Lake Boga will be out to claim their first big scalp of the season when the table topping Magpies clash with the Mallee Eagles at Lalbert tomorrow.
Having drawn 51-51 against Swan Hill in their first real test back in round three, Lake Boga will be hoping to go one better against the highly competitive Eagles.
With both teams expected to be fighting it out deep into this year’s finals, tomorrow’s encounter will be an old-fashioned eight-point game, according to Lake Boga coach Anna Archie.
“When we played against them last year it went right down to the wire and we’re expecting another close one again tomorrow to be honest – but I do think the girls that are playing for us this season are a bit more settled with their roles even though there’s still a bit to work on,” Archie said.
“We’re a pretty young side, but I find that within our group we are still pretty mature – we enjoy each other’s company and there’s a really good sense of unity within the side.”
Lake Boga have been one of the surprise packets throughout the opening rounds after finishing last year’s incomplete season outside the top five. The Magpies now find themselves on top of the ladder after six rounds and Archie is confident her side will only continue to get better as the season progresses.
“We’ve got a bit more coverage across the court this season and we also have a pretty flexible side where we can make a few changes within a game and not have it upset our team balance or structure which is a huge positive,” Archie said.
“We’re a pretty even side across the court really and we’re lucky enough to have leaders in each third of the court.”
Jemma Meehan’s battle against Emelia Shannahan will go a long way to deciding the result, as will the match-up between the Mallee Eagles GD Meg Allen and Boga’s GA Katie Hepburn at the opposite end of the court.
For Archie though, her focus – and her team’s – will be on continuing to play to the best of their ability and getting an even contribution from every member of their side.
“Our focus each week is all about what we can control and not worrying too much about what we can’t – at the end of the day if we can play to the best of our ability then we should be able to get the job done and come out with the four points,” Archie said.
“They have a number of key players but I’m confident in our ability to be able to compete each week against any opposition, but our focus is on ourselves and everyone doing their job which seems to be working so far.”
“The competition this season is really close and we can’t afford to look any further than each week – we go in confident, but you just don’t know what’s going to happen on the day.”
The other two games to be played in round seven will see Swan Hill host Tooleybuc-Manangatang, while third placed Balranald will travel to Nyah to take on the Demons, with the home side desperate to make amends for last Saturday’s loss to the Cohuna Kangas.
