BALRANALD
Coaches – Elli-Jane Pollard & Jess Parry
KEY PLAYER
Ella Mirtschin
Was one of Balranald’s better players against Swan Hill last Saturday, with the Roos goal attack shooting 14 goals despite the windy conditions.
Is one of the most under-rated players in the competition and rarely plays a bad game, despite having moved from her natural goal shooter position to goal attack mid-season.
Shot 16 goals against the Eagles back in round 8 in just her second full game at goal attack and has steadily grown into the role since that day.
Will face a tough test against up-and-coming star Nevaeh Roberts Sunday afternoon.
BURNING QUESTION
Can the Roos turn around their finals slump?
Since producing one of the best grand final victories in memory back in 2022, Balranald’s finals record does not make for great reading.
Saturday’s eight goal qualifying final loss was the Roos second finals defeat from as many games since their 2022 triumph, having also lost last year’s elimination final to Sunday’s opponent.
There are always many factors at play and two swallows do not make a summer as they say, but a straight sets exit would at least begin to raise questions about their ability to rise to another level in finals, especially after being more than competitive against the best teams all season.
MALLEE EAGLES
Coaches – Alicia Harvey & Jess Jobling
KEY PLAYER
Nevaeh Roberts
An emerging star of the competition, Roberts has been a key reason in the Mallee Eagles lofty ladder position this season.
She is a strong defender who can play as either goal keeper or goal defence and is often underrated in her ability to intercept and rebound from the Eagles defensive third.
Will have a big job in shutting down Balranald’s Ella Mirtschin on Sunday, with their head-to-head battle likely to have a big say in which team progresses through to next Saturday’s preliminary final.
BURNING QUESTION
Will the Eagles lack of height come back to haunt them?
It’s fair to say the blue and gold army aren’t exactly blessed with too much height in their side, at least not compared to a team like Balranald anyway.
Bec Harvey and Ella Mirtschin will both have Laura Sheahan and Nevaeh Roberts covered for height which will give them plenty of options in how to best make that pass into the Roos ring on Sunday.
At the other end of the court Balranald, have Elli-Jane Pollard, who’s aerial prowess makes her a threat to the Mallee Eagles shooters, especially if their goal shooting accuracy is a little bit off.
The flip side is that the Eagles should have the Roos covered for speed, which is sure to make for an interesting contest between two contrasting game styles.
KEY MATCH-UP
Grace Morton v Megan Thorneycroft
Both Morton and Thorneycroft were among their clubs’ better players last weekend and will need to be at their best again if their team is to avoid an end to their season.
Thorneycroft was unstoppable in the two teams only encounter this season, shooting 32 goals as goal shooter in the Eagles five-goal win back in round 8.
A season ending injury to Kasey Torr since that afternoon has forced a reshuffle however, with Thorneycroft moving out to goal attack as a result.
That move has done little to blunt the Eagles goalers effectiveness however, continuing her dominant form by shooting exactly 400 goals for the season thus far.
Morton on the other hand has been one of the Central Murray’s most improved players, and will need to show why she’s a player of the future against one of the best players at present on Sunday.
See also: Eagles, Roos clash again
