North Gambier v Millicent
It was billed as the match of the round and it did not disappoint as North Gambier and Millicent went toe-to-toe at Vansittart Park with the Tigers getting the job done on their home turf.
Despite missing key defender Mikaila Pitt, North was able to place rising teenage star Stella Mobbs in the goal keeper role for her A Grade debut.
Millicent , as they so often do, got off to a flier and led by six at the first break..
Inaccuracy in the North shooting circle played a role in the deficit, while the Saints were nailing most of their opportunities.
In the second quarter the story was supply, with North generating 19 scoring shoots and finishing accurately, while Millicent had more trouble in finding their goalers and only 12 scoring opportunities were on offer.
The Saints reacted to that quarter, with scores tied at the main break at 24-all, by changing up the mid court, moving Lillie Paul to wing attack, Lisa Duldig into centre and freed up Kimmi Tincknell to the defensive wing with the injection of Lauren VanEeden into the goal defence role.
Again, North was able to just get the edge in scoring opportunities and Grace Potts and Macey Griffith were also finishing accurately, with the Tigers enjoying a six goal three quarter time lead.
That ended up being 10 by the final whistle as Potts and Griffith combined for 19 from 20 to put the result beyond doubt.
The victory would fill the Tigers with confidence as they seem to have settled on a starting seven that is gelling as a combination in every area of the court.
Mel Renko’s move to centre has seen her control the court for North, while freeing up Brianna Walters to use her speed off the mark at wing attack, while Lauran Norman will only improve as she nails down the defensive wing.
Noni McConnell has been the general of the defensive end and will be hanging for more time to develop an understanding with Pitt when she returns to the line-up.
Saints goalers Tabatha Sanderson and Demi Verbena were the best of the Saints, but there is work to be done in the connection with the mid court.
It is clear Millicent is still looking to settle on a preferred line-up, not just making those changes at the main break but moving VanEeden to the defensive wing for the final quarter and adding Nikeisha Facey to the goal defence role.
While Verbena and Duldig add plenty of experience and leadership to the Saints line-up it is a younger, more inexperienced line-up than over the past decade.
Casterton Sandford v South Gambier
South Gambier seemed to be in control for much of its round three clash with Casterton Sandford, but it was a last quarter shooting clinic from teenager Gracie Dalton that ensured the Demons had a comfortable victory.
The young shooter nailed 15 from 18 in a dominant final quarter performance that saw South power to a 17 goal victory.
The margin was seven at quarter time after a late flurry from the Demons and by half time it was a 12 goal margin.
The Cats got the better of the third quarter and had it back to an eight goal game before the last quarter effort from Dalton.
Casterton Sandford reacted to their opening quarter deficit by swinging the changes, which saw coach Dani Russell and Libby Altorfer switching roles on the wings, with Altorfer moving to the attacking end of the court, while circle defenders Caeleigh Humphries and Ebany Jarrad also swapped roles with Humphries moving back onto Dalton after her opening quarter of nine from 12, alongside Alyssa Duncan’s perfect six from six.
Over the next two quarters, the changes seemed to have an impact but an injury to Jarrad that forced her from the court, saw the Cats line-up again forced to shuffle, with Madalene Cleary moving from the centre to goal defence and Ivy Lane, who usually plies her trade as a goaler, taking the centre bib.
In a good sign for Casterton Sandford, the shooting combination of Chloe Foster and Chelsey Galpin looked to be finding some good chemistry and they did generate more scoring opportunities than the previous two rounds.
For the Demons, Sophie Wight was outstanding through the centre, running hard and having an impact at both ends, while Ellie Bouchier was the queen of the turnover, using her height and reach to great effect in disrupting the cats forward set up.
Duncan also continues to be the on court leader and she did a mountain of work as a key link player and out the front of Dalton to ensure South always remained ahead on the scoreboard.
East Gambier v West Gambier
The reigning premiers appeared in control of their McDonald Park contest with East Gambier, but it was only in the final quarter that West Gambier put the result beyond doubt, winning he quarter by 12 to power to a 20 goal victory.
That final quarter was the Sarah Ritter show as she converted 17 from 18, building on her first quarter dominance that saw her nail 12 from 13 in another stunning best on court performance.
Jade Ritter’s return to the court at the defensive end was certainly a boost for the Roos as her combination with Amy Cram made scoring difficult for the Bulldogs.
East would be thrilled how hard they pushed the reigning premiers for three quarters, with Tarsh McCallum’s hard running and accurate feeding, as well as Renee Henke’s timing on the move and accurate finishing key factors as well as the injection, due to injury, of Madison Tone at goal attack to try something new in the shooting circle.
And with a solid defensive combination of Bo Creek and Morgan Amy, the Bulldogs can only hope to continue to improve as their completely new look line-up tried to develop some synergy.
West would have been thrilled with its fist and last quarters but also happy to stay in the contest when challenged more strongly in the second and third and as a complete defensive unit they are keeping sides to low scores and minimal scoring opportunities, knowing they have such scoring power in Sarah Ritter and Lisa McGregor.
