By Lachlan Onions
The South East Women’s Zone side will take the state’s best players in this weekend’s South Australian Country Football Championships.
The South East was runner-up in last year’s carnival and coach Michael Hunt is hopeful his side can be competitive again.
He said most of the squad has been to the majority or all of the training sessions which have run for over a month now.
“There has been an improvement in the group,” Hunt said.
“They are starting to know how each other react with the ball and under pressure.
“So hopefully we are prepared enough to take on these zones that are in the middle of their football season.”
He said his leadership group, which includes Scarlett Jarrad, Tess Andrews and Annabel Mould, will be some of the team’s stronger players.
Casterton Sandford’s Jarrad is the captain, while Andrews and Mould are vice-captains for the side this weekend.
“Dellie Brown, last year’s captain, she’s in really good form, as is Caroline McGrath who won the league medal,” Hunt said.
“With such short games and the format, you need to start well and not have any five-minute lapses.”
He said if you have a five-minute lapse in this competition, your carnival is gone.
With just two group games before finals, the pressure is on from the outset.
“I am certain he girls are very competitive and they will do their best to return a good result,” Hunt said.
He said Northern, who defeated South East in the final last year by four points, have a very tall side which mark very well and are a strong team.
“I am hoping we can run it away from them and be quick and lively,” Hunt said.
“Eastern is the first game and they certainly won’t be easy for the start.”
After games against the Eastern and Northern Zones on Saturday, finals will take place on Sunday, with fifth playing sixth and third playing fourth.
The grand final will be between first and second on the ladder after the group stage and will take place at Bennett Oval at 11.30am.
Hunt will have Fiona Young as an assistant coach, while the team managers are Damien Wilson and Sally Jones.
Mundulla’s Coleen hunt and Ann-Elisa Pickering are the trainers for the South East.
Squad: Casterton Sandford: Scarlett Jarrad (Captain), Erin Horsnell, Sophie Arkun, Zhane Crawford, South Gambier: Tess Andrews (Vice Captain), Kendell Saffin, Alice Tentye, Chelsea Frost, Lauren Frost, Kybybolite: Annabel Mould (Vice Captain), Ella Jones, Dellie Brown, Kalangadoo: Taysha Marshall, Mundulla: Kellsey Hinge, Zoe Hawker, Kellsie Turner, Kongorong: Jade Longbottom, Stevie Collins, Penola: Nell Eastough, Caroline McGrath, Shandeen Balshaw, Angela Broad, North Gambier: Fiona Young, Millicent: Laura Chester.
