MATCH OF THE ROUND
BALRANALD v WOORINEN
A MUCH-improved Woorinen will face their first big test of 2023 when they travel to Greenham Park to take on reigning premiers Balranald.
The Tigers will have plenty of confidence after strong wins against Cohuna (12 goals) and Tyntynder (22 goals) placed them second on the A Grade ladder.
As impressive as Tayla Bennett’s side has been however, an encounter with the defending champions will be a sharp rise in class.
Woorinen will know that, despite it being a tough game, they aren’t far away, with Balranald also having defeated Tyntynder by a similar scoreline in round 1, although that match was played in inclement conditions.
Despite the challenge, Bennett told The Guardian this week her team was looking forward to testing themselves against the best and finding out exactly where they sit in the pecking order.
“We know what happened last year, but there’s been a fair bit of movement across the league over the off-season and right now, we just want to test ourselves,” Bennett said.
“We’re just hoping we can match the best from last year and if we’re close to them, that will at least show us we’re on the right path.
“There’s a lot of versatility in our team and the girls are all pretty excited and pumped for Saturday.
“No disrespect to the teams we played in the first two rounds, but we were able to try a few different combinations and work a few things out without having any scoreboard pressure, but that won’t be the case (against Balranald).”
Balranald coach Jess Parry agreed with her Woorinen counterpart, with the premiership coach expecting a tough battle for her side this weekend.
“Woorinen are always tough to beat,” Parry said.
“Even last year they weren’t an easy side to play and now they’ve got a few new faces into their team they’ll be even more difficult to play.
“With Tayla (Bennett) back, we’re well aware that they’ll improve, but we’ll just prepare as we have previously and go in knowing we’ve got a tough four quarters of netball in front of us and that we’ll have to play really well to come home with the four points.”
Woorinen are set to go head-to-head against Parry with their own league best and fairest, Tessa Demaria.
Parry is just one part of perhaps the Central Murray’s most potent attacking combinations, with Ella Mirtschin the other dangerous goalie in Balranald’s line-up.
With their combination proving hard to stop last season, Bennett’s Woorinen will be forced into making a change tomorrow, but one that the Tigers hope could prove the difference in winning the four points and not.
“(Balranald are) very tall and that’s one of the reasons for bringing ‘Rach’ (McLaughlin) into the team this week,” Bennett said.
“Their height will test us, even though we’re pretty tall ourselves, but it will come down to our ball skills and whether we can match them one-on-one.
“We know that ‘Rach’ can do the job and both her and Tessa have played together before, so we’ll be relying on that combination to win us some ball.”
Balranald will stick to what they know, with Parry expecting a full team effort will be required in order to earn the four points.
“I think it’ll come down to the team that uses the ball the best,” Parry said.
“The defensive pressure from both sides will be quite strong, so I think it will come down to who’s attacking end can stay composed and make the most of their opportunities.
“With Tayla (Bennett) they have a tall, strong goalie and therefore have an easy avenue to goal if our pressure isn’t there – if we give them too many opportunities at taking that easy option, they’ll make us pay for it.”
MALLEE EAGLES v SWAN HILL
THE Mallee Eagles will be playing for their season when they host Swan Hill, with last year’s preliminary finalists still looking for their first points of 2023.
The Eagles went down to Kerang last weekend by 11 goals, while missing regular starters Meg Allen, Kellie Walker, Sonya Lorenzoni and Alicia Harvey.
The quartet are all expected to return for their eagerly anticipated match-up with Swan Hill, who kicked their season off with a commanding 43-goal win over Tooleybuc-Manangatang.
The Swans will still be one of the teams to beat this season, with class players all over the court including Zoe Morris and Ingrid Condely in goals, Madeleine Nalder and young gun Arlee Bennett in defence and Karli McIntyre, Kelsey McCoy and the returning Kelly Bonney running through the midcourt.
While Swan Hill will go in as favourites, don’t discount the Eagles, who will throw caution to the wind in the pursuit of their first win.
NNW UNITED v KERANG
AFTER a disappointing 22-goal loss to Lake Boga last Saturday, Nyah-Nyah West United will be looking to make amends against the much-improved Kerang this weekend.
The Blues appear to be a team on the rise, with wins against the Saints and Eagles in the opening two rounds putting them top of the A Grade ladder.
NNW United have a fight on their hands to stay in touch with the top five following their loss to the Magpies and will need to improve quickly if they want to break their finals drought this season.
While the Blues pose another challenge, the Demons certainly have a team capable of toppling the current ladder leaders, with the defensive combination of Taylen Blachford and Aleesha Flanagan set to improve with every game they play together.
The real test for the home side will come through the midcourt however, particularly finding a way to nullify the influence of Olivia Jones, Zoe Livingston and Tahni Clark.
COHUNA v LAKE BOGA
A REJUVENATED Lake Boga will be out to keep the unbeaten start to the season going when they meet the Cohuna Kangas.
The Kangas secured their first points of the season against Koondrook-Barham last weekend, but were found wanting against the Tigers on Good Friday, and will face an even bigger test against the Magpies.
After falling short in last year’s finals series, Lake Boga look determined to make amends in 2023 and are playing like a team possessed throughout the opening rounds of the season.
With Holly Hogan in the centre and the Hepburn sisters in goals, the Magpies should have too much firepower for Cohuna and should comfortably account for them.
TYNTYNDER v KOONDROOK-BARHAM
TYNTYNDER and Koondrook-Barham will clash at the Alan Garden Reserve, with both teams still searching for their first win of the season.
That search will conclude for one of them tomorrow, with the finals hopes of the other likely to go up in smoke.
With neither club expected to legitimately contend for the finals this season that will come as no surprise, but tomorrow presents an opportunity for both teams to kick start their season nonetheless.
Tyntynder will go in as warm favourites against the Raiders, and the Bulldogs midcourt of Toni Rivett, Demi Wall and Bridgette King can provide plenty of opportunities for goalies Kelsey Rowe and Kim Calvert, they should come away with the win.
