BOTH Swan Hill and Koondrook-Barham will be aiming to consolidate their spot in the top five when the two clubs clash Saturday afternoon.
It’s been many years since the Raiders have been in a position to topple one of the Central Murray’s powerhouse clubs, but after starting this season with four wins from their first six matches, they will go into Saturday’s clash against last year’s grand finalists as the team to beat.
The Swans on the other hand are fresh off the bye and although their form has fluctuated at times this season, they have also won their last two matches against Lake Boga and Tooleybuc-Manangatang.
As such, both the Swans and Raiders are expecting a tough contest, with Swan Hill coach Casey Frame telling The Guardian that Saturday will be yet another challenge for her new look combinations.
“It’s going to be an eight-point game tomorrow, they (Koondrook-Barham) have had some really good wins and we’re expecting a really tough game against them,” Frame said this week. “We will play them again in the last round and with how even the competition is this year, these early games are going to be so important.
“Obviously we haven’t played against everyone yet, but I feel from just looking at the scores, tomorrow will be hard.
“They’ve recruited really well with the Peacock sisters and with Remy Doyle back too they are a strong team.
“I remember watching her (Doyle) play two years ago and I thought she had it all back then and her intensity was great.
“I feel like we’ll be really challenged in our attacking end and in our midcourt, because they have some great depth there.
“In saying that, I also feel like we’ve been improving the last couple of games I definitely feel like that we be able to match up with them well.”
It was a similar sentiment expressed by Raiders co-coach Emma Peacock, who expects the match to be won and lost in the midcourt battle.
“I think that (the midcourt) will be the area that will determine the game, which usually is the case for us,” Peacock said.
“It will be very interesting battle but I know they’ll come out strong, like they always do.
“I think they have the advantage of experience down their goal end, which is where we’ll hopefully try and get on top I hope.
“Overall, I think we’ve probably got a little bit more experience across the court, but I think it’s as much about working well together as team and if we can blend a defensive end together that can beat them.”
With the loss of Sophie Peacock and Shanae Haw, Koondrook-Barham have been forced to reshuffle their line-up in recent weeks, with Larney Allen successfully moving into attack to partner Erin Moerenhout last Saturday against the Saints.
The new attacking combination worked well for the Raiders, with Mollie Quin and Jaya Jenkins-Jaiswal the next big test for the pair.
At the other end of the court, the battle between Swans shooters Kelly Bonney, Casey Frame and Ava Seymour and Koondrook-Barham defenders Sarah Lahy and Peacock will be another deciding factor in the result.
The key match-up is likely to be in the centre however, with the experience and class of Swan Hill’s Karli McIntrye set to be pitted against the speed and raw talent of Koondrook-Barham’s Remy Doyle, with Frame aware it will take a full court effort from her team to earn the four points.
“I feel like our team is doing really well defensively and that’s not just in our defence, but all over the court,” Frame said.
“When we turn the ball over, we all put that pressure on up and down the court and I feel as though it’s something we have been doing well week in, week out.
“We just have to work a bit harder to create a few more turnovers just to help us build that momentum.”
Tip – Koondrook-Barham to win by two goals.
