TOOLEYBUC-MANANGATANG v LAKE BOGA
LAKE Boga will go into tomorrow’s clash against Tooleybuc-Manangatang without two key players from their upset eight-goal win over Swan Hill last Saturday.
Milla Holt and Maddie Hickey will both miss the must-win match for the Magpies, with the reigning premiers needing to their final four matches to be any chance of sneaking into fifth place.
Holt was instrumental in Lake Boga’s win over the Swans after scoring 43 of her team’s 48 goals for the match, while Hickey also managed to negate the dangerous Miela Roberts and Kelly Bonney at wing defence.
The pair’s absence will leave a big hole for Lake Boga to fill, especially in their attacking third with underrated Saints defenders Taylah Morris and Olivia Fowler both in form.
A win is a must for Tooleybuc-Manangatang also, who find themselves outside the top five albeit with a game in hand.
The Saints have been one of the form teams over the second half of the season despite being outclassed by the Mallee Eagles at their last outing, with four consecutive wins leading into that match catapulting them into finals contention.
Zoe Morris has quickly found her feet since her mid season return, while Summer Blachford and Jayda Plant to continue to develop and show strong signs for a bright future.
Having not played for 21 days, the challenge for the Saints will be in recapturing that form and ensuring they don’t become Lake Boga’s latest victim in their own late season resurgence.
Tip – Tooleybuc-Manangatang to win by six goals.
WOORINEN v NNW UNITED
WOORINEN will host Nyah-Nyah West United in a must-win game for the Tigers tomorrow afternoon.
After falling to fourth after last Saturday’s loss to the Mallee Eagles, Woorinen find themselves in a three-way battle with Kerang and Koondrook-Barham for a top three spot and the all-important double chance.
Although the Tigers will go into tomorrow’s encounter with the Demons as favourites, it will be far from a walk in the park despite NNW United having yet to record a win, with star midcourters Matika Mitchell and Shania Decker returning from injury.
Mitchell is a huge inclusion with her speed and experience through the centre third, combined with the class of Taigan O’Shannassy expected to see NNW United match the Tigers’ combination of Chloe Militto, Gwenevere Thompson and the Martinez sisters.
It will be in the bookends where the Demons may be challenged however, with the defensive pairing of Gretchen Skinner and Decker expected to give away plenty of height to Woorinen goalers Tayla Bennett and Willow Conlan.
With their finals hopes on the line, it’s hard to go past the Tigers even in the expected wet conditions.
Tip – Woorinen to win by 12 goals.
COHUNA v TYNTYNDER
COHUNA will go into tomorrow’s match against Tyntynder as favourites, with anything less than victory likely to end the Kangas’ finals hopes
The Kangas’ 21-goal win over NNW United last Saturday saw them close to within eight points of fifth placed Swan Hill, and with an extra game in hand, has put them back in the finals race.
With a challenging run home, including matches against the Mallee Eagles and Kerang, the Kangas simply have to beat the Bulldogs tomorrow if they are to be any chance to keep their season alive over the coming weeks.
It will be far from an easy encounter for the Kangas however, with only a slow start preventing Tyntynder from taking it right up to Cohuna back in round 3.
While the Kangas ran away with an 11-goal win that afternoon, it was largely set up by a 15-goal to eight opening term, with the Bulldogs remaining competitive throughout the final three quarters.
Issy Corrie will be a significant out for Tyntynder, with Milla Nalder expected to spend a full game through the midcourt in her absence.
The biggest challenge for the visitors will be in their defensive third however, with Bridgette King and Tamara Weiss coming up against the strong attacking combination of Carla Walker and Danni Bird for the Kangas.
Tip – Cohuna to win by eight goals.
