Picture: THOMAS MILES
FOR the past few Western Border netball seasons the Anzac Day clash has been a lop-sided contest, with North Gambier dominating the annual fixture with convincing wins.
The round one results of the two sides and the significant change in personnel for both suggests today’s match could be a tight contest.
The Demons come off a solid four-quarter effort which resulted in a 10-goal win over Casterton Sandford.
The Tigers had a tough opening round loss to Millicent as they look to come up with a shooting combination to cover the loss of Caroline Davey and Ellie Gould.
It sets the scene for a competitive match, where the young Demons will look to use the speed and precise passing which saw them win in the opening round.
Imogen Walker and Georgia Hood were outstanding in goals and they will look to use quick ball movement to make life tough for the quality defensive combination of Maddie Whaites, Mel Renko and Noni McConnell.
The match up through the middle of Alyssa Boylan and Amanda O’Shaughnessy will be pivotal as the opponents play a similar hard-running style of netball and both work as hard at the defensive end as they do hitting the circle’s edge in attack.
Olivia Patzel will no doubt suit up in the shooting circle for the Tigers, but just who takes up the challenge alongside her is an unknown.
Whoever North give the job to, the Tigers’ goalers will be seriously challenged by Alyce Mourbey, who had a stunning return to the court in round one.
Brandi Bouchier will probably take the keeper bib again as Tori McIntyre continues to recover from an ankle injury.
It is arguably the first time in around five seasons South enters the clash as a genuine chance of winning, so it will be interesting to see how the young Demons respond to the weight of expectation.
North Gambier will feel the pressure to rebound strongly after the disappointing round one outing and the Tigers’ edge in experience might prove the difference, if they can find a shooting combination to put scoreboard pressure on South.
The best player on court will be awarded the Shirley Underwood medal.
