Intriguing game to take centre stage at Malseed Park

Lisa Mcgregor Dsc 1801  TBW Newsgroup
MATCH OF THE ROUND: West Gambier coach Lisa McGregor will hope to lead her team to a round one victory when the Roos face East Gambier at Malseed Park tomorrow.

Lisa Mcgregor Dsc 1801 TBW Newsgroup
MATCH OF THE ROUND: West Gambier coach Lisa McGregor will hope to lead her team to a round one victory when the Roos face East Gambier at Malseed Park tomorrow.

THE opening round of Western Border netball promises an intriguing clash when West Gambier hosts East Gambier at Malseed Park tomorrow.

The last time these two teams met it was a one-goal margin in the 2018 first semi-final and given the personnel lining up for both sides, it certainly looms as the match of the round.

West welcomes back Carly Trevilyan and has also snared Kowree Naracoorte Tatiara star Emily Hunter to boost its stocks, with both players set to have an impact in the mid-court and at the defensive end.

East also has a new face, with Brittany Ross to join Tenille Gray in the shooting circle after the loss of Sarah Lock to Penola.

The absence of Bo Creek also hampers the Bulldogs, but with Jacinta Clark returning to the A Grade ranks, it will be more a matter of Clark and Morgan Amy developing a good chemistry as the defensive circle unit, given Clark brings even more experience than the athletic Creek.

There are some enticing match ups, as Amy looks to limit the influence of star West goaler Lisa McGregor at one end and Amy Cram with the same focus at the other end in her match up with the always-damaging Gray.

Both Gray and Amy have also taken on coaching roles for the 2019 season and it will be interesting to watch how that affects their strong on-court leadership.

Tarsh McCallum is the key link player for East and she could well find herself on Trevilyan or Hunter.

McCallum is the on-court general for the Bulldogs, directing play at the offensive end and demanding tough defensive efforts at the other end of the court.

The two sides are evenly matched and much could depend on which goal attack – McGregor or Gray – has the biggest impact on the scoreboard.