x
MILLICENT v WEST GAMBIER
LAST time Millicent and West Gambier faced off in Round 3 of Western Border netball it was a tight opening quarter and still anyone’s game at half time, before the Saints worked their way to a comfortable victory.
In Round 8 this weekend the match will take on a different complexion, with no Tabatha Sanderson for the Saints.
The tall shooter is still recovering form a finger injury, which has changed how the Millicent frontline looks.
With Lucy Denton, Demi Verbena and Paige Nitschke working the goal third, the speed of ball is back in spades and that will give a new challenge to West defenders Jade Ritter and Amy Cram.
The Roos come off a demolition of South Gambier and would be brimming with confidence, especially young guns Tara Bryant and Sarah Ritter.
Bryant has dominated the mid-court with her hard running and her battle with Lisa Duldig will be fascinating, while Sarah Ritter has started to dominate the A Grade competition and the matchup with Saints defender Portia McRae is a real glimpse into the future of the competition.
The bad news for Millicent is Lisa McGregor was back to her prolific best at the weekend.
She has left the majority of the shooting to Sarah Ritter in 2021 but but last round she started to share the load, as well as doing her usual mountain of work in transition and she looked back to her best.
Her battle with Hannah Nitschke or Kimmi Tincknell will be pivotal in the final result.
This will be the tightest contest of the round, with the Saints to claim the points in a nail-biter.
NORTH GAMBIER v SOUTH GAMBIER
North Gambier had the better of the matchup with South Gambier on ANZAC Day and after challenging East Gambier last round, the Tigers will look for another comprehensive victory.
The Demons arguably put in their worst performance of the season last weekend and if there is not significant improvement the Tigers will enjoy a day out.
South will look to recapture the full-court pressure which saw a strong outing against Millicent in Round 6.
If they allow Brianna Walters, Tenielle Barry and Ellen Brown to use their speed and court smarts without any pressure, Caroline Davey will rack up a mammoth score.
Davey has been unstoppable since returning to the court in 2021 and has even put out a 100pc shooting performance.
If South cannot stop supply to the tall shooter, Davey will dominate as Sarah Ritter did last weekend, given how often and easily the ball came down court.
At the other end, Mel Renko, Maddie Whaites and Noni McConnell, who was missing through injury on ANZAC Day, have formed a formidable defensive unit.
They are smart, tough and contest every ball and the frontline for South will need to be patient and work hard to find Lara Munro and Grace Edwards in space.
Imogen Walker may be back for the clash and that certainly helps the Demons cause as she is all class and can dominate the shooting circle or mid-court, but anything but a Tigers convincing win would be a shock.
CASTERTON SANDFORD v EAST GAMBIER
The Cats come off a tough outing against the Saints, but they did find ways to score and it will be all about improvement again as they take on the undefeated Bulldogs.
Scarlet Jarrad and Emily Hunter will have an epic battle.
Both are hard running, physically tough players who thrive on the defensive side of the game as much as driving hard in attack and both are strong voices on court for their respective teams.
This will be another steep learning curve for the Casterton Sandford defensive line of Claire Foster, Caeleigh Humphries and Ebany Jarrad as they look to curb the scoring of the slick East forward line of Tarsh McCallum, Tenille Gray and Amryn Bosko.
At the other end Paige Murrell will need to lead the young attack line of Charlotte Rice and Zhane Crawford and it will be a tough day for them against the tight marking Tyne Bosko, Lisa Fyfe and Bo Creek who never allow easy possession.
Missing the experience of Meg Fennell and Tori Broomby due to injury, it is a tough ask every week.
The Bulldogs were challenged last round and will look to fine tune and return to their usual slick, polished ball use.
