SWAN HILL v NNW UNITED
SWAN Hill goal shooter Zoe Morris could be a welcome inclusion for her first game of the season when the reigning premiers host the much-improved Nyah-Nyah West United.
After suffering an injury on the eve of the season, Morris was close to a return, provided she could prove her fitness during Thursday night’s final session.
Meanwhile, an unchanged Demons line-up will be hoping to continue their good form against the Central Murray yardstick.
Along with Cohuna, NNW United have been one of the big improvers so far, and although falling just short in games against Woorinen and the Mallee Eagles, are proving that their best netball is good enough to challenge the better sides under new coach Madi Jones.
The undefeated Swan Hill will provide a whole new challenge, however.
Stevie Bibby and Tess Meney have been dominant in defence in wins over the Mallee Eagles, Tooleybuc-Manangatang and Woorinen, while Karli McIntyre and Holly Rogers have also proved a powerful combination in the midcourt.
If Matika Mitchell, Taylen Blachford and goalies Steph Henson and Sarah Gaskin can bring their best form, then the Demons can challenge the Swans, but a win would be an upset.
Tip – Swan Hill to win by nine goals.
WOORINEN v LAKE BOGA
LAKE Boga will be aiming to maintain their unbeaten start when they face off against Woorinen.
The Magpies have been ultra impressive in wins over Balranald, Tyntynder and the Raiders, and appear to once again be the team to beat, finding themselves sitting atop of the Central Murray ladder.
Woorinen find themselves outside the five with a 2-2 win-loss record and desperately needing to upset the premiership favourites to keep pace with the finals contenders.
Both clubs are expected to go into the match unchanged from last Saturday, with the Tigers needing a strong performance from defenders Tessa Demaria and Courtney Lolicato opposed to Lake Boga’s powerful goalies Sarah Hepburn and Katie Carmichael.
The sisters swapped bibs last Saturday in the Magpies’ 41-goal win over Koondrook-Barham, but should return to normality tomorrow, with Hepburn to return to GS and Carmichael to GA against the Tigers.
The midcourt also looms as a key battleground, but with Lily Brennan and Taigan O’Shannassy feeding the ball into ring with their usual accuracy and speed, the Magpies should prove too strong.
Tip – Lake Boga to win by 10 goals.
KOONDROOK-BARHAM v BALRANALD
A PERCENTAGE-boosting win will be the aim for Balranald against Koondrook-Barham.
The Roos have proven themselves to be one of the leading contenders after strong wins over Kerang and Tyntynder and will be aiming to inflict more pain on the battling Raiders, who are continuing to invest games into their young line-up.
Remy Doyle is one who is repaying that investment, with the young centre matching it with some of the best players in the Central Murray each week.
Tomorrow will be no exception for Doyle as she goes head-to-head with Bonnie Jolliffe, who has been one of Balranald’s key midcourters over their first three games.
Both Ella Mirtschin (29 goals) and Jess Parry (19) were in ominous form in the Roos’ nine-goal win over the Bulldogs last Saturday and should pose a significant threat to the Raiders’ young defence.
Tip – Balranald to win by 22 goals.
