13 & Under – Kalangadoo v Mount Burr
Kalangadoo take on Mount Burr in the 13 & Under preliminary final this weekend.
Mount Burr are a strong side with defenders Emily Lowndes and Isabelle Ballantyne sure to apply intense pressure to Kalangadoo’s Ebony Reeves and Matilda Peacock.
Harper Griffiths feeds into the Magpies’ goalies with ease and accuracy and will be well matched by Mount Burr’s Hannah Gellion who is able to pick up loose balls and transition them back down the court.
Kalangadoo will fight hard in this game and will need to stay strong against the tough Mount Burr side.
The Mozzies have come away with convincing wins both times these teams faced off in the minor rounds and should be able to do it again this weekend to progress to the grand final.
15 & Under – Port MacDonnell v Glencoe
Port MacDonnell and Glencoe face off at Kalangadoo in the preliminary final on Saturday.
Port MacDonnell’s Ivy Wilson and Bailee Lewis will use their accuracy in the goal circle and will be fed well from outside the circle by Casey McLean and Isla Fullham.
Glencoe’s Isabella Brierley and Ruby Buckley will apply the pressure in their defensive circle, using their height to pull in necessary rebounds.
Layla Hawke will lead her team from the centre, using her skill and speed to work the ball down the court, and will combine well with Kloe Phillips outside the defensive circle to put added pressure on any pass into the goalies.
Demons defenders Layla McPherson and Chelsea Fulham will use their ability to read the ball to create turnovers for their team, forcing errors and chasing any loose balls from the Murphy goalies.
Port Mac won both times these teams met previously and have the potential to do it again, however the Murphies will make it tough for them.
17 & Under – Kalangadoo v Hatherleigh
Hatherleigh take on Kalangadoo in the 17 & under preliminary final.
Both of these sides have a wealth of talent with most having a taste of senior netball in 2024.
17 & under best and fairest winner Shayden Russell at GA for the Pies has had a standout season and at the other end for the Eagles is the runner up best fairest for this grade Kalli Nettle.
Both girls are playmakers for their respective sides.
Russell is supported well in the circle by Georgia Gentile and they will ensure Niah Faulkner and Hannah Bellinger work hard to limit their opportunities.
Deni Brown in centre for the Eagles has benefited from senior exposure in 2024 and will guide her team throughout the court.
This 17s competition has been tight all season and this game will go down to the wire with either side capable of taking the win.
B Reserve – Hatherleigh v Kalangadoo
Hatherleigh will need to bounce back from their second semi final loss and be on top of their game when they come up against Kalangadoo.
The Pies have height throughout the court and experienced campaigners in Jodi Greenwood and Nicole Reeves, who can both switch between centre and goals and are supported in the circle by the accurate Maddi Wilkinson.
The Eagles tried a few goalie combinations last week and will need to work this out early in the game.
Expect either Nicole Thomas or Ellen Clarke to join Melita Thwaites in the circle.
Gemma Box and Deb Mulligan work hard in defence for the Pies and will make the Eagles goalies earn every shot.
Keely Jones was solid in centre last week against the Bay and will need to rely on her speed and pace as both Greenwood and Reeves have a height advantage.
This game could go either way with a win apiece through the minor rounds.
B Grade – Hatherleigh v Tantanoola
The last time these sides met Hatherleigh came away with a 46 goal win.
The Tigers will throw everything at the Eagles and the result will be tighter than that meeting.
Olivia Slattery at GS for Hatherleigh has shown much improvement and her height and presence will fall to Indiana Marshall to curb.
Ali McClelland at centre for Hatherleigh has had a stellar season finishing runner up best and fairest in this grade.
Her experience through the mid court always shines through for the full four quarters.
Her opposing centre Danielle Vanderheul can run all day and will work hard in the mid court.
Hatherleigh’s height and experience throughout the whole court will see them take the win and have the opportunity to take on Kalangadoo in the grand final.
A Reserve – Hatherleigh v Port MacDonnell
Hatherleigh and Port MacDonnell face off against each other at Kalangadoo in the preliminary final.
Hatherleigh’s versatile goal circle of Abby Wight, Eliza Mewett and Imogen Nowak are able to use their height and accuracy to score throughout the goal circle.
Port MacDonnell defenders Shannon Scheidl and Lara Wilson have strong hands and rebound well, both being able to read the play and pick off passes in the defensive end.
Demons youngster Bailee Lewis will need to work hard to shut down Eagle Rosie Nettle’s drive onto the circle to prevent her accurate feeding into her goalies.
Down the other end of the court Narelle Lewis will feed into Brooke Williams and Kelli von Stanke who position themselves with ease and convert turnovers from their defensive end.
Both times these teams faced off in the minor rounds ended in a draw and this game has the potential to go into overtime with both teams vying for their spot in the grand final against Kalangadoo.
A Grade – Kalangadoo v Tantanoola
In the do or die prelim final Kalangadoo take on Tantanoola in what will be a cracker of a match.
With both sides coming off an eight goal loss and an eight goal win expect this clash to be tight for four quarters.
Both sides’ goalie combinations have played together for numerous seasons, resulting in a knowledge of each other and their games.
Ebony McDiarmid has had a stellar season winning the association A Grade best and fairest.
Both McDiarmid and Abbey Duncan are a force to be reckoned with in the circle and Tigers defenders Kate Bromley and Bella Poulish will need to be at their best to limit their opportunities.
At the other end of the court the young Magpies defensive end will also need to work hard to curb the influence of Jami Walker and Emma Gould.
Mid court players Casey Walker and Jane Auld have had consistent seasons and their tussle will be one to watch.
Kate Varcoe is a creative feeder to her goalies and will need to be nullified if the Magpies are to halt the feed into the circle.
Both sides have a wealth of finals experience, and this game will go down to the final whistle with the Tigers throwing everything at this to pull off an upset win.