BALRANALD v WOORINEN
DESPITE missing their entire defensive third from last season, Balranald will be hoping to kick off their 2025 campaign with a win over a Woorinen outfit that is expected to be one of the Central Murray’s big improvers this season.
After missing finals last season, the Tigers will be keen to get their season off to a winning start, however, with the return of goaler Tayla Bennett set to stretch the Roos inexperienced defence.
Bennett will line up alongside young gun Willow Conlan in a dangerous one-two combination that is expected to trouble most clubs this season.
Balranald will be without Elli-Jane Pollard, Bree Hodgson and Grace Morton, with Isabella Papa and Katelyn Hazlett in line to help fill the void.
Also missing this season will be Ella Mirtschin, however, her loss will be largely offset by the return of former coach Jess Parry, who could be faced with a one-on-one match-up against Woorinen’s Tessa Demaria.
Tip – Woorinen to win by seven goals.
NNW UNITED v SWAN HILL
THERE will be much interest placed on Saturday’s contest between Nyah-Nyah West United and Swan Hill after a change of leadership at both clubs over the off-season.
Nola O’Shannassy has taken the reins at the Demons this season, with an air of positivity surrounding the club following a strong pre-season campaign from many of their new and existing players.
The Demons midcourt will have a vastly different look to it, with former coach Madison Jones returning from a knee injury and Lake Boga premiership player Taigan O’Shannassy returning to her junior club.
Swan Hill will have a very different look about them also, but at either end of the court, with defenders Tess Meney and Stevie Bibby not returning in 2025, along with goalers Zoe Morris and Casey Frame.
Frame will instead take over as a non-playing coach, with the Swans turning to their talented brigade of juniors to fill the voids left at each end of the court.
For the Demons, the biggest questions ahead of their opening match centre around where they will deploy reigning best and fairest Matika Mitchell and who will replace their departing goalers Sarah Gaskin and Steph Henson.
Tip – NNW United to win by one goal.
MALLEE EAGLES v TOOLEYBUC-MANANGATANG
AFTER a strong pre-season both on and off the training track, the Mallee Eagles will be aiming to confirm their status as the team to beat this season when they host Tooleybuc-Manangatang this weekend.
The arrival of Lily Brennan and Jemma Meehan has helped fuel the belief that the Eagles are ready to finally break their preliminary final hoodoo, with the pair likely to have a significant impact on their new club’s defensive end.
Meehan is expected to form a strong defensive partnership alongside young gun Nevaeh Roberts, who came of age in a breakout season 12 months ago.
Saturday will be a tough first-up assignment opposed to underrated Saints goalers Summer Blachford and Rhiann O’Meara, who have both had encouraging pre-season campaigns.
The battle through the midcourt also looms as a crucial one, with Jayda Plant expected to improve after spending time playing for the Murray Region at the Victorian State Netball Titles over the summer.
Plant will be opposed to the Eagles Alicia Harvey, with Brennan, Kasey Torr and Jess Jobling’s experience and class likely to give the home side the edge.
Tip – Mallee Eagles to win by 10 goals.
KERANG v LAKE BOGA
AFTER an off-season of upheaval, reigning premiers Lake Boga will begin their premiership defence against a Kerang outfit that many pundits are expecting big things from in 2025.
Having won four of their last six games last season, the Blues will be aiming to continue the form that saw them make a late charge for the finals, especially with the return of Katelyn Wright and the recruitment of Madi Hall and Maddy Black set to add to the home team’s depth.
Kerang’s defensive third is expected to be their big strength this season, with Wright set to team up with coach and club best and fairest winner Chloe Adams.
For Lake Boga, despite breaking a 59-year premiership drought just over six months ago, they enter this season as a relative unknown, with a whole new A grade squad led by a new coach in Lisa Ryan.
Although Ryan is no stranger to coaching at the highest level, there is no escaping the fact that the reigning premiers will have an entirely new starting seven, which will undoubtedly take to time to gel, with imparting game time and experience into their young and talented squad the early focus.
Tip – Kerang to win by six goals.
