Picture: JAMES MURPHY
THIS weekend will see the first split round of Limestone Coast women’s football played, when teams take to two different venues for tomorrow’s round-five games.
Across the border at Island Park two games will be played, while Millicent’s McLaughlin Park will host three matches.
The most anticipated game of the round will be between league heavyweights Millicent and Kybybolite.
It has been a faultless run for the Saints so far, but reigning premier Kybybolite will look to put an end to their dominance on Millicent’s home deck.
Both teams have set the benchmark at the midpoint of the season and pack plenty of punch all over the ground.
Last week the 2018 champions dealt a 96-point blow to East Gambier.
Millicent comes off the back of a tight 10-point win over now third-placed South Gambier and will be prepared for another tough battle this week.
Tanaya Redman earned the best-on-ground honours last week for her solid work around the field and will hope to impress again.
Also at McLaughlin Park, North Gambier and Kalangadoo will go head-to-head.
The Tigers have been short-staffed this season, while Kalangadoo has done well to win two of its three hit outs.
Alyssa Boylan led the way for her team last week to score four majors and be named third best, while Bianca Thorn found the big sticks on three occasions.
Brittany Scholz will be out to replicate her efforts which saw her best-on-ground against the Cats last round.
For North, it had a strong opening quarter against Penola last round, but dropped off after the first break to lose by a decent margin.
If the Tigers can string together four solid quarters they may be able to quell the damage, but another Magpie victory can be expected.
A battle between two Kowree Naracoorte Tatiara clubs will open proceedings at Island Park, when Mundulla and Penola lock horns.
Both teams come off big wins of similar margins and a close battle may ensue.
However, Mundulla will have the edge as it has dropped just one game for the year so far.
Penola’s Karmel Finch has been a force on the field and will bring her speed and intensity into Sunday’s meeting, while Samantha Freeman has also been around the mark in the Eagles’ debut season.
The second game at Island Park will see the Cats host East, with both sides eager to add to their win count after slow starts to the year.
The Bulldogs in particular will hope for a good result, after their thrashing at the hands of Kybybolite.
East will look to the likes of Sara Smith, Neave Delaney and Taysha James, who all performed despite the result last round.
Maria-Lina Tralongo and Olivia Turner have also been in form and will hope to help their team on its way to a second win.
The Cats will look to Erin Munro, Prue Harvey and Scarlett Jarrad, while Madison Mutch has also been among the best in the struggling side.
The final game of the round will see Glencoe and West/Port face off at Island Park.
The Murphies will be favourites for the clash, as their opponent has been on the back foot in most of its games.
To the Roos’ credit, they held Mundulla scoreless in the third term of their meeting on the weekend, but it is likely Glencoe will prove too strong fresh off the bye.
ROUND 5 DRAW
Island Park: Mundulla v Penola, 11.45am; Casterton Sandford v East Gambier, 1pm.
McLaughlin Park: North Gambier v Kalangadoo, 11.45am; Glencoe v West Gambier/Port MacDonnell, 1pm; Millicent v Kybybolite, 2.15pm; South Gambier – bye.
