacious West wing defender Chelsea Tremelling, who will use her speed and deceptive vertical leap to try and disrupt.
Arguably one of the most critical battles will be young Tigers goal attack Macey Griffith, who has been in her side’s best in the past fortnight, and quality Roos defender Amy Cram.
Cram not only finds ways to deny her opponent time and space but also directs her teammates in the defensive third to ensure no team has an easy route to goal and her work over the shot and rebounding will be key.
Griffith has been thriving in her new partnership with Kelly Lockwood, taking on more of the shooting responsibilities and using speed of ball to find space.
Lockwood is also a key with her accurate finishing and her ability to play both quick and tall.
Her match up with new keeper Mikaela Horrigan will be intriguing and Tigers will do well to keep the ball out of the air where Horrigan is at her best.
It is hard to see more than a few goals separating the two teams with West remaining on top with a narrow victory.
