MATCH OF THE ROUND
BALRANALD v SWAN HILL
REIGNING premiers Balranald will be hoping a return visit by their grand final nemesis Swan Hill can help reignite their season at Greenham Park on Saturday afternoon.
The Roos’ form has been up and down – so much so, they are yet to taste victory on their own home court this year.
But after a one-goal win last week over the previously-unbeaten Kerang, without regular GK Elli-Jane Brougham, they are hoping to turn the corner – and what better way to do it than a win over superpower Swan Hill.
The Swans have gone under the radar somewhat to start the season, going unbeaten in their first four games this year after the opening-round bye.
Only the Mallee Eagles in round 3 got relatively close to them, the Swans still claiming a 13-goal win despite missing top players.
But while their start has been a successful one on the scoreboard, it hasn’t been easy on the court, being forced to make numerous changes through injury and unavailability, according to joint coach Madeleine Nalder.
“We’ve had a fairly unsettled start to the year, which can happen from time to time, but we’ve been able to cover it with a little bit of planning across the board,” Nalder said.
“We’re lucky that we have good depth both in our senior squad and also our juniors.
“Even though it would be ideal if we were able to have everybody on the court that we wanted all the time, it’s also a great opportunity for others to step up and play A Grade.
“As much as you would think it’s been unsettling, it hasn’t really been to this point, but we’ve got some really tough games coming up, so we’ll have a better idea of where we sit soon enough.”
Balranald are hopeful that Brougham will return, while Madison Jess is also in some doubt after failing to play out the game against Kerang last Saturday.
Coach Jess Parry was looking forward to the challenge of facing one of the competition’s best even with her side unlikely to be at full strength.
“(Swan Hill) are always one of the benchmark sides, every year they’re one of the teams to beat and they look like they will be again,” Parry said.
“Add to that last year’s grand final result and the fact that they might be after a bit of revenge and I’m sure we’ll be in for a tough day, but we’re looking forward to it.”
The Roos premiership coach knew her team would have to step it up again if they want to make it two wins on the trot for the first time this season.
“They’re a team that really makes you pay for you mistakes and if I’m being honest, our stats so far this season haven’t been the best with the number of times we’ve been turning the ball over,” Parry said.
“We’ve got a lot of work to do as the season progresses, but hopefully we can get our turnover count down significantly (on Saturday) and make sure we’re tough for them to compete against, otherwise they’ll make us pay for it and they’ll beat us just on us turning the ball over alone.”
While Parry will be the most important player to take the court wearing blue and white, Nalder indicated that the Swans would be taking a whole of court approach to silencing the naturally attacking Balranald outfit, with defence set to be the buzz word of the day for the visitors.
“We need to work really hard defensively and be solid in defence across the court,” Nalder said.
“Composure when we have the ball, making sure when we pick up any turnovers or intercepts that we actually convert them – it will be the little things that make the difference.
“Like every game against all good teams, there’ll be momentum swings all the time, so it’ll be about capitalising when we have the momentum, but at the same time nullifying their influence when the game is being played on their terms.”
Tip – Swan Hill to win by six goals.
WOORINEN v KERANG
BOTH Woorinen and Kerang are in the unusual position of seeking a return to the winners’ list, after suffering their first defeats of the year last weekend.
The Blues had their hearts broken last Saturday, losing to Balranald by just one goal, while the Tigers went down to the dangerous Lake Boga by eight goals.
With competition for spots in the top five starting to heat up, it is sure be on right from the first whistle, with very little seemingly separating the teams through the opening rounds.
Each have strong defensive combinations, with Tessa Demaria and Rach McLaughlin having played plenty of netball alongside each other at Woorinen, while Chloe Adams and Katelyn Wright are both among the most talented players wearing navy blue.
Both teams are defensively strong, yet are also capable of moving the ball quickly through their talented midcourts.
While former Woorinen coach Olivia Jones will be able to give plenty of intel on her former side, the one area where the Blues may struggle will be in stopping dominant Tiger goalie Tayla Bennett, who has been in sensational form and is likely to have a big say on the final outcome.
Tip – Woorinen to win by three goals.
COHUNA KANGAS v MALLEE EAGLES
IT’S make or break time for the Mallee Eagles, who simply must beat the Cohuna Kangas if they are to have any chance of forcing their way back into the top five.
With a 2-3 start to the season, the Eagles sit a win outside the five and needing to beat every team below them just to keep pace with the better sides.
The Kangas have claimed just one win from their first six matches, rendering their finals hopes gone – even more so after last weekend’s loss to a rebuilding Tooleybuc-Manangatang.
It won’t get easier against the Eagles, who with Kellie Walker and Megan Thorneycroft in goals, will take plenty of stopping.
Add to that the absence of Keely Wilson, who missed last Saturday’s loss to the Saints, and Dani Sawyer, and that task almost looks insurmountable for the home side.
Tip – Mallee Eagles to win by 19 goals.
TYNTYNDER v TOOLEYBUC-MANANGATANG
TYNTYNDER and Tooleybuc-Manangatang will each be looking for their second wins of the season when they meet at the Alan Garden Reserve.
The Saints recorded their first win last Saturday, defeating the Cohuna Kangas by 13 goals in a result that showed they are on the right path, in a year of development for the red, white and black.
This week is also winnable, although one feels Tyntynder will still pose a much tougher test than the Kangas based on previous results.
The Bulldogs haven’t been far away and are showing their best form is more than capable of matching it with the better sides in the competition – with six and four goal losses to premiership contenders Lake Boga and Kerang further proof.
With Kelsey Rowe, Demi Wall, Toni Rivett and Nicola Miliano all at Tyntynder’s disposal, the Bulldogs should have far too much firepower for the Saints – despite it being a competitive game.
Tip – Tyntynder to win by eight goals.
KOONDROOK-BARHAM v LAKE BOGA
IN fairness, the match between Lake Boga and Koondrook-Barham isn’t really a matter of whether the Magpies will win, it’s more a question of by how much.
Lake Boga sit atop the Central Murray ladder, with six wins from as many matches, while Koondrook-Barham are at the other end of the spectrum, with five losses from their first five games.
While funnier things have happened, a monumental form reversal from both teams would need to take place in order to even consider an upset, and considering the Raiders lost to Woorinen by 57 goals at their last outing a fortnight ago, it’s hard to see that taking place.
Koondrook-Barham coach Grant Matthews has long said his side is in a rebuilding phase, investing in the clubs talented youth in order to bring the next generation through – and while a win may be out of the question, Saturday will present a great opportunity for the Raiders to test where they are at against the early-season premiership favourites.
Tip – Lake Boga to win by 40 goals.
