THE Limestone Coast Women’s Football League will return to Mount Gambier this week, as teams travel to Blue Lake Sports Park on Sunday for Round 6 of the competition.
With just two minor rounds remaining in the 2018 season, the top teams will be eager to create a buffer before finals.
Kybybolite, Millicent and South Gambier all sit on four wins at this point in the season, with only percentage separating the three sides.
And with the grand final determined on ladder position, reigning premier South is currently on the back foot.
The first game for the day will see East Gambier take on Kalangadoo at 11.30am, which could be an interesting match as fourth and fifth on the ladder fight for bragging rights.
This will be followed by a 12.40pm match between ladder leader Kybybolite and the sixth-placed Glencoe All Stars, which should see the Tigers maintain their top spot.
Millicent will also face an easier opponent this week, when it takes on a win-less West Gambier at 1.50pm.
The final match is scheduled for 3pm and will see cross-town rivals South and North Gambier go head-to-head.
This should also be an easy win for the Demons based on current form and they will look to boost their percentage going into the final round next week.
Kybybolite v Glencoe
GLENCOE will have a tough task on its hands when it takes on the might of Kybybolite at Blue Lake Sports Park on Sunday.
With their first loss of the season coming at the hands of Millicent last round, the Tigers will hit the All Stars with everything as they fight to maintain their position on top of the ladder.
Last week Glencoe stuck with the Demons until the fourth term, where the reigning premiers managed to slip away for an eight-point win.
Claire Nolte scored both goals for her team in this match, while Libby Howe-Morgan was named best-on-ground.
They will both be looked to on Sunday to hold the Northern Tigers at bay, along with Alicia Frankenburg, Sarah Edwards and Holly Smith, who were all among the team’s best last week.
If the All Stars are to have a chance against this year’s heavy weight, they will need to maintain pressure, both on the scoreboard and around the ground, for the full four quarters.
With Kybybolite proving to be a dominant force in the league since its Round 1 triumph over South, the Tigers’ depth has become more apparent as the season unfolds.
With 11 goal scorers for the five rounds played to date, this ability to rely on most of its team to deliver is something which will give it an edge going into the finals.
It is also a factor Glencoe will need to consider when it takes to the ground on Sunday.
Susannah Maber’s four-goal haul in Round 4 against West sees her as the top scorer for the Tigers, while Hayley Smart, Shakira Stuchbery and Georgia Irvine have all contributed two goals throughout the year.
Add into the mix the likes of Casey McElroy, Sally Logan and Sarah Ottoson-Crossling, who were the leading players in last week’s match, and Kybybolite should take home its fifth win for the season.
East Gambier v Kalangadoo
SITTING in the middle order of the ladder, the clash between East and Kalangadoo is expected to be an even affair at Blue Lake Sports Park.
With the Bulldogs one win ahead of the Magpies, they will be out to increase this buffer by repeating last week’s impressive performance.
East claimed a monstrous 86-0 win over the Roos last round, in the largest score recorded in Limestone Coast Women’s Football League history.
This saw Hannah Willson and Sharryn Dawes with three goals each, while Sara Smith also contributed two major scores.
They will be looking to back up their efforts against the Magpies on the weekend, while Nic Collins, Bo Creek, Neave Delaney, Madeline Fry and Mahli Pannenberg will also be eager to make the scorer’s list again.
For Kalangadoo, last week saw the team record its second win for the season, with its 47-0 triumph over North its first victory since Round 1.
Currently sitting in fifth on the ladder, the Magpies will want to produce another solid performance against the Bulldogs in an attempt to make the top four and earn a place in the first consolation final.
Abbey Shannon and Emmason Ilsley led the way on the scoreboard last week both with two majors, while Alyssa Boylan, Brianna Devine and Sharnna Devereux contributed one each.
They will be looked to again at goals, while Jemima Burt and Tara Jeffree were the top performers for the Magpies and will look to provide for their team around the ground.
Millicent v West Gambier
IT should be a one-sided affair when the Saints take on the Roos.
With percentage the only margin separating it from the top of the ladder, Millicent will have the perfect opportunity to build on this when it faces the bottom-placed team.
The Roos have only scored eight points in total for the season, seven of which were in its Round 2 draw with North.
Millicent on the other hand has no shortage of capable goal-scorers.
Olivia Fuller continues to lead the league’s goal-kicking competition, with six for the year, closely followed by teammate Kristie Rowe on five.
These players alone will be enough to account for West on the scoreboard, not to mention Lucy Barber who has scored three and Grace Carnellor with two.
With West having little to offer in 2018, the Saints should have an easy win and will likely receive a percentage boost in its chase for top spot.
South Gambier v North Gambier
SOUTH will go into Sunday’s match with confidence, as it looks for its fifth consecutive win.
Up against North Gambier, which sits just clear of last place on the ladder, the Demons will also be out for a percentage boost.
The Tigers’ best result was their draw with West in Round 2 and it has only a handful of players who have been able to kick between the tall posts.
Of these, Lorrelle Walker leads the way with two goals for the season, while Claudia Gill and Kimberley McKinnon have each scored one.
It is a different story for South, who has had no trouble hitting the scoreboard when it counts.
Jasmine White leads the way for her team, after her two goals against Glencoe last week saw her overtake Kendell Saffin as leading scorer, now sitting on a total of five goals.
Saffin has three for the year, while Aimee Beck is the next best with two.
The Demons have depth and should have no trouble in its Tiger hunt.
