KYBYBOLITE V MUNDULLA, GRAND FINAL
AFTER eight rounds of intense action, Kybybolite and Mundulla will go head-to-head in the grand final of the 2019 Limestone Coast Women’s Football season this Sunday at Blue Lake Sports Park.
A close and high-scoring match is anticipated, as both sides have been the class of the field, easily defeating all of their rivals with an attacking style of football.
Kybybolite will try to go back-to-back and replicate its 2018 premiership win, while Mundulla hope to take home a flag in its first season in the competition.
It will be the reigning premier who head into the decider as the favourite, after not dropping a single match all season.
An unrelenting game style has seen the Northern Tigers blow away every team they have faced, with little resistance to slow their building momentum.
Hayley Sellars has been the side’s target in front of goals with 26 majors, which saw her finish as the second-highest goal-scorer for the minor-round season.
Sellars presents as a dangerous proposition for the Mundulla defence, as she looked in ominous form last week booting six goals in her sides thumping win over Casterton Sandford.
If she can replicate her best-on-ground performance this weekend, the cup may well be in her team’s hands.
Tyler Atkinson, Georgia Irvine, Ella Jones, Casey Mcelroy, Susannah Maber and Sophie Hentschke have all shown strong support throughout and will be ones to watch around the ground.
One weakness Mundulla will attempt to exploit is Kybybolite’s inaccuracy kicking for goal, with 15 behinds during its 99-point win over the Cats, but the Northern Tigers will be determined not to give their opponents a sniff.
Mundulla also come into the grand final on a wave of confidence after its convincing victory over a formidable Millicent outfit, in what was a must-win clash.
Tracey Poulton and Jenna Kennett scored a pair of goals each, while Carlee Feder and Brooke Ballinger were the top performers in the 28-point victory.
During the season, Jayde Barton, Amy Bruce and Hailee Witmitz have been strong contributors too.
There has been plenty of hype around the Mundulla squad after hitting the ground running in their debut season.
Aside from a disappointing 38-point loss to its grand final opponent early in the campaign, Mundulla have gone from strength to strength to go undefeated since, and appear in a good position to launch an assault on the flag.
Although Kybybolite appear the stronger squad, on the big stage, a thrilling decider awaits as both sides will be unrelenting in their approach to claim the 2019 flag.
SOUTH GAMBIER V MILLICENT
A close battle also awaits in the consolation final between South Gambier and Millicent.
The Demons will hope to continue their strong form and play well on home turf, while the Saints are determined to bounce back from a under-par display against Mundulla.
South have been led by the tremendous performances of its power forward Kendell Saffin, who has kicked a staggering 19 goals in her last three matches.
Saffin finished the minor-round season as the leading goal-scorer with 28, two ahead of Sellars.
The Saints defence must find a way to slow down Saffin’s scoring ability, otherwise they will be chasing South’s score all day.
Jasmine White has also performed in the forward line with 14 majors, while Imogen Walker and Victoria Lucas have been consistently named in the best.
Of the two sides, the Demons have been the most attacking on the scoreboard and will look to attack early to get the crowd involved.
Although South appear in stronger form recently, Millicent actually won the last contest between the two sides this year.
A bag of three goals from Kritstie Rowe, one from Ella Little and a best-on-ground performance from Tanaya Redman saw the Saints march to a 10-point win.
This trio will be pivotal to Millicent’s hopes of ending a positive year on a high.
Rowe was also the only Saint to find the big sticks last week against Mundulla, and will be hoping for more support this time around.
The Saints have been a bit rusty of late, with a bye and a scrappy win over Penola all to show for in the recent weeks.
Despite the Demons holding the home ground advantage, Millicent will be driven to end its poor run of form, causing the battle for third place to be far from resolved.
KALANGADOO V PENOLA
The Kalangadoo Magpies and Penola Eagles will do battle to be the best of the rest.
There is an unknown quantity floating around this contest, as the pair are yet to meet each over in 2019.
It is the Magpies who will start as favourites, after they finished ahead of the Eagles on the ladder, but both sides have experienced up and down campaigns.
Penola displayed promise trough three big wins against the lowly teams and a spirited loss to Millicent.
The highlight of the Magpies’ season was a 107-point win over North Gambier, while they ended a run of defeats last week, with a victory by 73 points.
Kalangadoo have been the more attacking side in 2019, but the Eagles will have fresher legs after a bye last week, a tight battle between the two travelling sides is in contention.
GLENCOE V EAST GAMBIER
For the second time in as many weeks, Glencoe and East Gambier will come face-to-face on the football field.
Last week, the Murphies proved too strong for the Bulldogs, to comfortably win by a 47-point margin.
Sarah Edwards and Madi Zuijdveld were the leaders for Glencoe in the big win, while Megan Beck and Neave Delaney performed well for East.
On the evidence of last round’s fixture, the Murphies should get the job done, but the Bulldogs will be on the hunt for revenge.
CASTERTON SANDFORD V WEST GAMBIER/PORT MACDONNELL
The opening match of the day will see Casterton Sandford meet West Gambier/Port MacDonnell.
Both teams have struggled to make an impact throughout the 2019 season and are yet to meet in anger.
The Cats hold the advantage with the superior number of wins, but have been left with their tails between their legs recently, with three consecutive heavy defeats.
The Roos have even less to cheer about with just one win against a win-less North Gambier outfit.
Casterton Sandford should end the season on a high with a win to open the day’s proceedings.
DRAW – BLUE LAKE SPORTS PARK
Casterton Sandford v West Gambier/Port MacDonnell, 10.15am; Glencoe v East Gambier, 11.30am; Kalangadoo v Penola, 12.45pm; South Gambier v Millicent, 2pm; Kybybolite v Mundulla (grand final), 3.15pm.
