South Gambier started the round 15 clash with Casterton Sandford on fire, denying the Cats scoring opportunities and creating plenty of their own but in the end those opportunities did not end up on the scoreboard and what could have been a huge advantage was six goals.

In that frenetic opening quarter, where defensive duo Mykaela Thiele and Ellie Bouchier restricted the Cats to only six scoring shots, continually repelling Casterton Sandford’s attacking moves, South was afforded 18 opportunities to hit the scoreboard but the quarter time score of 8-2 in the Demons’ favour was arguably not the bang for buck the dominance in play deserved.

It did not take long for the Cats to start working their way back into the contest, with the late move of Madalene Cleary to wing attack and injection of Makayla Hutchins to wing defence in the opening quarter, seeing better transition play from the Cats and with Holly Smith finding good position in the back space and Chelsea Hulm using her drives along the baseline to great effect, Casterton Sandford were only three goals shy at the main break.

In the third quarter it was the Cats who generated the lion’s share of scoring opportunities and had some trouble on the accuracy front but with Cleary continually finding Hulm and Smith in space and Caeleigh Humphries providing some inspirational moments wither ability to create turnover ball, the three goal deficit became a three goal lead.

Determined to seal the win, the Cats worked their way out to a seven goal advantage early and refused to let the Demons back in despite the best efforts of Sophie Wight and Bouchier who created some late game turnovers.

Humphries and Cleary were the architects of the five goal victory – Humphries with a number of critical interceptions and deflections, while Cleary was safe with ball in hand and hit the circle’s edge hard.

Hulm was also important, while Indi Longhurst ran hard all match and had a great battle with Teresa Humphris, who was one of South’s best and most consistent performers.

Bouchier was again critical for the Demons, while Megan Reid, taking the goal attack bib after Gracie Dalton injured her ankle in the 17 & under match, was key in transition and finished accurately with 14 from 17.

MILLICENT V NORTH GAMBIER


It was a captivating preview of what the 2024 A Grade finals series could look like as Millicent hosted North Gambier in a blockbuster battle that saw the Saints secure a five goal victory.

The match was highlighted by impressive shooting, especially given how tense the goal-for-goal contest was with no more than that final give goal margin ever separating the two teams at each interval.

Aside from some brief court time for star teenage shooter Mischa Human across the final three quarters, both sides basically stuck with their starting seven to get the job done, while Millicent did inject Lauren VanEeden into wing defence late when Lisa Duldig was forced from the court through injury.

It was the Saints by two at quarter time, one at half time and then back to two at three quarter time before Millicent finished with a 57-52 final whistle victory.

All four goalers on court had an impressive day on the stats sheet – Millicent shooter Nikeisha Facey netted 33 from 41; goal attack Demi Verbena converted 24 from 31, while Human and Kelly Lockwood combined for 30 from 34 in the shooter position, while North goal attack Macey Griffith converted 22 from 25.

The battle in the centre between young Saints centre Lillie Paul and experienced Tiger Kaitlin Egan was one for the ages, while the work rate of Brianna Walters on North’s attacking wing was impressive, on the back of what has been an outstanding season for the Tiger mid courter.

Verbena was arguably best on court, with her work high up the court in transition and her leadership in taking charge of the attack line, while also having her own impact on the scoreboard.

The victory for Millicent means each of the top three teams have now had victories over the other two major contenders, setting up an intriguing inaugural finals series.

EAST GAMBIER V WEST GAMBIER


West Gambier did what they so often do in their round 15 clash with East Gambier – blow a team off the court in the first quarter and all but put the final result beyond doubt.

The quarter time score was 20-7 built on a stifling defence as Chelsea Tremelling and Amy Cram controlled the defensive transverse line and with hard running from Tara Bryant and Jess Holmes, the Roos played their trademark transition game with Sarah Ritter, 11 from 12, and Lisa McGregor, nine from 10, making sure the dominance was reflected on the scoreboard.

The Bulldogs upped the ante in the second, finding better connection in offence and making ball movement a little more difficult for the Roos at the other end of the court and while West still won the quarter, 16-11, it was a more competitive effort.

Things got even better for the Bulldogs in the third as the defensive pressure from Bo Creek, Morgan Amy and Sharna McKinnon again ensured it was not one way traffic, as it was in the first, and at the other end Tegan Nunan was connecting strongly with Malinda Foster and the star East shooter did not disappoint.

Foster netted 15 from 16 for the quarter, which East won by three, but the Roos were quick to respond with a dominant last quarter, where Foster still had an impact, but Ritter was also impactful, with her 16 from 20 and West powered to a 69-46 victory.

Foster, with her 40 from 45 was clearly East’s best, while Nunan’s workrate through the mid court was pivotal.

For West, the Ritter-McGregor shooting combination again dominated.