KOONDROOK-BARHAM
KEY PLAYER
Emma Peacock
Natural defender who can play through the mid-court, the Raiders co-coach is the player Kerang must stop on Saturday.
Is expected to start at wing defence, but could potentially move into the Raiders’ defensive ring if either Katelyn Wright or Denise Roberts get dangerous.
Attacks the ball like few in the game and is a clean passer on transition, making her a key player for Koondrook-Barham’s hopes of progressing.
Finished runner up to Stevie Bibby in last year’s Julie Wardle Medal and will be one of the favourites to go one step further a win it in a couple of weeks’ time.
THE BURNING QUESTION
Will the Raiders be overawed by finals netball?
It has been a meteoric rise for Koondrook-Barham in 2025, with the Raiders qualifying for their first A Grade finals series since joining the Central Murray in 1997.
Although it’s been almost three decades since the tri-colours made it this far into a season, their squad still possess plenty of finals experience.
The Peacock twins both played in Lake Boga’s drought breaking premiership win last season, while Elly Bookham coached Murrabit to last year’s Golden Rivers grand final.
That trio aren’t alone in having finals experience, with Erin Moerenhout playing in multiple premierships at Torquay and Moama and goal defence Larney Allen winning multiple premierships for Lake Wendouree in the Ballarat Football Netball League.
KERANG
KEY PLAYER
Chloe Adams
One of the most talented and consistent goal keepers in the Central Murray, Adams leads the Blues’ defence with aplomb.
Has been one half of Kerang’s defensive combination that has conceded just over 36 goals per game this season, with the Blues’ strong defence being the cornerstone of their rise up the ladder in 2025.
Adams leads by example and will have a tough task in quelling the influence of Koondrook-Barham goal shooter Erin Moerenhout on Saturday, but it will be her ability to blanket the Raiders’ main scoring option that could potentially decide the outcome.
THE BURNING QUESTION
Can the Blues midcourt compete with the Raiders?
If there is an Achilles heel for Kerang, it is the midcourt, which is as mush because of how strong they are at either end of the court.
While the Blues may not be blessed with out and out superstars in the midcourt, they do have enough talent through the likes of Madison Hall, Mikala McNeil, Lily Wise and Bree Cordina to trouble most teams.
They will need to be at their best on Saturday however coming up against the Raiders, who with Remy Doyle, Emma Peacock and Elly Bookham have three of the league’s most dangerous centre third players.
KEY MATCH-UP
Sophie Peacock v Denise Roberts
Both Peacock and Roberts should be fresh after missing their team’s final round wins last Saturday, with both providing key pieces of their respective teams’ puzzles.
Peacock’s return will release twin sister Emma to play at wing defence and help bolster the Raiders’ midcourt, with her extra height also set be an advantage opposed to the athletic Roberts.
With 319 goals from her 15 matches this season, Roberts will also play a key role for the Blues and will need to provide a strong option close to the post if they are to shoot a winning score.
MATCH PREVIEW
SATURDAY will be a drought breaking day for both Koondrook-Barham and Kerang when the two clubs clash in this year’s Central Murray A Grade netball qualifying final.
While their footballers have celebrated premiership after premiership over the past decade, it has been 10 long years in the finals wilderness for the Blues.
That drought is nothing compared to the Raiders however, who after joining the Central Murray at the beginning of the 1997 season, will take to the court for their first A Grade final on Saturday.
It will be the first time in 27 seasons that Koondrook-Barham have made it this deep into a season, with the long-suffering supporters of the Raiders set to descend on the Woorinen Recreation Reserve to watch history be made.
Remarkably, the Raiders will go into the match as favourites, given they are one of the form teams of the competition with seven consecutive wins seeing them climb into second place on the ladder.
Koondrook-Barham co-coach Emma Peacock told The Guardian she and her team are looking forward to facing that expectation on Saturday.
“It’s quite remarkable to not only make the finals and create a little bit of history for our club, but to also sit pretty comfortably in the top five and earn ourselves a double chance is pretty exciting,” Peacock said this week.
“We’ve done pretty well to achieve what we have as a new team this season, but finals are always a different ball game and we’ll need to adapt to that.
“In finals, it’s anyone’s game and it doesn’t matter if you’ve been the team to beat all season or not, everyone is capable of beating anyone.
“There is more pressure and you think a little bit more in finals and I find the harder at the ball you are, the more likely you’ll get it.”
The Raiders will welcome goal keeper Sophie Peacock into their line-up on Saturday, after the defender missed last Saturday’s 11-goal win over Swan Hill.
Peacock will be a big addition for the Raiders and will line-up opposed to Kerang goal shooter Denise Roberts, who herself missed the Blues’ 12-goal win over Balranald last weekend.
Both teams are seen as strong defensive sides, with the Raiders ranked number one in the Central Murray this season after conceding just over 35 goals per game on average.
Kerang’s defence are not far behind however and have conceded just one more goal per game on average than the Koondrook-Barham, with Kerang co-coach Chloe Adams expecting the match to be determined by the team who takes their opportunities.
“I think it will come down to who has more composure on the day and who looks after the ball and is able to play that keepings off style of netball,” Adams said.
“I feel like both teams are quite defensive and have strong defensive ends.
“So I think it will be who doesn’t play into those defenders hands that will probably win the game.
“It will come down to the mids cherishing that ball and our goalers and I think if we can do the basic stuff well and we can maintain our set of passes and convert on majority of our centres, then I think we’ll be in pretty good stead.
“But at the same time, Barham are really strong at that too, they get a lot of ball and they are also able to be steady with it through their mids.
“It’s going to be a really good contest and it’s one that we’re really looking forward to.”
It was a sentiment shared by Peacock, who also indicated that working on the basics would be the focus for the Raiders.
“We’ll just focus on doing the basics well and if we do that, then the result should take care of itself,” Peacock said.
“Just start with your three feet, stay in play and work on your foot work basically.
“We don’t need to re-invent things or do anything differently just because it’s finals, just work on the simple things.”
Adams will be a key player for the Blues, with her combination alongside goal defence Maddy Black continuing to impress as the season has progressed.
The same can be said for Koondrook-Barham’s attacking third however, with Sophie Disher complementing the highly talented Erin Moerenhout in the Raiders’ ring.
While it is a similar story at the opposite end of the court, with Sophie Peacock and Larney Allan lining up against Roberts and Katelyn Wright, it’s in the midcourt where the Raiders might have the advantage, with young gun Remy Doyle expected to play a key role in helping her team get first crack at the undefeated Mallee Eagles.
Tip – Koondrook-Barham to win by two goals.
