NETBALL
GIPPSLAND LEAGUE
Moe delivered possibly the biggest upset of the Gippsland league A grade netball season in round seven with a stunning 10-goal win over defending premiers Traralgon and coach Peter Moody expects the hot run to carry into this weekend’s clash with Wonthaggi.
Despite the absence of key Maroons personnel in defender Ramayer Gourley, midcourters Stacey O’Brien and Kate French and shooter Maddie Stockdale, Moody said his Lions “rose to the occasion” on Saturday.
“I said to the girls ‘the thing about Traralgon is they always have a quality side on court, no matter who is missing’, and we needed to combat that,” Moody said.
“But any win against Traralgon is a win worth celebrating.”
Young gun Charlize stepped up to the plate in centre with aplomb and “showed incredible improvement” in a “sensational game” for the Lions and “ran herself into the ground”.
Emily McInnes was also pivotal in defence and assisted Shannon Freeman in shutting down the flow to danger Traralgon goaler Taylin Gourley.
“As the game went on, Emily [McInnes] just got better and better,” Moody said.
“She peeled off and helped get Taylin Gourley away from that easy goal.”
Moody also spoke highly of the Lions’ midcourt and said his charges “applied amazing defensive pressure”.
“They have really learnt the attacking mechanisms we’ve been working on,” he said.
“I couldn’t have been happier after the game and any win against an opposition like that is a good one.”
Moody was wary of the curse of good form ahead of this weekend’s clash against Wonthaggi.
“The minute you decide you’re coming into an easy game is the minute it’ll get you,” he said.
“We’ve just got to turn up each week and keep doing what we’re doing.”
Moe moved into fifth spot on the Gippsland league ladder with the win in round seven while Wonthaggi trail in ninth with just the one win so far this season.
Traralgon v Maffra
Despite falling to Moe by 10 goals in round seven, Traralgon A grade coach Caitlan Ponton said her side was “travelling pretty well, all things considered”.
The Maroons were missing four of their best seven players on Saturday, with Ramayer Gourley, Stacey O’Brien, Kate French and Maddie Stockdale all missing.
“Moe played probably one of the better games I’ve seen them play,” Ponton said.
“We were very undermanned but they were much better than we were and their young ones were really good.
“They’re an average age of 18 or 19 I think but they just played awesome.”
Ramayer Gourley is busy with ANL duties and won’t feature in the Traralgon line up until later in the season.
French is set to miss another six to seven weeks with a hamstring injury, Stockdale is two weeks away with an ankle niggle and O’Brien is likely to return for this week’s game against Maffra.
“Maffra are third [on the ladder] and we’re second, but I don’t know what to expect,” Ponton said.
“With the team we’ve got it’ll be a tough game this week but we’ll focus on the midcourt.
“With Kate [French] out we need to figure out what we’re going to do.”
Traralgon forced the draw against Drouin in round six and round seven was their first loss for season 2017 – a pleasing run so far for Ponton.
“Even though we lost on the weekend I was really happy … we weren’t expecting much and had a completely new midcourt,” she said.
“Drouin was the same thing and at one point only had two A-graders on court, so we’re doing okay.”
Drouin v Morwell
Morwell have surfaced as the surprise packet of the Gippsland league A grade competition and sit atop the ladder undefeated heading into round eight but will face their biggest test yet this weekend in the form of Drouin.
The Tigers travelled well and accounted for Wonthaggi by 18 goals in round six and coach Rachel Allison said the side got off to a flyer.
“We started really well against Wonthaggi and were a different team to what we’re used to,” Allison said.
“We changed up the warm up and did things a bit differently and the whole way through just played really strong.”
Allison sang the praises of shooters Daisy Hill and Claire Allison and said their form was key ahead of this weekend’s clash with 2017 runners-up Drouin.
“Daisy and Claire shot really well so if they can do that again this week then we should do well,” she said.
“But I think [Drouin’s] shooting circle is really strong and we’ve strengthened through the midcourt so I think ours can really match theirs.
“It’s going to be a tough game.”
Allison pinpointed league best and fairest Stacie Gardiner as one to watch on Saturday and said Kylie Proctor was another source of danger.
Defenders Courtney Garth and Caitlin Mareska have stood up to all challengers so far this season and will get the job on Gardiner and Proctor this weekend.
Leongatha v Bairnsdale
A win this weekend over Bairnsdale will mean Leongatha can edge closer to the top five while a loss will severely dent their chances of post-season berth.
The Parrots are licking their wounds after they were handed a 25-goal drubbing by Drouin in round six but return to home turf in search of win number three.
Bairnsdale have three wins for the season and sit in sixth spot behind Moe after recording a much-needed win on the road over Sale in round seven.
Warragul v Sale
Warragul look set to record their second win of season 2018 when they host cellar-dweller Sale in round eight.
The Gulls went down to Maffra by six goals and Sale suffered a similar fate at the hands of Bairnsdale.
The Magpies have just the one win on the board so far this year and will be hard pressed to make it two on the road this weekend.
