WITH a new coach at the helm in Demi Verbena, Millicent is still the benchmark of the Western Border netball competition and will look to advance to another title decider this weekend.
The Saints face North Gambier at Vansittart Park and the Tigers will need to pull out all stops if they are to challenge.
Verbena has brought new ideas to her former club, but also pace, smarts and long range accuracy to the shooting circle.
The speed of ball between the 2018 coach and Donna Denton has had defensive combinations in a spin all season.
The experienced Saints shooting duo will test the Tigers defensive set up of Maddie Whaites and Jordyn Adams, but the North circle defenders have developed a good understanding over the season and Whaites enters the finals series as one of the form defenders of the competition.
Adams can also be dangerous and if she finds the right mix between hunting the interception and denying Verbena easy ball, the Saints will need to show patience with their delivery into the goal circle.
But that delivery will be precise from Lisa Duldig and Paige Nitschke, with Hannah Nitschke also providing good drive and smart ball when taking the wing attack bib.
Madi Turner looms large, whether on the defensive wing or through the centre and she may get first crack at the dangerous Kaitlin Egan.
Denying Egan good circle position is one of the keys to slowing the scoring of prolific shooter Caroline Davey, whose battle with Hayley Dunn will be one of the match-defining duels of the day.
Amanda O’Shaughnessy, Ash Kalantarian and Emily Close round out an equally deep mid court for the Tigers and if they can work their way through the relentless Saints defensive pressure and give Davey enough opportunities, she will ensure they stay in touch with the reigning premiers.
Ellie Gould can also not be discounted in the goal circle.
The Tigers’ goal attack has a solid shot and her timing on her front cuts, plus her sense of when to go herself and when to create for Davey is impeccable.
Saints goal defender Kimmi Varcoe will need to find the perfect blend of hunting the interception and paying due respect to the damage Gould can inflict with some tight one-on-one defensive work.
Madi Haggett gives the Saints another defensive option if required in what is the most versatile Millicent squad to contest a finals series in some time.
It is hard to see the Saints not going straight through to the decider, but for the Tigers, it will be about staying in the contest as long as possible and seeing how this new-look Millicent team copes with some genuine pressure – something it has not been under all season – with the exception of the loss to West Gambier, when missing Denton and Dunn.
