MALLEE EAGLES v KERANG
An in-form Kerang will fancy their chances of causing yet another upset when they travel to Lalbert to take on the Mallee Eagles tomorrow afternoon.
Having won their past four matches, the Blues have climbed off the canvass, to the point where they are incredibly back in the finals race.
Tomorrow’s encounter at Lalbert will be their biggest test however, with the Eagles also in a fight with Balranald for the all-important third place.
A depleted Mallee Eagles outfit came up short against reigning premiers Swan Hill last Saturday, but will welcome welcome back Leah McKenzie and Laura Sheahan to their line up against the Blues, who will also have Keiarah Brooks return for their must win match.
Brooks and Kerang coach Chloe Adams will be key players for the visitors, Megan Thorneycroft one of the in-form Eagles that will need to be stopped, along with co-coaches Alicia Harvey and Jess Jobling.
Kerang goal shooter Denise Snyder will be the key player for the Blues, with Sheahan’s return to the Eagles defence a timely one.
Tip – Mallee Eagles to win by four goals.
SWAN HILL v COHUNA
The Cohuna Kangas will be hoping the week off to freshen up brings about a change in form when they take on reigning premiers Swan Hill at the Alan Garden Reserve this weekend.
The Kangas are the team under most pressure ahead of the penultimate round of the season, with their place in the five coming under increasing scrutiny after losses to Tooleybuc-Manangatang and the Mallee Eagles in their past two matches.
With Woorinen, Kerang and Tyntynder still a chance to leapfrog them into fifth, Cohuna need to win at least one of their last two games to finally break their finals drought.
The Kangas will regain the services of Marli Easton but lose young gun Ebony Black to injury for their must-win game, while the Swans will go in with a settled line-up.
With depth across the court and goalers Zoe Morris and Casey Frame in form, it’s hard to see the Swans being beaten who suffered a 26-goal loss the last time the two teams clashed.
Tip – Swan Hill to win by 13 goals.
TOOLEYBUC-MANANGATANG v LAKE BOGA
Tooleybuc-Manangatang’s improvement will face the ultimate test when they host premiership favourites Lake Boga tomorrow.
The Saints have been one of the stories of the last two rounds, with wins over NNW United and Cohuna helping Mel Wait and her team salvage some respectability late in the season.
The catalyst for Tooleybuc-Manangatang’s form reversal has been the late season inclusions of experienced duo Laura Grant and Zoe Livingston, with Grant expected to line up against the Magpies.
Although Livingston will miss tomorrow’s match, goal keeper Taylah Morris (calf) is a chance to return pending an overnight fitness test, with her potential inclusion likely to give the Saints defence a massive boost against the dominant sister duo of Katie Carmichael and Sarah Hepburn.
Lake Boga will be forced into a change as well, with Milla Holt set to replace Sophie Peacock in the Magpies defence following Lake Boga’s 36-goal win over Tyntynder last Saturday.
Tip – Lake Boga to win by 20 goals.
KOONDROOK-BARHAM v TYNTYNDER
Tyntynder will be hoping to keep their faint finals hopes alive when they play Koondrook-Barham tomorrow, with anything less than a percentage boosting win set to end the Bulldogs season.
While tomorrow will be the River Raiders final match of the year, Tyntynder will be hoping to not only secure the four points but also hope other results go their way to keep their season alive for another week.
The will have to do it without star midcourter Jaclyn Rivett, who will miss tomorrow’s match, with Koondrook-Barham going in with an unchanged line-up.
The match-up between Tlarnee Lake and Nichola Miliano will be a key one for both teams, as will the battle between Emily Copland and Tyntynder coach Kelsey Rowe at the other end of the court.
Tip – Tyntynder to win by 18 goals.
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