AFTER starting the season 4-0, Kerang are ready to tackle their biggest test to date this weekend according to Blues co-coach Chloe Adams.
Kerang will host Woorinen in what shapes as being one of the games of the season, with the Tigers looking to bounce back from their first loss of the season to the Mallee Eagles last Saturday.
Saturday’s encounter with the Blues couldn’t come at a better time for the Tigers, who proved to be no match for the all-conquering Eagles, with Woorinen now having the opportunity to bounce back against a team that is also considered to be among the leading contenders for this year’s premiership.
For Kerang, Saturday is an opportunity to confirm their standing, with Adams acknowledging that her team will need to improve if they are to continue their unbeaten start to 2025.
“I feel like the season has built nicely for us these first few rounds and obviously Koondrook-Barham was a really great test for us, but Woorinen will be another big step up,” Adams told The Guardian this week.
“We’re very excited. I think it will be a great challenge for us and it’ll require a full four quarter effort, but I think we’re up to the task and hopefully we can put it all together tomorrow.”
One of Woorinen’s big strengths is in their attacking third, with Tayla Bennett and Willow Conlan forming what is shaping up to be a strong shooting combination.
While the pair are still adjusting to each other’s games, they are both regarded as being among the most damaging shooters in the competition.
The Eagles landed on the blueprint to defeat the Tigers last weekend however, with Jemma Meehan and Nevaeh Roberts managing to contain Bennett and Conlan to just 18 goals in the first half, with Adams hopeful her defence – led by herself – can do the same again on Saturday.
“We’re still focusing on our game and making sure that our connections right across the court are continuing to develop and that’s going to be something that we continue to work on,” Adams said.
“In terms of tomorrow’s game though we will be focusing on putting that defensive pressure on right up the court in an effort to nullify their attacking end.
“Obviously they have such a strong target in Tayla (Bennett) and she has some great support out the front for her with Willow (Conlan) and Ava (Crow).
“It’s going to be a really good contest down there for us in defence, but we’re going to be trying to slow the ball down as much as we can up the court to give us a good crack at it down back.”
Although Woorinen’s big strength is their attacking end, the same can be said of the Blues, who are averaging just under 50 goals per game across the first four rounds, with Adams enjoying what she’s seen from her talented shooters so far this season.
“Our attacking end, in terms of our goalers, is probably not your traditional post goaler and then a worker out the front combination,” Adams said.
“I think that ‘Niecey’ (Denise Snyder) and ‘Ranga’ (Katelyn Wright) both share the load really well.
“They’ve been building and building every week I think we are just as strong in that goaler circle, but I also think that we are defensively strong enough to match them in that end as well.
“Although it’ll be a really tough game for us, I think we have that ability to match them across the court and I think we’re definitely up for the challenge.”
With the Blues going into the match at full strength, the biggest determining factor could well be whether star defender Tessa Demaria returns for the Tigers, with the co-coach having missed the past two games.
Tip – Kerang to win by two goals.
