A GRADE – MOUNT BURR v TANTANOOLA
FINALS fever has hit the Mid South East netball fixture, with a do-or-die scenario for this weekend’s matches.
In the A Grade elimination final Mount Burr is at home to Tantanoola.
The Mozzies recruited well in the off season and their goal of making finals has come to fruition.
Tantanoola has put in some stellar performances this year and will need more of that if they are to progress further.
Mount Burr coach Tamara Haggett returned to her old club this year, bringing her daughter Madi, who has enjoyed an outstanding season along with Heidi Clark in defence.
The pair have been named in the best players most weeks and have become one of the leading defensive duos going round.
They will line up against Emma Gould at GS for the Tigers and Jami Walker at GA.
Gould’s height and ability to hold is a real strength of her game.
She is well supported by Walker who adds speed in the circle and shoots accurately.
Both teams boast impressive mid-court players.
For the Tigers, Casey Walker is a key player, is creative and finds space well on the circle to feed her goalies accurately.
She is well supported by Vic Lucas and Alex Lucas who have both also had great seasons.
The Mozzies finished with a slightly different to mid-court to how they started this year – Ava Smith-Muhovics, Ann Guyett and Laura Schultz are valuable players and work tirelessly to get the ball down court to Ebony Clark and Sarah Nulty.
Clark and Nulty have worked well together for the are both strong targets in the attack line.
They will take on youngster Tayla Rowe and Kate Bromley in defence for the Tigers.
Bromley is an experienced and clever defender, while Rowe’s height is an advantage in the circle with her long arms and reach, as well as her rebounding ability.
Last time these teams met it was Tantanoola who got up by seven goals.
They have only played once due to their second match being scheduled during the coronavirus lockdown.
Both teams will look to advance through to the preliminary final and will leave nothing on the court in what should be an enthralling contest.
A RESERVE – TANTANOOLA v PORT MACDONNELL
Tantanoola will take on Port MacDonnell in the A Reserve final, after the Demons just snuck into the top four after a close win against Kongorong last weekend.
These two teams have only met once this season and it was Tantanoola that got up by a goal.
Port MacDonnell has a vastly different team to what they had then, with plenty of experience.
Belinda O’Dine recently played her 350th game for the Bay, while Holly Smith has been outstanding all season, reading the play incredibly well and creating many turnovers.
Narelle Lewis also recently played her 350th game and has a lot of netball knowledge.
She makes the WA position her own and feeds her goalies with accuracy.
Megan Hein joined the team after returning from having a baby and adds height to the Demons goal circle along with accurate shooting.
The Tigers have plenty of strength right down the court – Lauren Fensom and Estella Serle have been prominent in goals, while Alana Fensom and Emma Rathjen are a composed mid-court duo who feed their goalies with pinpoint accuracy.
Kristy Varcoe is a tenacious mid-court defender, picking off anything within reach and providing great drive out of defence.
Georgia Clarke and Kelsey Widdison will likely line up in defence for the Tigers, both strong defenders who read the ball well and rebound any missed opportunities.
It should be another entertaining clash, with the result certainly up in the air.
B GRADE – TANTANOOLA v HATHERLEIGH
The B Grade elimination final will see Tantanoola take on Hatherleigh in another tight contest, as previous outings have seen the Tigers up by just six and three goals.
Bek Millowick and Nic Rutkowski are strong in goals for the Tigers, move well together and shoot with accuracy.
They are well supported by their mid-court with accurate passing into the circle.
Kristie Rowe will be one to watch.
Whether playing in defence or mid-court, she reads the play well and shuts down plays.
For the Eagles, Nat Chambers has been a gun all year running the centre position.
Her work rate is phenomenal, she always gives 110pc and is a positive leader on court.
Hatherleigh’s defence is a force to be reckoned with.
Jess Bowman has had an outstanding season at GD, takes timely intercepts and is a strong rebounder in the circle.
She is well supported by Georgia Gray at GK, who is a strong player with a never-say-die attitude.
Accuracy will be important given the close results in their previous encounters.
B RESERVE – GLENCOE v PORT MACDONNELL
With one win each during the minor rounds, the B Reserve clash between Glencoe and Port MacDonnell could go either way.
Cristan Smith has years of finals experience in goals for the Demons and is capable of shooting from anywhere inside the circle.
She teams up with Maddy Hann who moves well in the ring.
They will be ably backed by the experienced Lauren Lewis and Briodie Wilson outside the circle.
The pair will line up against Glencoe’s tenacious defence duo of Kate Sealey and Krystal Owen.
In defence for the Demons will be the reliable Fiona Scott who reads the ball well and rebounds any missed shots.
In the circle with her could be Lyndall Feast who is a first year senior player or Under 17 player Arriella Smith, both who are capable of turning the ball over at crucial times.
In goals for the Murphies will be Britt Liebich and Lauren Kenny who on their day are hard to beat and accurate shooters.
This game is up for grabs and could go down to the wire.
17 and UNDER – MOUNT BURR v ROBE
Mount Burr will take on Robe in the Under 17 elimination final, with again a tight game expected.
The teams last met last the weekend and Robe took the win by just seven goals.
Maddie Wirth was in great form for the Roosters, shoots with accuracy and adds important height to the goal circle.
She teams up well with Sienna Brooks who is a driving, attacking player.
They will likely line-up against McKenzie Bevan who is a strong defender, proving her strength by also playing some A Grade this year.
One of Mount Burr’s strengths is despite not being overly tall across the court, their defensive pressure is outstanding and allows their goalies plenty of opportunities under the ring.
The mid-court battle will be one to watch, as Amelia Ballantyne has been in great form for the Burr, while Ella Mackey has been consistent for the Roosters, particularly in the latter part of the season.
Jemma Hayward has been good for the Mozzies in goals and should have a great battle against Maisie Hayes who is an important defender for Robe, providing the drive out of defence into their attack line.
If Robe plays like the last outing, they will be hard to beat.
However, finals are a different ball game and Mount Burr is at home, which should provide an intriguing contest.
15 and UNDER – KALANGADOO v PORT MACDONNELL
The opneing match of the day will see Kalangadoo take on Port MacDonnell in the Under 15’s and despite the Demons having the upper hand throughout the minor rounds, Kalangadoo will have a vastly different line-up to when they met earlier in the year.
Kalangadoo has talented and accurate goalies in Tegan Lythgo and Gabby Varcoe, while Port MacDonnell’s defence has been able to contain them in their previous encounters.
The Demons will be sweating on the fitness of their defensive duo, Bridie McPherson and Brooklyn Jones, both having missed the last few games of the minor round due to injury.
The mid-court battle will be exciting, as Chloe Peacock, despite being the youngest in the team, has had an outstanding season as has the Bay’s Sophie Lewis.
In the Demons’ attack line, Lara Wilson is hard to stop, with Georgia Gentile likely to get the job.
Wilson is an accurate goalie and Gentile a tall and strong rebounder, which makes for a great tussle.
Wilson is supported by Grace Jacob who should have a good battle with the Magpies’ Ebony Wurst, who is a tenacious defender and will make Jacob earn her goals.
The outcome of this game could depend on whether Port MacDonnell can field their usual line-up, but either way it should be a great game to kick the day off.
13 and UNDER – NANGWARRY v MT BURR
The young 13 and Under final sees Nangwarry take on Mount Burr.
This has the potential to be a tight game, with Nangwarry taking a four-goal win in the first round and Mount Burr winning by four goals in the second encounter.
Both teams boast talented juniors, with some key match ups being crucial to the outcome.
Nangwarry’s Skye Virtanen has been consistent and adds height and speed to her team.
She could line up against Sara Smith, who was a country champ representative this year and has had a stellar season.
Smith’s defensive skills and ability to turn the ball over will be an advantage for the young Mozzies.
She could team up with Kali Linnell who has been strong in defence and is also capable of taking timely intercepts.
Kiara Ephia is a versatile and valuable player for Nangwarry, her pinpoint passing and smart netball makes her an asset to her team.
Another country champ representative in 2021, Tilly Gamble will be important to Mount Burr.
She is a creative goalie who can also play other positions.
She has strong hands and a great work rate.
She could come up against Kaylee McNair for the Saints, whose height and strong rebounding ability make her a tough opponent.
Nerves will play a part at the beginning of the game and the team to settle first could have the upper hand.
Mount Burr also has the home-court advantage which could prove valuable.
