IT will be high-stakes when the women’s football players clash at Mundulla for the last minor-round of the 2019 Limestone Coast Women’s Football League season this Sunday.
With this round being the last chance to perform before finals, every fixture will be played at an intense level with no inches given.
The crowd will be in full voice, when the home side clash against Millicent in a heavyweight match-up to end the day’s proceedings.
It represents a must-win game for both sides with Mundulla (second place), Millicent (fourth) and South Gambier (third), all locked in a titanic battle for the one remaining place in the grand final with Kybybolite.
The Saints will come into the contest with the fresher legs after they experienced the comfort of a bye last week, while Mundulla cruised to a 25-point win over Glencoe.
Amy Bruce (two goals), Jenna Kennett, Tracey Poulton and Brooke Ballinger (one each) looked in strong form last week and will hope to continue their run through the pointy end of the season.
Jayde Barton has been the leading goal-scorer for the home side this season with 10, while Ballinger, Hailee Witmitz, Bruce and Tessa Marra have consistently performed.
For the Saints, Kristie Rowe and Ella Little have dominated the points scoring with 13 and 10 majors respectively and will be targets up forward.
Kelsie Wilkinson and Madi Thwaites are the ones to look out for around the ground as they have appeared most regularly in Millicent’s best.
Mundulla will begin the match as the slight favourite thanks to the home-ground advantage, however the Saints will be no pushover as a classic-contest shapes up.
The other grand final contender South Gambier, will kick-off the days action against a struggling North Gambier outfit.
Despite the Demons sitting third on the ladder, they hold a percentage advantage over their rivals, which the attacking side will hope to increase, as the Tigers are yet to achieve a win this season and have already suffered two triple-figure defeats.
South’s forward line will be eager to kick a bag to build form ahead of finals, in particular the league’s leading goal-scorer Kendell Saffin.
Saffin has been the golden boot of the competition in recent times, kicking 23 goals this season, including 14 in her last two games.
Jasime White has also displayed a presence in the Demons’ forward 50, with 14 goals to her name and the pair will be disappointed if they do not achieve an impressive haul against the weakest side in the league.
Expect South to rocket up into grand final contention with a thumping win over the Tigers.
The following fixture looms as another one-sided affair between Casterton Sandford and Kybybolite.
Kybybolite are the hot favourite to take the 2019 premiership as it has proven to be a class above its rivals each week.
Hayley Sellars has been a strong force in front of goals with two five-goal haul in as many games, while Sophie Henschke, Tyler Atkinson, Lilly Gill and Georgia Irvine have all displayed impressive performances.
In contrast, the Cats’ lack of scoring potency has hurt the side all year, with Georgia Mcpeake the only goal scorer in last round’s match.
Kybybolite should march into the grand final with another crushing victory.
A narrow finish is anticipated when East Gambier clash with Glencoe in a fight for seventh position on the ladder.
Both sides suffered losses last round, but players from both sides produced positive displays.
Jemma Heraper and Neave Delaney kicked the Bulldogs’ two goals and Olivia Turner continued to be all over the ball, collecting her fifth best-on-ground outing.
East will hope this trio can make a bigger impact this week to finish the minor-round season on a high note.
Glencoe’s season has been largely carried by two star players, forward Alice Tentye and midfielder Sarah Edwards.
The only Glencoe goal-kicker last week Tentye, scored two second-half goals to continue her role as the main scoring option in her side.
Edwards displayed plenty of run and carry in the midfield and was a shining light in a game where the opposition dictated terms.
Glencoe start with the slim advantage as it sits slightly higher on the ladder, but East have a more rounded list, a close-encounter awaits.
The penultimate fixture of the day is between Kalangadoo and West Gambier/Port MacDonnell.
The Magpies begin as the hot favourites, sitting fifth on the ladder with three wins, while the Roos are down in 10th with just a solitary victory next to their name.
However West are actually the team coming into the contest in winning form, after it claimed its first win of the season in a scrappy affair with North.
Holly Smith produced another solid turnout and Megan Hein has been picked in the best every time she has put the Roos jumper on this season, while Ebony Lawson showed why she is the only West player to kick multiple goals this season, with another important major.
Kalangadoo failed to win in front of its home fans after it was no match for the all-conquering Kybybolite outfit.
Jessica Stone scored two goals and Reanna Wetherall collected her first best-on-ground award for the season, the pair will hope to build on their recent form against the struggling West line-up.
The Magpies should nail down their fifth position on the ladder with a confidence-boosting win over West.
DRAW – MUNDULLA
North Gambier v South Gambier, 10.30am; Casterton Sandford v Kybybolite, 11.45am; East Gambier v Glencoe, 1pm; Kalangadoo v West Gambier/Port MacDonnell, 2.15pm; Mundulla v Millicent, 3.30pm; Penola – bye.
