The second semi final was epic and this weekend’s A Grade preliminary final looms as equally enticing and the bottom line is a quality line-up will miss out on vying for the premiership title this season.
West Gambier and Millicent are set to go head to head in what will be a tense battle built on the defensive pressure on which both sides build their game.
Both teams play a relentless full court defence, contesting everything and working hard to slow the speedy ball movement both sides attacking profiles prefer.
Every match up looms large.
Portia McRae has the unenviable task of limiting supply to Sarah Ritter and while she has become a tough one-on-one defender, she will be hoping for pressure on the feed to help her in that stopping job, especially given Ritter has had another stellar season and is an accurate finisher from any range.
Edie Easterby will take on key playmaker Lisa McGregor and Easterby will not just have to stop McGregor getting too much ball, given her pinpoint delivery to Ritter, but also being a key link player for the Saints in transition.
Easterby is the queen of creating the turnover and if she has a strong game, the Saints will be well in the contest.
Lisa Duldig has been battling injury but her tight checking at wing defence or strong driving in the mid court has been a key in the back end of the season and whichever role she plays, her on court leadership will be pivotal.
It means either Duldig or Lauren Van Eeden will look to stop Jess Holmes, the Roos’ quiet achiever who rarely makes an error with ball in hand and just goes about feeding the ball with a no-fuss approach that so often flies under the radar.
Tara Bryant is coming off an impressive second semi final performance and her battle with Duldig or Lillie Paul will be as pivotal as any on the court.
Bryant picked up some important defensive touches at the weekend and then burned the opposition with her speed, turning defence into offence in the blink of an eye and connected seamlessly with Ritter and McGregor.
Paul can certainly match that style of play and her composure on delivery and willingness to keep providing an option to her teammates will be vital.
Daisy Tunkin is a bit like Holmes for West – no fuss and not often referenced but such a key cog in the offensive set up and her battle with Chelsea Tremelling, who is as tenacious as they come and uses her speed onto the ball to great effect in creating turnover, will be critical.
The match up between West defender Amy Cram and Saints goaler Demi Verbena will be one of the key match defining duels.
Verbena is the architect of the Saints’ offensive play and her connection with Nikeisha Facey and her long range accuracy are her greatest strengths, while Cram shuts down time and space on opponents better than any defender in the league and her work over the shot and rebounding strength will be pivotal.
The match up at the post is an intriguing one as both players – Millicent’s Facey and West goal keeper Mikaela Horrigan – have both reinvented themselves in 2024 and done it without missing a beat.
Facey has been a long standing defender but has turned herself into a reliable goaler in 2024, while A Grade premiership wing attack Horrigan has taken the keeper bib and built a strong combination with Cram.
Expect the margin to be small with the Roos ending the Saints’ campaign.
A RESERVE – MILLICENT V SOUTH GAMBIER
South Gambier is yet to defeat Millicent in season 2024 but as the surprise packet of this final series, the Demons are on a hiding to nothing in this weekend’s preliminary final.
The Demons have plenty of in form players but despite losing in the second semi final, the Saints still put in a good showing ad would be backing themselves to earn another shot at North Gambier, who are sitting back and waiting to see who their grand final opponent will be.
The newly crafted shooting combination of Jaymee O’Neil and Ruby Richter have taken half a season to gel but they are now a challenging combination for any defensive group and that includes the uber talented Emily Denton, the tenacious Alice Pratt and athletic Georgia Clarke.
At the other end of the court, Jordy Bell has had a break out season alongside Charlene Riley and Claire Day and they will need to be at their best to deny the scoring power of Abby Denton, who loves the long range shot, and Mylee Lynch, who is a creative player who finishes accurately.
The mid courts see two of the best in the business with Jackie Sunderland and Cailtin Muller going head-to-head.
Millicent also has Alana Craig, who is arguably having a career best season at wing defence as well as young guns Poppy Venn and Piper Paul, while South will look to rotate Chelsea Ryan and Maddie Burley through the mid court.
It would be a surprise if the Demons conjured the win but they are on a roll and the Saints will need to be at their absolute best to earn a rematch with the Tigers.
B GRADE – MILLICENT V NORTH GAMBIER
After losing only one game for the season heading into the second semi final, Millicent now finds themselves in a preliminary final after South Gambier was able to secure a seven goal victory in that final.
Neither the Demons or Saints would have wanted to face the Tigers, who have been building nicely in the 2024 season and with key defender Michelle Fleming under an injury cloud, the Saints will be looking to iron out the wrinkles from the weekend.
In the second semi final the Saints moved the magnets around all game to try and get some ascendancy and you cannot help but think they will look to a more settled approach to this knockout final on their home court.
Where to play Krystal Coghlan looms as a conundrum for the Saints but given the influence of Tigers goal attack Ali Anderson, starting the award winning defender on North’s key playmaker looms as the best option.
Anderson and Jordyn Iovino are the architects of North’s frontline and stopping them will be critical if the Saints want to advance to the grand final.
At the other end, the battle between tenacious defender Riley Mitchell and athletic recruit Ariella Smith and the Millicent shooters will also be match shaping with the Mitchell match up on experienced campaigner Bek Millowick being one of the most important in the final wash up.
Nicole Domaschenz looms as an X factor in this match with the Saints utility able to have an influence in defence or the shooting circle, while North has its own secret weapon with teenage defender Kelsie Anderson, who has been injected into a number of matches this season and turned a game.
Millicent was top for a reason and in one of the tightest contests of the day, the Saints should keep their season alive.
C GRADE – NORTH GAMBIER V MILLICENT
North Gambier will be looking to regroup and regroup quickly, after South Gambier put in a dominant performance in the second semi final to advance to the title decider and send the Tigers to the preliminary final to take on Millicent.
The Saints were somewhat surprise winners in the first semi final but they are clearly on a roll and feeling confident and with Maya Tarrant and Keelie Lindner in goals, Tayla Werchon in the mid court and Ella Wesolowski anchoring the defence, the Tigers will need to be at their best if they hope to be part of grand final day in 2024.
North tried a few different combinations at the weekend to combat the Demons and will be looking for a more settled line-up to hopefully get the job done.
Experienced campaigner Keeley Quinn is a key for the Tigers, as is young gun Sarah Brown, who can dominate the mid court or goals, while Milly Allen provides a great focal point in the shooting circle.
Deb Edwards is another experienced voice on court and was one of the Tigers’ best in the second semi with her role in the mid court, while Kahlia Egan brings an uncanny ability to win the ball back and Tara Fleming is a great leader of the defensive end of the court for the Tigers.
Until the second semi final 20 goal loss, North had been the clear challenger for South Gambier and if they bring their best netball they will get a chance to see if the Demons can be beaten.
17 & UNDER – MILLICENT V SOUTH GAMBIER
Millicent challenged undefeated North Gambier in the second semi final in a way the Tigers have not been challenged in 2024 but in the end, they were still relegated to the preliminary final to take on South Gambier.
Given the Demons 17 & Under team in 2023 was unable to win a game, turning up to a preliminary final under the tutelage of coach Larnka Foran in 2024 is already a win for South Gambier, who will need a miracle to beat the talent-rich Saints.
South Gambier has star defenders Shana Grassi and Kyla Gordon – the duo key to the first semi final victory – while Gracie Dalton is a bonafide star and her on court leadership, as well as her accurate finishing, is a key for the Demons.
The support cast that includes Sienna Bartlett, Tyga Allen, Layla Sneath, Kasey Sims, Ella Jolley and Sofie Morale have all played their part in a season of huge improvement and South is certainly a versatile line-up.
But they are taking on a Millicent line-up that has star A Grade defender Edie Easterby, quality mid courter Piper Paul, Mylee Lynch and Poppy Venn in the shooting roles and the always reliable Mia Gysbers in centre.
Goal keeper Mackinlee Alcock is as determined as they come and with the tight checking Eva Crowe adding grunt to the defensive end and Emily Walker giving the Saints versatility with her ability to play in the mid court goals, the Saints just have too much firepower.
If South can get off to a strong start they could make the Saints a little nervous but it is hard not to see Millicent earn one more shot at North Gambier with one of the more comfortable victories of the day.
15 & UNDER A – NORTH GAMBIER V WEST GAMBIER
North Gambier certainly challenged Millicent in the weekend’s second semi final and it is hard to see how West can deny the Tigers one more crack at the Saints in the grand final.
The Roos are talented – there’s no denying that – but the Tigers have superior scoring power and a dynamic defence that will make it tough for West to conjure what would be an upset.
Lara Murdoch is a star and she has influenced every game this season with her speed and reliability at goal attack for West, and her combination with the accurate Sara Richards will certainly challenge the North defence.
But Raine Darimaani’s athleticism will make life tough for the Roos shooters – she reads the play well, has an amazing jump on the shot and she will not be outrebounded, so accuracy will be key.
At the other end of the court, the Roos defence of Claire Hunter and Analeigh Anderson will be outsized by state representative Mischa Human, who is coming off a starring role in North Gambier’s A Grade second semi final victory, and Lila Pearson, who is a long range specialist and also played her part in North’s A Reserve team heading straight to the grand final.
Jenna Baron will control the mid court and her battle with Swaye Lindner, who is a hard working and smart player, will be one of the highlights of the clash but North should advance for a rematch with the Saints.
15 & UNDER B – NORTH GAMBIER V CASTERTON SANDFORD
It will take a huge reversal in form for Casterton Sandford to advance to the 2024 15 & Under B grand final given they are yet to beat their preliminary final opponent North Gambier.
The Cats had a stellar performance in the first semi final to keep their season alive but will need to up the ante again this weekend to topple the Tigers.
The two sides have met four times already this season with all four results going the way of North Gambier with comfortable margins ranging from 16 to 27 goals – that 27 goal season high margin coming in round 16.
Lacey Hunter and Carey Grivell are a strong shooting combination and their battle with the likes of Marlee Robbins, who has turned herself into a tight checking circle defender, while the mid court boasts Jenna Baron and the speedy Tiger centre’s battle with Makayla Rees, who is a talent on the rise at Island Park, will be one of the most intriguing of the day.
Then there is the Cats shooting combination of Adele Murphy and Renee Gorman – a duo that moves well and finishes accurately – meaning Tigers defender Ava Halloran will need to be at her best to deny easy scoring opportunities.
Ylana Grigg looms as the X factor in this contest – her height has proven tough to combat in goals and she is already a highly regarded circle defender as well.
The Tigers were outclassed in the second semi final but this young group should be able to bounce back and advance to the grand final.
13 & UNDER A – SOUTH GAMBIER V WEST GAMBIER
South Gambier and West Gambier drew last time the two met so the 13 & Under A preliminary final promises to be one of the tightest contests of the day at McLaughlin Park.
The Demons won the previous three encounters but know they will need to bring their A game to earn another crack at the dominant Millicent team in the grand final.
Inconsistency and too many errors plagued the young Demons in the second semi final but they showed patches of brilliance and they will need to bring that level of performance to get past the Roos.
Annalie Peucker looms large in defence for South with her ability to win back the ball, and her combination with Lucy Noonan will need to shut down time and space for the talented shooting combination of Hannah Jackson and Eva Povey.
At the other end of the court West defenders Savannah Riddoch and Claudia Vorwerk are masters at winning the ball back and the South mid court will need to show them due respect and work the ball around them to find Elsie Merchant and Harper Lindner in good shooting position.
Accuracy will be a key for both sides, making sure scoring opportunities end up on the scoreboard.
Zara Cole was her side’s best in the second semi final and her battle with Ella McKenny looms large as a match defining battle.
Harper Lindner had an impressive first semi final for West Gambier, despite her inexperience, while Ruby Lamb is also a key in the mid court.
South will no doubt rotate their mid court, as they have all season, with Tegan Sims, Zara Harten, Ellie McCracken and Addy Green all able to play any of the three roles required.
When the two met in round 16, West got off to a flier and South ran them down for the draw – if the Demons can start well, they will secure the one vacant grand final position.
13 & UNDER B – SOUTH GAMBIER V MILLICENT
South Gambier is yet to drop a game to Millicent this season in three outings in the 13 & Under B competition but they will not be taking the Saints lightly as they look to earn a rematch with West Gambier in the 2024 grand final.
The Demons were missing key player Courtney Sims in the second semi final and will welcome the utility back for this crucial clash.
Her combination in goals with Lacey Howard has been a standout all season, while Ellie McCracken can also take a role in the shooting circle, with Sims taking a mid court role.
At the other end of the court Lara Agostinelli, Ellie Scotland, Willow Bowering and Zara Harten will need to be at their tight checking best to prevent the Saints front line from earning too many scoring opportunities.
Agostinelli, Bowering and the steady, safe hands of Myla Raedel can also get the job done in the mid court as the Demons look to bounce back from their second semi final loss.
The Saints are a versatile combination with Raven Johnson one of the key players with her ability to play in any role, winning the ball back whenever needed.
Kirra Madden, Olivia Hales and Lia Joyce are also key players at either end for the Millicent line-up and this games looms as a nailbiter but the Demons should get the job done in a tight one.
