ANZAC DAY- NORTH GAMBIER V SOUTH GAMBIER
Both North Gambier and South Gambier enter the Bendigo Bank Limestone Coast Football Netball League 2024 Anzac Day clash on the back of narrow losses where they gave their opponents a chance to build a small buffer and could never quite find a way back.
For the Tigers, new coach Kaitlin Egan was able to look at a couple of different combinations at either end of the court with Walkerville recruit Kelly Lockwood and Mischa Human both showing good signs in the goal shooter bib and teenage defenders Ava Collins and Stella Mobbs also staking a claim for the goal keeper bib.
North is unveiling a new look defensive circle for 2024 and Lauran Norman looked comfortable in the goal defence bib after a season learning her craft on the defensive wing and the athleticism of the North defensive circle will trouble the South frontline.
Macey Griffith was her consistent best at goal attack, while the North mid court is all class with experience to burn with Egan bringing her strength on the drive to the wing attack role, Brianna Walters using her speed and smarts in centre and Mel Renko is back on the defensive wing where she has done the most damage throughout her illustrious career.
South is still battling player unavailability in both their senior grades but already having one game under their belt will help the Demons settle into a better rhythm today.
Megan Reid’s speed and creativity out front with the strength of Ash Widdison under the post will be important, while Sophie Wight and Tully McShane will need to anchor the mid court with hard, two way running and a strong defensive mindset as well as a willingness to work hard to find good space and find a safe passage for the ball through the tenacious Tigers defence.
At the other end Ellie Bouchier looms large and she will need to not just be creating turnovers and dominating the air in the defensive circle but also providing a strong transition option.
She has been joined by Mykaela Thiele in 2024 and the combination will be better for having had their first run.
At this point of the season, North has too much experience and depth and will win another Anzac Day clash.
EAST GAMBIER V CASTERTON SANDFORD
New East coach Malinda Foster not only started her debut A Grade coaching career with a victory, she also showed she is still a creative player with a penchant for the long shot.
Her combination with Ambah Beveridge showed good promise against the Demons in round one and their battle with Ebany Jarrad and Dartmoor recruit Chloe Finnigan will go a long way to deciding the outcome of this intriguing clash.
The real challenge for the Cats, though, will be finding a way to score against the tough East defensive line.
It was Bo Creek and Morgan Amy that ensured the Bulldogs started 2024 with a victory and with the consistency of Sharna McKinnon anchoring the defensive trio, Amy and Creek were able to use their ability to read the play and dominate the air to create a lot of turnover ball.
It means Chelsea Hulm and new recruit Holly Smith will need to be patient to find good shooting position and they would be well-advised to keep the ball out of the air.
Smith’s arrival to the Cats shooting circle has freed Madalene Cleary to roam the mid court and lead her younger team mates at both ends of the court, while Finnigan means Caeleigh Humphries has been able to move out to the defensive wing to bring her ball winning ability into the mid court.
It will be the team that looks after the ball better that takes the points and if last week’s form is anything to go by, Creek and Amy will drag their teammates over the line.
MILLICENT V WEST GAMBIER
They were the pre-season premiership favourites and Millicent and West Gambier will go toe-to-toe at McLaughlin Park this weekend.
The Roos started their inaugural LCFNL campaign with a strong performance over North Gambier with Sarah Ritter again looming as a scoring machine and her combination with co-coach Lisa McGregor was a slick as ever.
The return to the court of Jess Holmes has added some speed and smarts to the West frontline, while Tara Bryant always performs at a high level and Zoe Malseed applies relentless pressure in what is a talent-laden mid court.
Mikaela Horrigan spent the off season training in the goal keeper role, after a number of seasons on the attacking wing, and in tandem with Amy Cram she made a promising start to her defensive career.
The defensive end of the Saints started with a bang in round one as youngsters Portia McRae and Lauren VanEeden continue to build a strong combination and they will need to be at their best to limit the scoring of Ritter and McGregor.
Their ability to deny easy ball to the Roos goalers will also depend on Millicent’s mid court applying plenty of pressure on the ball movement and that is where Lisa Duldig and Lillie Paul come in with their willingness to deny time and space to their opponents.
The Saints mid court will also need to be patient with ball in hand to find a way past Cram and co with Daisy Tunkin using her speed to great effect to help find the Saints shooters.
Millicent’s first choice shooters were not available in round one so much will depend on who suits up for this round two clash with a slightly more settled West line-up getting the points.
