NORTH Gambier heads to Blue Lake Sports Park this weekend and will look to build on its two wins with a second victory over the Demons.
In the Anzac Day clash, the match was tight, but the Demons, through injury and player unavailability, have struggled to replicate any consistent form.
They would have been disappointed with dropping their last round clash against Casterton Sandford, a match they claimed in round one.
Knowing just who will line up for the Demons is tough to call, but North’s season has followed a similar path, with a different line-up each week.
Alisha Bryan has been the spearhead of the shooting circle and the Demons will need to find ways to deny her too much ball or the scoreboard will definitely end up in the Tigers’ favour.
If Ellen Brown gets a call up she will bring some outstanding form from the SA Country Championships to the Tigers attack line with her pace and accurate passing, while defensively, Maddie Whaites can always be relied upon to make life tough for opposition goalers.
If Mel Renko is back, she certainly adds experience and toughness to the defensive end and mid court, while coach Noni McConnell would hope she can return to the defensive circle with Whaites and leave the shooting duties to others.
Ash Kalantarian might fill that role if she is back on the available list, with her creative feeding able to be just as damaging from the goal attack role as it would be centre or wing attack.
Imogen Walker will be a key for the Demons and after a strong weekend in the A Grade line-up for the SA Country Championships, she comes in with good form and plenty of confidence.
She will return to the goal attack role, after playing mid court on the long weekend, but she is as tough as they come in that role and she will need to win plenty of ball to ensure South remains in touch on the scoreboard.
Claudia Edmonds has brought some genuine pace to the mid court, Riley Buckingham continues to improve on the defensive wing and Alyce Pearce-Raisin can always create turnover ball.
The dilemma for the Demons going forward is they will need to use the likes of Brandi Bouchier, Jess Earle and Ella McIntyre sparingly to fill the gaps in the line-up, with juniors Alyssa Duncan and Tara Bryant no doubt set for some court time before basketball takes them out of the equation for a few weeks.
The Tigers should win, but the Demons’ best is good enough, they just do not sustain it for long enough.
