By Lachlan Onions
KONGORONG v SOUTH GAMBIER
Kalangadoo is the place to be this Sunday with the two Limestone Coast Women’s Football League preliminary finals to be played.
Action will begin at 11am with the consolation preliminary final to be contested between South Gambier and Kongorong.
The Demons head into this clash full of confidence after their emphatic win over Millicent, while the Hawks are looking to bounce back from their defeat to Kybybolite in the qualifying final.
Despite South Gambier’s big win last week, they will still head into this game as underdogs.
When these two teams met in Round 4, Kongorong claimed a 42-2 win at the Blue Lake Sports Park and a similar result is to be expected this weekend.
During the last meeting, Sheree Ailey was best on ground for Kongorong and Jarrah Altschwager was South’s best.
The Hawks will look to Evie Sealey to have an impact in the middle this weekend as she has been one of the most consistent performers this year.
In her nine games this campaign, Sealey has been named in Kongorong’s best players on eight occasions and kicked eight goals as well.
She will be supported by Marnee Formosa and Tilah Buckingham who have also been pivotal players for the Hawks.
For South Gambier, Sophie Wight will be a game-changer and will look to continue her form which had her named in South’s best players in every game this year.
Dakota Trotter is the leading goal-kicker for the Demons and has notched up nine majors this season and will need to be at her best this weekend.
Out of the two preliminary finals this weekend, this one will be the most one-sided and barring any major upset, Kongorong should book a grand final spot.
CASTERTON SANDFORD v NORTH GAMBIER
The main game will kick-off at 12.35pm and a blockbuster clash should take place in the battle to earn a ticket to the main grand final.
The Cats were left to lick their wounds after a disappointing qualifying final where Mundulla claimed an emphatic win last week, while North Gambier proved too strong for Penola in the elimination final.
When these sides met back in Round 6, Casterton Sandford claimed a nine-point win in a hard-fought contest at Mundulla.
Looking at the two teams, both have star-studded sides with plenty of talent at their disposal.
North Gambier’s Fiona Young will be a key player in defence and her efforts this season were rewarded last week when she was named the best defender in the competition.
At the other end of the ground, Alice Tentye will be a constant threat to the Cats’ defenders as she has kicked 26 majors this year.
These two players will be supported by Laura Chester, Mikaila Pitt and Luca Roulstone, who have been key contributors throughout the campaign for the Tigers.
Casterton Sandford’s Libby Altorfer will be a pivotal player and will need to continue her impressive form if her side is to book a place in the big dance.
She has been named amongst the Cats’ best players on seven occasions and has kicked 10 goals this season.
Zhane Crawford, Chloe Foster and Alena Tranter will also be players to watch for Casterton Sandford.
After the Cats ended the regular season as minor premiers, they will feel confident they can claim the win over North but a nail-biting contest should take place and this clash could go either way.
