SOUTH GAMBIER v CASTERTON SANDFORD
WHEN South Gambier and Casterton Sandford met in Round 5 at Island Park, the Cats held their nerve and broke a three-season winning drought.
The Cats followed that up with a victory over East Gambier and will head to Blue Lake Sports Park this weekend full of confidence as they stay in the hunt for a finals berth.
Young goal attack Chelsea Hulm remains under an injury cloud but could yet suit up, while South will be hopeful star defender Ellie Bouchier has overcome illness and can take her place in the line-up.
In the Round 5 clash, circle defenders Caeleigh Humphries and Chloe Finnigan were relentless with their physical pressure and they forced the South frontline into error.
At the other end, Hulm was creative out front and Holly Smith was strong at the post.
South had a demoralising performance on the weekend against Millicent and will look to prove that performance was a once-off with a more consistent, high energy performances against the Cats.
Bouchier will be key and Mykaela Thiele will be out to make life tougher for Smith, while in the shooting circle Ash Widdison and Gracie Dalton will need to be strong in the contest and accurate on the finish.
Madalene Cleary will be key in the mid court for the Cats and her leadership was critical in the Round 5 win.
South will need Megan Reid, Tully McShane and Teresa Humphris patient with ball in hand and also committed to denying time and space to the Cats when in defensive mode.
Much will depend on Hulm’s availability but the Cats might just do it again in a closer contest.
