Kate Withers
NETBALL
GIPPSLAND LEAGUE
Moe coach Peter Moody has marked this weekend’s final round clash with Warragul as a “danger game” for the young Lions ahead of the post-season but was buoyed by his side’s performance at the weekend.
The Lions went on their merry way on Saturday with a huge 29-goal over Wonthaggi on the road while Maffra were outplayed by defending premiers Traralgon, 56-36.
Moody said the young Lions showed plenty in “horrendous conditions” at Wonthaggi and didn’t seem to be hampered by the elements.
“I was really pleased how they went in the end. They did what a good team should do against a lower-placed team, so onwards and upwards,” he said.
“We played really well and I instructed the girls to get it in to Bella [Hodgson] and she shot 90 per cent of our goals.”
Moody also admitted Wonthaggi were not at their best with the absence of defender Courtney Blair.
“The girls move the ball really well and we were fortunate that Courtney Blair wasn’t playing,” he said.
Ahead of Saturday’s clash with Warragul, Moody said the Gulls had “nothing to lose” because they were out of finals’ contention, making the game “a dangerous one”.
Traralgon v Morwell
Morwell and Traralgon are both assured a top-three finish and this weekend’s first-plays-second clash could well be a grand final preview.
The Tigers have sewn up first spot and a week off, despite their loss to Drouin at the weekend, but they won’t want to make it two in a row this weekend ahead of finals.
Traralgon made light work of Maffra in their round 18 fixture to round out the home and away season with a 20-goal win.
When the sides last met in round, it was a three-goal win the way of Morwell, but the Maroons have welcomed back no less than four premiership players to their line-up since.
Drouin v Wonthaggi
Drouin will head into this weekend’s last-round encounter with Wonthaggi with a spring in their step after handing ladder leaders Morwell their second loss for the season.
The Tigers’ only other loss in round nine also came at the hands of the Hawks, who look to have hit ominous form ahead of finals. The Power came close to Drouin in the earlier round nine encounter but were outdone by nine goals at the final siren.
Leongatha v Sale
Finals may be off the cards for both Leongatha and Sale but this weekend’s round 18 fixture will help one of the side’s end 2018 on a high note.
Sale hosted the Parrots in round nine but couldn’t make the most of the home court advantage and went down by 11 goals. Leongatha fell just short of Bairnsdale on Saturday, 43-39, and Sale had a day to forget and were trounced by Warragul by 32 goals.
Warragul v Bairnsdale
The final five is decided and Warragul will look towards this weekend’s clash with Bairnsdale as a chance to hit form for the proper stuff.
The Gulls enjoyed a mountainous win over Sale in round 17 and by 32 goals while Bairnsdale also notched a win over Leongatha by four goals.
It was a tight tussle when Warragul and Bairnsdale last faced off in round nine but it was the Gulls who emerged victorious, 48-45.
