A 16-goal-to-six third quarter has helped Lake Boga stake their claim as premiership favourites, securing a dominant 16-goal win over Swan Hill in Saturday’s grand final rematch.
Holding a four-goal lead at half-time following a tough first half, Lake Boga were able to break clear of the reigning premiers in the second half thanks to a strong defensive display from Jemma Meehan and the Peacock sisters, Sophie and Emma.
Despite both clubs having gone into the match undefeated after the first seven rounds, it was Lake Boga who are now clearly the team to beat this season, with the Magpies now sitting a game clear on top of the A grade ladder and set to face the Swans again only if they meet in the finals.
It was a performance that showed how damaging Lake Boga can be at their best, with assistant coach Sheridan Harrop pleased with her team’s response following a hard-fought win over the Mallee Eagles seven days earlier.
“We’re (Lake Boga coaching staff) happy with how the team performed,” Harrop said.
“We went in with a focus on our game and making sure we settled ourselves early and I think we did that.
“We didn’t think or dwell on what happened last season, as we spoke about at the start of the year.
“We just want to go into each and every game and focus on that game and that game only.
“We were happy with the way the girls performed.
“They settled early, didn’t get rattled at all throughout the game and they played how we asked them while also focusing on limiting our errors after last week’s game, which we did.
“It was a pretty steady game up until half-time but after the break our girls just went from strength to strength.”
While Lake Boga goalers Sarah Hepburn (37 goals) and Katie Carmichael (15 goals) are a constant threat to any opponent, it was the Magpies’ defensive combination that proved the difference between the two sides, with goal keeper Sophie Peacock doing a good job of limiting dangerous Swan Hill shooter Zoe Morris’s (27 goals) influence and goal defence Jemma Meehan doing likewise opposed to Casey Frame (nine goals).
“Across the court our girls played really well but our defensive end put a lot of pressure on and created a lot of turnovers, and when they missed a goal our girls just capitalised and took advantage,” Harrop said.
“I think that was probably more felt in that third quarter than anything.
“Our goalies were switched on and they shot beautifully.
“I couldn’t fault their performance also.
“All three of our defenders were brilliant and shut down a lot of their passes into the ring, whether that was getting their hand to the ball or creating some interference.
“That’s all we needed, but our defensive end did a power of work.”
While Swan Hill were far from disgraced, it was still a day when the reigning premiers walked away disappointed, according to co-coach Madeleine Nalder, with the Swans now aware of what it will take to compete with the ladder leaders if and when they meet during the finals.
“It was a tough day,” Nalder said.
“They (Lake Boga) played a great game and are definitely the benchmark of the competition.
“They put a lot of pressure on us and we lacked consistency across the game but there are lots of takeaways from the game from our perspective and areas we will go and work on.”
Defender Tess Meney and wing defence Hayley Neuschafer were among Swan Hill’s better players, with the Swans now fronting up this Saturday against arch rivals Tyntynder.
FINAL WHISTLE
LAKE BOGA 52
SWAN HILL 36
