SOUTH GAMBIER V PENOLA


Penola heads to Blue Lake Sports Park for the second time this Limestone Coast Football Netball League season and they face a South Gambier team that simply cannot take a trick.


Player unavailability will again force a reshuffle of the line-up but on the flip side give more young talent a chance to taste netball at the highest level.


The Eagles easily accounted for the Demons in round 2 when Gorgia Robbie dominated at goal defence, Sally Skeer controlled the mid court and April Possingham was unstoppable in goal shooter.


Robbie will enter the clash full of confidence, not just because she was so clearly best on court the first time these two sides met but because she is coming off the 2025 SA Country Championships where she was a key weapon in the A Grade championship winning side.


Her versatility was on show at the long weekend event and whether she returns to the goal defence role or takes the goal attack bib again, as she did in round 8 – she will no doubt have a say in the outcome of this contest.


When you add Tara Clayfield and Maddy Teakle to the mix for the Eagles, there are just no gaps in the line-up and it will be tough for the Demons but they will be looking for an improved scoreline.


Mykaela Thiele and Joirdy Bell are a strong defensive line and will look to shut down the scoring of the Eagles, which topped the 80-goal mark last time they met, while at the other end of the court, Ruby Richter is starting to have a real impact in the shooting circle, while the injection of Mel Harvey to the mid court has been a masterstroke with her speed, creativity and experience.


Penola will go home with the points but not without a fight.


CASTERTON SANDFORD V MILLICENT


Casterton Sandford has the tough task of hosting Millicent this weekend, with the Saints building nicely in 2025 and keen to ensure they remain in the top two.


The Cats welcomed back coach Madalene Cleary against South Gambier in round 7 and to have her experience back in the mix certainly helps the young Casterton Sandford line-up.


Shooting recruit Danielle Tooley and defender Caeleigh Humphries have been the Cats’ most consistent performers in 2025 and while the likes of Chelsea Hulm and Indi Longhurst are also having an impact, the depth of the Saints and the experience, even of its younger players, looms large.


Lisa Duldig, the 400 game veteran, leads a strong mid court with sisters Piper and Lillie Paul and also the added defensive strength of Lauren Van Eeden, who has made the wing defence bib her own.


Nikeisha Facey and Edie Easterby are the other defensive weapons, while Tabatha Sanderson has made her 2025 comeback one to remember with her strength at the post and accuracy on the finish and the delivery from goal attack Mylee Lynch is also on point.


Stopping the Saints from scoring will be a tough assignment for the Cats but Humphries and Ebany Jarrad, along with Madeline Patton and Cleary, will certainly try and make life tough for the Saints frontline but it is a tough, almost impossible task.


Taking care of the ball when they do have possession will need to be a priority for the home side and the flexibility of Phoebe Carlin could be a factor, given she can boost the mid court or take a defensive role.


Millicent should return home with the premiership points.


NORTH GAMBIER V WEST GAMBIER


The clash between the reigning premiers North Gambier and 2022 titleholders West Gambier is easily the match of the round.


Not just because they are serious contenders for the 2025 title but because their round 2 clash was a one goal nailbiter with the Tigers getting over the line with a death knock score.


North has not been seriously challenged to date this season with the exception of West Gambier and after a slow start, the Roos are starting to build and will be looking to take a big scalp sooner rather than later.


Both teams have a simple route to victory – stop the opposition’s scoring machine.


For North that is teenage sensation Mischa Human and for West it is Sarah Ritter.


Both goalers were stars for their respective teams at the weekend’s SA Country Championships with Ritter anchoring the A Grade’s title victory and being named in the Championship Top 10 players, while Human was a key to the 17 & Under team taking out Division 1.


Both are tall and tough to deny possession and both are accurate on the finish.


Of course, stopping them will not only fall to the respective goal keepers, North’s Stella Mobbs, who was part of that A Grade championship winning line-up, and West’s Mikaela Horrigan, but means controlling the speed of ball into the shooting circle and that’s where the mid court battles will become crucial.


Bri Walters has been in stellar form and her battle with Chelsea Tremelling will be match shaping, given Tremelling is one of the few wing defenders that has the pace to go with Walters.


The battle of the centres will also be critical as North’s Kaitlin Egan goes head-to-head with Tara Bryant – both are hard running and both have as much impact at the defensive end of the court as they do with their strong driving attacking moves.


Then there is unassuming Roos wing attack Anna Bosco who faces the task of getting the better of star North wing defender Mel Renko, fresh from being a key influence on the LCFNL A Grade championship win.


The respective goal attacks also loom large.


Macey Griffith is another of the young guns from the 2025 SA Country Championship winning A Grade team and her feeding and accurate finishing will play a role but she will earn her possession as she takes on Amy Cram.


West’s Lisa McGregor has been shooting more in 2025 and from range and her connection with Ritter is seamless, meaning Noni McConnell will need to be at her tight checking best.


North definitely start favourite and should remain undefeated.