WITH Swan Hill and Lake Boga locking away the top two spots on the ladder, Saturday’s contest between the Mallee Eagles and Cohuna could well have a big say on who joins them in the top three.
With percentage alone separating the Mallee Eagles in third and the fifth-placed Cohuna Kangas, both sides can take a step towards that all-important double chance, seen as vital to surviving one of the most anticipated finals series in recent memory.
Adding to the intrigue is that very little separated them in round 5, when the Kangas confirmed their status as genuine finals contenders with a come-from-behind one-goal win over the Eagles, who had led at every break.
Mallee co-coach Alicia Harvey said her team would need to be better to avoid a repeat on Saturday.
“We’ve been talking about (round 5) and while we don’t want to focus on the negatives, that was one that we probably let slip away,” Harvey told The Guardian this week.
“We led for most of the game and even led by as much as 10 goals at one point from memory, and they came back and beat us by a goal.
“It just proved that we can’t be complacent throughout the game regardless of what team it is or regardless of how far in front we are, and I think that was probably the hardest loss we’ve had.”
Making the task tougher will be the loss of goaler Kasey Torr, who suffered a game-ending injury in the first quarter of last Saturday’s 29-goal win over Tooleybuc-Manangatang.
Torr is expected to be replaced by either of Mikayla O’Meara or Gemma Miller, with the Eagles’ depth through their A squad set to be used.
The other change from round 5 will be with the Kangas, who were without wing attack Taylor Hird in that game,
Harvey was aware of the need to curb Hird’s influence.
“She is pretty prominent in their midcourt, so the match-up between her and Leah McKenzie will be massive,” Harvey said.
“Their shooters were fantastic that day and their accuracy was unbelievable, so shutting down their shooters will be the key.
“Delainey (Holmes) was quite prominent last time, so we will need to put a bit of time into their attack end to shut them down early on as well.
“Carly Geary is another one we will have to watch, she’s an amazing player as well and we’ll have to shut her down, especially in the midcourt when she’s hunting the ball and providing that defensive pressure on their end.”
The Kangas have returned to form in recent weeks.
Last Saturday’s 14-goal win over Tyntynder proved they are getting back to their best netball after three straight losses following the King’s Birthday weekend bye.
For Cohuna coach Georgia Anderson, that win was the perfect confidence-builder.
“We’re feeling really good, we’ve picked up momentum and got back our confidence after last week,” Anderson said.
“Last week showed we have the ability that we’ve always known the girls have and that when we’re on, we’re really good.
“But it also showed that we cannot drop in intensity at any time across the four quarters, and that will be especially important.
“Our attack end just needs to do what they’ve been doing the past two weeks, defensively we’re very strong, but we just need to make sure we’re implementing our tactics in the goalers’ end.
“If we can get that right, there’s no reason we can’t bring it home, but it’s going to be hard. (Mallee Eagles) are tough, but we’re ready.”
Tip – Mallee Eagles to win by two goals.
