North Gambier v West Gambier
Astrong start from the reigning premiers set up what ended up being a hard fought eight goal against North Gambier.
The Roos led by six at the first change and while North was able to reduce it to four at the main break, West again responded and it was nine at the final change before North just won the last quarter.
Missing Mel Renko again through the mid court, Stella Mobbs was called into the A Grade line-up for the Tigers, playing wing defence in the first half and then charged with trying to stop Sarah Ritter in the second.
North shooter Grace Potts was again a dominant force, netting 43 from 47 as she owned the area at the post, while Brianna Walters ran hard all day in centre for North and had a great battle with West’s Tara Bryant.
As it is so often, the well-oiled combination of Ritter and Lisa McGregor in goals proved the difference with the Roos duo working seamlessly to find each other in space and good shooting position.
East Gambier
v Casterton Sandford
East Gambier’s 66-22 victory over Casterton Sandford at the weekend was arguably the Bulldogs most complete performance of 2023.
They started with a bang as they held the Cats scoreless in the opening quarter and they built on that 14 goal lead every quarter.
It was a seven player defensive effort that set up that stunning opening quarter as every Bulldog player committed to denying the Cats time and space, forcing errors and creating turnover ball regularly which goalers Casey Horrigan and Renee Henke then converted.
Bo Creek was particularly damaging in the back half as she used her aerial skills and ability to read the play to great effect, denying the cats goalers possession time and time again.
To Casterton Sandford’s credit they recovered from the bumpy start and scored more consistently over the next three quarters, moving the experience of Madalene Cleary into the goal attack role.
At the other end of the court Caeleigh Humphries battled hard defensively given the weight of supply heading into the East shooting circle.
And much of that supply came through Tarsh McCallum who was at her best at the weekend, driving hard, working well in small spaces and delivering with precision.
Indi Dwyer got another taste of A Grade action in the second half and had a good battle with Chloe Foster and in the end, the Bulldogs controlled the contest from go to whoa.
South Gambier v Millicent
Millicent started in style in its clash with South Gambier setting up a nine goal quarter time lead the Saints built on every quarter.
The Saints shooting combination of Tabatha Sanderson and Demi Verbena not only earned plenty of scoring opportunities but they made sure they counted, converting 77 from 86, to see a final margin of 34.
The South goalers were also on song but just did not enjoy the same amount of supply, with Alyssa Duncan playing her best game for 2023 and in combination with Gracie Dalton netted 43 from 59.
Part of the reason South had limited supply was the defensive pressure applied by Millicent, with Kimmi Tincknell dominating at wing defence as she created plenty of turnover ball and pressuring the South feeders into error, allowing Portia McRae and Lauren VanEeden, to also disrupt South’s scoring opportunities.
Jackie Sunderland made her A Grade debut for the Saints in the second half and her fresh legs through the centre, only added to Millicent’s ability to keep scoring at a consistent rate.
Her opposite number Megan Reid was also one of the best on court as she took on both Lisa Duldig and Sanderson but continued to run and present her team mates with an option all day.
