EVERYTHING will be on the line when the Mallee Eagles and Kerang will vie for the last spot in the top five at Lalbert tomorrow.
The Central Murray Football Netball League match of the round looms as a battle between two improved and settled side that were only separated by seven goals at their last encounter.
The Round 6 match at Riverside Park saw the Eagles head home with the four points in the bag thanks to a 48-41 win.
A change on the Eagles’ coaching landscape has seen Virginia Allen in charge of the A grade side since taking over for the club’s Round 8 match against Tyntynder.
Just two points separates the Eagles from the sixth-placed Blues, with Kerang’s Round 5 draw with Tooleybuc Manangatang ensuring percentage will not come into the equation.
Allen said the promotion of Kyra Bennett to GS had been a key improvement for the Lalbert club.
“She’s really added strength in the rebounding area. She’s holding down her own and doing really well,” she said.
“Her accuracy is improving every week.”
At the other end of the court, Whitney Kennedy and Gemma Meehan have been in sound form for the Eagles, Allen said.
“They’ve been playing really well together and they’re starting to read off each other,” she said.
Jackie Rivett is a steady option in centre for the Eagles, while Meg Storer is having a strong season in wing attack.
Shannon Reinheimer is a reliable wing defender, while Emelia Bett’s role in goal attack has been valuable.
Allen said the move to train twice a week had helped the Mallee Eagles who, should they manage to get over Kerang, would turn their attention to a tough Round 18 game against Lake Boga and a big finals series with plenty of confidence.
“We’re very settled and feel confident that we can challenge the top teams if we do make the five,” she said.
Kerang coach Nola Wright said the Eagles’ accurate shooting last time around had cost the Blues.
“We couldn’t match their shooting and that was the difference in the end,” she said.
“I think we’ve got stronger though, especially in attack and midcourt compared to earlier in the year.”
A couple of positional changes have helped settle Kerang, with Danielle Dillon finding a more suitable role in wing defence and Chelsea Casey hitting form in the centre for the Blues.
Sheryl Pay’s experience has been vital in taking on the wing attack role, while regular defender Chloe Adams has taken on an unfamiliar role alongside Katelyn Wright.
“We’ve been down a goalie this year so Chloe has stepped up from playing defence all her life in to the attacking end,” Wright said.
“They’ve worked really well together.”
Annie Coobs alongside Nikita O’Brien in defence has been a good combination for Kerang.
“You can’t buy enough experience. To have them teaming up together… hopefully they’ll have a really strong game on Saturday,” Wright said.
