A GRADE

Millicent v West Gambier

It was a match of the highest quality when Millicent and West Gambier faced off in the second semi final and there is no reason not to think this weekend’s premiership decider will be any different.

West had to fight hard to take care of North Gambier in the preliminary final but showed when things were not clicking and when the pressure was on, they were still able to work hard and find a way.

Sarah Ritter looms large and she was the difference in the 2022 decider with her best on court performance.

Ritter had a tough day at the office in the preliminary final against Stella Mobbs but she refused to concede and in the end, netted 52 from 57, including the first and third quarters where she did not miss.

Portia McRae will have the job of minding Ritter and she will be all too aware of reducing her access to the ball. McRae will also need to work hard over the shot and block hard on the rare rebounding opportunities to create turnover ball.

Ritter is well served by her shooting team mate Lisa McGregor – the recently crowned team of the year playing coach – and she showed in the preliminary final that she is not afraid of hard work and presenting for multiple passes to keep the ball in Roos hand until Ritter opens up.

Her battle with Lauren Van Eeden, who will need to go step for step with the experience goal attack will be one of the match defining battles.

Mikaela Horrigan delivered some stunning long range balls in the preliminary final and whether she is matched up on Kimmi Tincknell, who had an impressive second semi final, or Lisa Duldig, they will need to place hands pressure over every delivery to try and force an error.

Tara Bryant is another Roo who covered plenty of distance on the court in the second semi final and her match up with Duldig or Lille Paul will be integral to the final result with all three players, fit, fast and as effective at the offensive end as they are in being a defensive threat.

Perhaps the most important match up on the day is Amy Cram taking on association best and fairest Demi Verbena.

Verbena is critical to the Saints’ fortunes with her strong front cuts, speed on the drive and ability to find Tabatha Sanderson in space but if anyone is up to the challenge it is Cram and she had a great dress rehearsal in the preliminary final when she shared her time between denying her opponent the ball while also helping out defensive partner Jade Ritter with denying a tall shooter the ball.

Cram and Jade Ritter were the players who took some critical interceptions and some hard fought rebounds in the tense preliminary final and their ability to do that again will be pivotal in the Roos’ premiership defence.

It has been tight all season between these two teams and was a one goal margin a fortnight ago.

Simply too close to call but a match not to be missed.

A RESERVE

Millicent v West Gambier

The margin in the A Reserve second semi final between Millicent and West Gambier, belied a tough opening half and was not reminiscent of the clashes between the two sides during the season.

There is no reason to think the margin will be anywhere in the vicinity of that 19 goal margin.

Controlling the scoring power of Donna Denton, who was named joint association best & fairest at the weekend medal count, will be priority one for West Gambier and while that puts the pressure on Racheal Langford, who was celebrated for her 300 senior games at the weekend medal count as well, it will take efforts defensively from all her team mates.

Langford is a tight checking defender who will wear Denton like a glove while her partner in crime in circle defence Maddie Milich will need to do likewise with Abby Denton and Rylee Kenny, as they are the creative goal attacks who feed the ball to the experienced shooter.

Jackie Sunderland is also key with her connection to Denton, as well as her defensive efforts and that is why she was the other winner of the association best & fairest.

Her battle with Anna Bosco, who also finished in the best and fairest top five, will be one of the key matchups on the day, with Chelsea Tremelling also possibly called on to quell the influence of Sunderland.

Carlee Ransom is also a key for the Roos and her battle with Alice Pratt, who is an expert at shutting down opponents will be pivotal in the final result.

The West shooting combination of Tahlia Earl and Gracie Peterson has had a stunning season and with Earl strong at the post and Peterson strong on the drive, Saints defenders Nikeisha Facey and Keeley Stuart will need to be at their best.

The Millicent defensive duo certainly got the job done in the second half of the second semi final but West’s demolition of North Gambier in the preliminary final will see the Roos enter this clash full of confidence.

It will be a much closer result but Millicent should still get the job done.

B GRADE

Casterton Sandford v Millicent

Casterton Sandford will start the B Grade grand final as favourites.

The Cats have a tall goal shooter in Shelby Nolte who has improved every single outing this season.

They have association best and fairest Trictia Cleary not just feeding Nolte with precision but finishing accurately herself.

Then there is the mid court of young speedster Amber Balzan, strong driving centre Anna Whillas, experienced wing defender Kerri Harvey and athletic utility Dakota Crawford.

Defensively Emma Grigg leads the charge with her tight checking and ability to get her hands on the ball to create turnovers, with Jess Cousins and youngster Sarah Richardson taking the goal keeper bib to back Grigg up.

But Millicent are not without their chances, especially with Michelle Fleming not ruled out due to her second semi final hand injury but ready to take on Nolte.

Fleming will also rely on the support of Veronica Duncan, who is a tight checking defender with good reach, as well as pressure from the mid court, especially centre Krystal Coghlan, who will no doubt be damaging at both ends of the court.

The Millicent front line will be looking to find ways to find Nicole Domaschenz in good space at the post, with Josie Lang and Kate Patten taking the other shooting role, while Kalli Brown brings leadership, a strong voice and plenty of nous to the wing attack role.

It is hard to see the Cats not taking the title but they will be wise not to take a rejuvenated Saints line-up lightly.

C GRADE

South Gambier v East Gambier

In the second semi final, the C Grade clash between South Gambier and East Gambier went into overtime.

There is nothing to suggest the weekend’s title decider will be no less tense.

Both sides have classy defenders – South with Cheslea Dunn, who finished third in the association medal count, and East with runaway association best and fairest winner Brooklyn Jean.

Both sides have impressive shooting combination – South with the experience of Brooke Winterfield and athleticism of Alannah Clayton, while East has the always accurate Megan Wilson and the strength on the hold of Millie Button and Katie Gaffney.

Zena Creek controls the attacking end for East, while Misty Dalton plays that same role for the Demons, who have a deep mid court that includes Ash Kuhl, Jade Jennings and Jess McGregor.

Grace Ferguson is a key in the Bulldogs mid court – she creates critical turnovers and uses her speed to great effect as a link player, while Tamara Perryman provides a steadying influence in the centre.

Ella Egan looms as a wild card with her ability to play a role for South in the mid court or shooting circle, in fact, the versatility o the South line-up that has players like Mel Kuhl, Clayton, Dunn and McGregor able to play multiple roles.

Both sides would be looking to cut down on the unforced errors and accuracy in the shooting circle will be a key but the depth of the Demons will see them prevail but not before everyone’s nerves have been tested.

17 & Under

North Gambier v Millicent

On the back of a 25 goal opening quarter from newly crowned association best and fairest Stella Mobbs, North Gambier easily took care of Millicent in the second semi final.

The 23 goal margin suggests this weekend’s title decider will again be lop sided and while the Tigers are clear favourites there are a couple of new facts to add into evidence.

In the second semi final Poppy Venn and Edie Easterby were unavailable due to injury – they returned to the court at the weekend and they indisputably strengthen the Saints significantly.

Easterby adds some class to the defensive line or the mid court, and she was best on court in the preliminary final – such is her influence.

Venn gives Millicent coach Morgen Lindner options – she can take a shooting role or add bite to the mid court.

And that is a mid court already blessed with Lillie Paul, who is smart and composed at all times and has the ability to win the ball back, as well as the reliable Jaimie Lucas and tight checking Bree Watson.

The smarts and long range accuracy of Abby Denton cannot be underestimated and then there is the defensive grunt of Maya Tarrant and Mackinlee Alcock.

Stopping supply to Mobbs will be the key mission of the Saints and that will be tough when you have Macey Griffith not only delivering the ball but shooting plenty of goals herself – the Tigers goal attack coming off a stunning A Grade preliminary final at the weekend.

The mid court is also all class with Cara Nulty, Coco Mackereth, Tora Jones while specialist wing defence Jayme Young has selflessly taken the goal defence bib in the absence of the injured Luca Roulstone and she will go step for step with Lynch to limit her influence.

Ava Collins heads up that defensive end and she is more than capable of creating turnovers when required.

The Saints will absolutely narrow the margin but stopping Mobbs and Griffith from posting a winning score just seems to tough an ask and the Tigers will prevail.

15 & Under A

Millicent v North Gambier

Millicent was impressive in the 15 & under A second semi final and while the Tigers easily got the job done in the preliminary final, missing captain and star defender Ruby Mitchell for the title decider will do little to help their cause in reversing that 21 goal loss.

The two sides have had some quality battles over the course of the season but the Saints are clear favourites in this battle.

Mitchell is a huge omission and while Raine Darimaani is an athletic defender, her move into the defensive circle alongside the tight checking Kelsie Anderson, takes her away from the wing defence role she has mastered in 2023.

That being said, the quality mid court of Maggie Collins and Georgia Nulty and the shooting combination of Mischa Human on the hold and Elodie Adam taking on the long range shot, North has plenty of quality.

It is just the Saints also have quality in every role on court.

Kalani Dunn has had a break out season in goal shooter and combines well with Mylee Lynch, who has impeccable timing and is accurate on the finish.

At the defensive end, Emily Denton has the height to match Human while Matti Fauchelle has the agility to run with Adam.

The mid court has three players – Piper Paul, Mia Gysbers and Bell Coghlan – who are all smart, have speed to burn and play as hard defensively ad they do with ball in hand.

Millicent not only dominated the second semi final but had they finished more accurately, they may well have won by more so it is hard to mount a case for the Tigers reversing that result.

15 & Under B

Millicent v North Gambier

The 15 & Under B grand final looms as one of the nail biting contests of the day.

When Millicent and North Gambier faced off in the second semi final it took until the final quarter when Tahnee Grosser dominated the attack end for the Saints and Jeda Hibberd and Eva Crowe created some critical turnovers the Saints were able to breakaway and secure the win.

And those three Saints will again be critical in shaping the outcome this weekend.

As will Asha Gysbers, who is a strong and smart player through the mid court, while Emily Walker is a great foil for Grosser, working hard to make good space and accurate on the finish.

Lainie Rainsford, Ella Matthews and Lexi Nicholls round out the mid court for Millicent and give coach Lisa Duldig plenty of options if change is required.

North’s shooting combination of Claire Mitchell, who was crowned the association best and fairest at the junior medal count, and Mia Griffith complement each other and if they can get enough supply, the Tigers will be right in the contest.

At the other end, Isabella Stafford anchors the defensive end and with Penny Coleman not available, Raine Darimaani will n doubt take a role in the defensive circle and her battle with Grosser could well shape the match.

The Tigers mid court has the speed of Lily Brook, , while Lacey Allen is reliable on the attacking wing and Zoe Dinnison takes care of the defensive wing, with Georgia Nulty and Jenna Baron also available to take a mid court role.

One of the tougher results to predict, the Saints might just get up in an arm wrestle.

13 & Under A

Millicent v North Gambier

In the 13 & under A second semi final, Millicent got off to a flyer and dominated the contest but this weekend will not be a lop sided contest.

The Tigers found their groove at the weekend with a dominating victory of their own but it was a game that saw many of its key players play themselves back into form.

Millicent are deserved favourites heading into the title decider- not just based on their second semi final performance but because of the quality of the line-up.

Recently crowned association best and fairest Lucy Crowe dominates the mid court and her battle with Jenna Baron will be one of the key battle this weekend.

So will the clash between Saints wing attack Olive Thorne, who is a reliable and composed performer, and Mackenzie Harrold, who is coming off a best on court performance in the preliminary final after she took a number of clean interceptions as well as important deflections and chasing of loose balls.

Millicent has speed to bur with Scarlett Zalme and her battle with Grace Collins, who rarely made an error with ball in hand in the preliminary final, will be another crucial match up.

One of the big challenges for North is stopping supply to Amarlie Thomson.

The impressive shooter finished runner up in the association medal count and she dominated the second semi final, nailing 42 from 46, including an impressive 11 straight in the opening quarter.

Thomson is well supported by Indi Coghlan and the Saints shooting duo will test Tigers defenders Amelie Adam and Ava Halloran, who both performed well last weekend.

One of the reasons, the Tigers would have a level of confidence heading into the grand final is the form of Carey Grivell and Lacey Hunter at the weekend.

They combined well and finished accurately and will be looking to put in a strong performance against the tough defensive Saints combination of Lola Ferguson and Audrey Galalmbos, with the possibility of Crowe also heading into the defensive circle.

This will not be a blowout but the Saints will still get the job done.

13 & Under B

Casterton Sandford v Millicent

Casterton Sandford will start the 13 & Under B grand final warm favourites but the Cats will know not to take Millicent lightly.

After a slow start to the season, the Saints have found their mojo and worked their way through the 2023 finals series, building confidence week on week.

The two sides are yet to meet in this finals campaign.

For the Cats Adele Murphy and Renee Gorman are a reliable shooting combination, while at the other end, the tall defensive combination of Ylana Grigg, who finished in the top five in both 13 & under grades at the association medal count, and Zoya Syed challenge all shooting combinations, especially with their dominance in the air, work over the shot and rebounding capabilities.

Safe to say, though, the Saints are also well equipped at both ends of the court.

The shooting combination of Lindy Van Eeden and Brydie Madden have built across this finals series and are coming off a strong preliminary final performance, while defensively the Saints have a plethora of options.

Audrey Galambos anchors the defensive end, combining well with Olivia Hales, who also plays an important role on the defensive wing, Prudence Johnson, who was runner up best and fairest in this grade, and plays mid court and goals as well, and Sophie Walker, a tough one on one defender.

The mid courts of both teams are also quality.

Marlee Robbins runs hard both ways in centre for the Cats, while Brooklyn Mutch is a steadying influence on the attacking wing and Georgia Bailey is as tenacious as they come.

Stacey Edwards and Isabella Luers supplement that mid court and give the Cats plenty of options to run fresh legs .

Millicent has the smarts of Lottie Matthews on the attacking wing, Lacey Sunderland’s speed in any of the mid court roles and Johnson, Hales and the tenacity of Clara Vella, who is the quiet achiever of this line-up.

This looms as a tight contest with the Cats just prevailing in a nailbiter.