A RESERVE – NORTH GAMBIER V MILLICENT
THE A Reserve grand final between North Gambier and Millicent is another of the games which is expected to be a real arm wrestle.
All four games in 2024 between the two competitors have been hard-fought and close.
North won Round Five by two, Millicent won Round 10 by nine, while North won Round 15 by six and the second semi final by eight.
North has Alycia Pitson controlling the attack end, combining with youngster Lila Pearson in goals, with league runner-up Mikaila Pitt also often taking a role in the shooting circle.
Amanda O’Shaughnessy, Cara Nulty and Maggie Collins will be rounding out a quality mid court as well.
In the defensive circle, Grace Potts anchors the back third, using her height to great effect, with Nat Fox and Ruby Mitchell taking the roles out front, using their speed onto the ball and ability to read the play to create turnover ball.
The defensive line will be taking on Abby Denton and Mylee Lynch, with Denton bringing the smarts and long range accuracy and Lynch using her speed on the drive to great effect.
Meanwhile, while the Saints mid court, led by back-to-back league best and fairest Jackie Sunderland, includes Piper Paul and Poppy Venn, with Alana Craig locking down at wing defence and always making life tough for her opponent.
Defensively, Georgia Clarke brings athleticism, Alice Pratt brings the tenacity and Emily Denton can dominate the air, as the three will need to be at their best to restrict the Tigers’ scoring ability.
Millicent often makes use of juniors Bell Coghlan and Kalani Dunn, so they will have some tricks up their sleeve if required.
Much will come down to the accuracy of the feeding and shooting with the Tigers just having the edge in the final wash-up.
B GRADE – SOUTH GAMBIER V MILLICENT
THE B Grade grand final sees South Gambier taking on Millicent with the current head-to-head in 2024 being two wins apiece.
The second semi final displayed a great struggle in the first half before only a few turnovers in the third and fourth quarters which saw South set up the narrow buffer and hold on to win.
League best and fairest Mel Harvey and runner-up Krystal Coghlan would line up well on each other, which will be a battle for the ages if it comes to fruition, with Coghlan also having spent a fair bit of this season in the goal attack bib as well.
Saints coach Michelle Fleming will take on Kim Saffin who is strong on the hold and creative with her feeding.
At the other end of the court, Chelsea Dunn and Kim McIntyre-Clarke will be looking to limit the supply to Bek Millowick and Nicole Domaschenz.
The mid court battle also looms large with South’s Hannah Witherow and Milla Walmsley teaming with young talent Ruby Milich and Ella Jolley to take on Tiarna Verbena and Nicola Batten, who are experienced campaigners who run hard all day.
Getting in the second semi final will have instilled some confidence into the Demons line-up so they may be able to secure a narrow victory.
C GRADE – SOUTH GAMBIER V NORTH GAMBIER
SOUTH Gambier has progressed through 2024 without dropping a game with some more displays of dominance in the second semi final.
As the Demons now make their way to the final countdown, their grand final opponent, North Gambier, is the team which has pushed the Demons all year.
The shooting combination of Ella Egan and Sam Raedel is all class as they have developed a great understanding in the South shooting circle.
The pair get plenty of quality ball from the likes of Brooke Winterfield and Kaitlyn Horrigan, while league best and fairest Krystie Reid will be pivotal in her battle with Milly Allen, which will be one of the key contests on the day.
Misty Dalton has returned to the defensive circle on the back of the injury to Kaitlyn Tucker as she got the job done in the second semi final.
Tigers goal shooter Jess Dempster had an outstanding preliminary final and she is not afraid of the long shot, while joint league runner-up Sarah Brown is a key in the mid court but can go into the shooting circle if required.
Defensively, North has the likes of Tara Fleming, Kahlia Egan and Rebecca Johnson who love disrupting opposition offensive lines, while the Tigers mid court has the composure and work rate of Keeley Quinn, the experience and strength in the air of Deb Edwards while Kirrily Krammins brings versatility to the North mid court.
While there will be a much tighter contest than the second final, the Demons are still predicted to come out on top in the end.
