SWAN HILL v MALLEE EAGLES
MALLEE Eagles goal shooter Kellie Walker looms as the danger player tomorrow afternoon, having missed her side’s round 3 loss to Swan Hill.
Widely regarded as one of the best shooters in the Central Murray, Walker makes the Eagles a far better side, as evidenced by their good recent form, with seven wins from their past nine matches.
That form will be tested against powerhouse Swan Hill, who will be desperate to lock away a top-three spot and the prized double chance.
The Swans are a team who are traditionally difficult to score against, having conceded just over 38 goals a game on average this season.
But as good as Swan Hill are defensively, the Eagles are equally dangerous in attack.
Walker was a key component of why they have the third best points average in the competition, according to Swan Hill joint coach – and likely Walker opponent – Madeleine Nalder.
“It’s no secret that Kellie Walker is a really prominent target in their attack end, so we’ll be looking to close her out of the match as much as we can,” Nalder told The Guardian.
“We’ll be looking at ways we can put pressure on the ball and interrupt their ability to get it to her.
“We’ll have to work really hard defensively, especially through our midcourt, and anything we do turn over, we need to make sure we score off it and make them pay.”
The Eagles line-up has also become more settled across the court, with Sonya Lorenzoni, Elly Bookham and Eagles coach Meg Allen troubling most opposition midcourt combinations.
Allen was confident the Eagles had the talent to win, with her team’s big focus based more on consistency than structure.
“Hopefully we can come out and start strong,” Allen said.
“I feel like the couple of games we’ve lost have been because we had one quarter where we just let ourselves down.
“Last weekend (against Lake Boga) our third quarter wasn’t great, but there have been other instances along the season too – we need to put in four-quarter performances if we want to beat the top sides, like Swan Hill.
“We’re not far off it. We lost a few games early in the season, which has left us chasing our tail a little bit, but if we can beat Swan Hill, it would definitely help our finals chances.”
The Swans, fresh off the bye, were also aiming to put a four-quarter performance together, with Nalder wary of just how damaging a slow start could turn out to be.
“I think it’s easy to underestimate how much of an effect having the bye can have on your performance the next week,” Nalder said.
“We want to try and make sure we get away to a good start, because a team like the Mallee Eagles can get away from you very quickly in a very short space of time, so we need to make sure we give ourselves the best opportunity right from the start.
“(The Eagles are) coming into the game with some really solid form and they’ve been putting up some really big scores, as well as nullifying opposition teams – we won’t be taking them lightly.”
While the Eagles have Walker and Megan Thorneycroft doing their scoring, the Swans have an equally damaging partnership at the other end, with Zoe Morris and Ingrid Condely’s blossoming partnership showing positive signs over the past month.
Both players complement each other perfectly, with Morris bringing height and physicality under the post, while Condely uses speed and run to hit the goal circle and create in the attacking third.
In what promises to be an exciting contest, expect both teams to raise their games to another level, with very little likely to separate.
Tip – Swan Hill to win by three goals.
WOORINEN v BALRANALD
SIGNIFICANT finals ramifications will be also be in play at Tigerland, where second-placed Woorinen host Balranald.
The Roos are wedged between the Mallee Eagles (fourth) and Kerang (sixth), with all three teams on 28 points.
The problem is they have they hardest run home of the trio and, although their finals dreams will likely rest on the round 17 match against the Blues, the reality is they may still need to pinch a win against one of the top-three sides.
Their first opportunity will be against the Tigers, who handed the Roos their first loss of the season in round 3 by eight goals.
Tayla Bennett dominated in the ring, scoring 38 of Woorinen’s 45 goals, while Tessa Demaria and Rachel Mcloughlin were also influential in shutting down Balranald’s Jess Parry and Ella Mirtschin in goals.
The Roos will need to find answers to these two areas of concern, especially containing the dangerous Bennett.
One of the big positives about the Roos’ seven-goal win over Tyntynder last Saturday was handling the pressure applied by their opposition in finals-like atmosphere.
While Balranald are expected to throw everything at Woorinen, the Tigers should have too much class across the court.
Tip – Woorinen to win by five goals.
KERANG v NNW UNITED
WHILE Kerang may have a slightly easier fixture than rivals Balranald, they also have little room for error, starting with a home game against injury-ravaged Nyah-Nyah West United.
The Blues are in the hot seat, just outside the top five on percentage.
The Demons, full-strength at the time, were one of the teams Kerang beat through their five-match unbeaten start to the season.
Much has changed for NNW United, with Denise Snyder, Matika Mitchell and Madi Jones all missing from the side that lost by six goals that afternoon.
Kerang should be close to full strength, with Chloe Adams and Katelyn Wright in defence continuing to build on their strong partnership, conceding just 41.5 goals on average over the past month, when they played attacking teams such as the Mallee Eagles, Swan Hill and Lake Boga.
The Demons will take confidence from defeating Koondrook-Barham by 27 goals last weekend, but that will only get them so far against a team fighting for finals survival.
Tip – Kerang to win by 13 goals.
KOONDROOK-BARHAM v TYNTYNDER
TYNTYNDER will be hoping to validate their recent good form when they play Koondrook-Barham.
After competitive performances against top sides Balranald and Woorinen over the past fortnight, the Bulldogs will want to take the next step and claim their fifth win of the season.
It won’t be as easy as just turning up, with the River Raiders pushing the Bulldogs all the way in their five-goal loss in round 3.
Both teams have improved dramatically since, but more so Tyntynder, who will look to unsettle with their high-pressure brand of netball.
Kimberley Calvert has been in good form in goals, along with Kelsey Rowe, while their midcourt combination of Monica Ellis, Toni Rivett and Demi Wall have also been key contributors.
If Koondrook-Barham’s midcourt combination of Ella Hall, Tess Doyle and Remy Doyle can create pressure and force unwanted turnovers, then an upset could be on the cards – but only if the visitors are also having an off day.
Tip – Tyntynder to win by 17 goals.
