KERANG v BALRANALD
BALRANALD will be hoping to return to the winners’ list following last Saturday’s loss to Lake Boga when they travel to Kerang to play the Blues tomorrow afternoon.
The Roos proved themselves to be more than competitive against the unbeaten Magpies last weekend, but will once again need to be at their best in what shapes as a danger game against a much-improved Kerang outfit.
The Blues were also unlucky to not get the four points last Saturday after being overrun in the last quarter against Tyntynder, after leading for most of the afternoon.
Although Kerang have won just one game for the season, they have been extremely competitive in most games this season and with a defensive line-up that includes Chloe Adams and Keiarah Brooks, should test the Roos.
If Balranald’s midcourt combination of Bonnie Jolliffe, Taylin Barry and Bree Hodgson are allowed to move the ball with speed, they will be hard to stop, especially with Bec Harvey and Ella Mirtschin beginning to gel in the Roos new look attack.
Tip – Balranald to win by eight goals.
SWAN HILL v WOORINEN
WOORINEN will need to be at their very best to extend their winning streak to five when they meet premiership contenders Swan Hill at Alan Garden Reserve.
The Tigers were no match for the Swans in round 1, with the reigning premiers kicking off their title defence with a 10-goal win.
Since then, the Swans have gone from strength to strength, winning nine of their next 10 games and adding dominant goaler Zoe Morris to their line-up.
Woorinen will pose a much tougher challenge this time around however, with the young Tigers continuing to gel and improve the longer the season goes.
Olivia Free came into the side at goal keeper for last Saturday’s eight-goal win over NNW United and held her own, while Ava Crow and Willow Conlan continue to exceed expectations.
The challenge for Conlan will be to continue to show her talent opposed to one of the Central Murray’s best defensive combinations in Tess Meney and Stevie Bibby for the Tigers to continue their winning ways.
Tip – Swan Hill to win by nine goals.
MALLEE EAGLES v TOOLEYBUC-MANANGATANG
HAVING climbed to as high as third on the ladder two rounds ago, the Mallee Eagles now find themselves back in the chasing pack and in desperate need of the four points.
Thankfully for the Eagles, they will host Tooleybuc-Manangatang in a match they should win, with the Saints’ task expected to be made all the harder with bookends Taylah Morris (calf) and Shania Nunn (ankle) to miss with injury.
The Eagles have had two weeks off to think about their shock loss to Woorinen and should come out firing as a result, with a full-strength side set to take the court.
Laura Sheahan and Nevaeh Roberts continue to be hard to score against, while Kasey Torr and Megan Thorneycroft have also been in strong scoring form except for the loss to the Tigers.
With talent on every line, the Eagles should prove too strong for the Saints, with a bigger margin than their 12-goal win in round 1 expected.
Tip – Mallee Eagles to win by 18 goals.
NNW UNITED v KOONDROOK-BARHAM
ALTHOUGH reaching finals has become a tough task, Nyah-Nyah West United will be aiming to display the form that has them holding the fifth-best percentage in the league when they host Koondrook-Barham.
Despite being eighth on the ladder, the Demons are one of just five clubs to have a percentage greater than 100, which is proof their best netball can be devastating.
The problem for Madi Jones team has been in finishing games off, with NNW United on the receiving end of several close losses which have all but torpedoed their hopes of finishing in the top five.
The game against the Raiders presents as an opportunity to secure the four points, however, and go into games against Swan Hill and the Mallee Eagles over the next fortnight with confidence.
Shanai Kelly will return for the Demons and assume the GK bib that she has made her own this season, while Koondrook-Barham are expected to be without star centre Remy Doyle for another week.
Doyle’s absence, combined with dominant Demons centre Matika Mitchell’s ability to influence a game, should ensure the home side registers their fifth win of the season.
Tip – NNW United to win by 17 goals.
