NETBALL
GIPPSLAND LEAGUE
After moving a game clear in second position on the Gippsland league A grade ladder at the weekend, Moe coach Peter Moody said his Lions have become “the hunted” ahead of their round 11 clash with Sale.
“I’m rapt. The girls are playing exactly how we’ve been coaching them to play and they’re bringing the intensity we need to win,” Moody said.
“The challenge now is to not consider our position [on the ladder] too carefully and just keep playing our game. Being a young team, it’s easy to get ahead of ourselves.”
Moe emerged the better side in a high-scoring clash with 2017 grand finalists Drouin in round 10, 69-56, which was no mean feat according to Moody.
“To score 70-odd goals against Drouin is a real achievement,” he said.
“They play fast-paced and we worked on slowing them down as much as we could, when we could.”
Goalers Georgia Moody and Bella Hodgson were on song again in round 10 and provided an “easier avenue to goal” for the Lions.
“Georgia at goal attack played her role to perfection and with Bella in goal shooter, they just work together so well,” Moody said.
“There was a tricky wind pretty much all over the court but we were able to get the ball under the post in the first half more than Drouin were.”
Defenders Sammy Walters and Shannon Freeman “kept things calm” at the other end for Moe and bookended what Moody said was the best side to have taken to the court this season.
At the opposite end, Sale sealed a clutch win over Maffra in round 10 but sit in the unenviable position on the bottom of the table.
“Sale had a good win against Maffra, and one thing that’s becoming apparent is that all teams are capable on their day of knocking off anyone else,” Moody said.
“There doesn’t appear to be any easy games – if the girls don’t come prepared they’re vulnerable to getting knocked off.”
Bairnsdale v Morwell
Bairnsdale, in sixth spot on the A grade ladder, served up the upset of the round at the weekend when they took the premiership points at the expense of defending premiers Traralgon.
The Redlegs will be up and about ahead of this weekend’s clash with Morwell but will be faced with an almighty challenge.
The Tigers have surprised everyone except themselves this season and sit atop the ladder with just a single loss on the board – two games clear of Moe in second – and fended off Warragul by four goals.
Morwell coach Rachel Allison said the Gulls were “a really tough opposition”.
“We knew it would be a good game going in and they’ve upset a few teams so far. Their defence was really strong,” Allison said.
After Bairnsdale’s win against Traralgon, Allison admitted the Redlegs were somewhat of an unknown quantity.
“I know Traralgon were missing a few but the first time we played Bairnsdale they were quite strong,” she said.
“I don’t feel like we got a real accurate judgement of them and again, they’ve got tall shooters, which will be tough.
“Our midcourt did really well against Warragul so hopefully if we can hold our own centres it won’t be an issue.”
The Tigers will be missing shooter Daisy Hill through VNL commitments this weekend and midcourter Casey Sheriff will be tied up with football commitments.
Leongatha v Traralgon
Leongatha will be looking to swoop on a rebounding Traralgon side this weekend after the defending premiers were beaten by Bairnsdale in round 10.
Leongatha came close to Wonthaggi on the road in round on Saturday but were outmuscled by six goals at the final whistle.
The Maroons are still without several of their 2017 premiership starting seven, including Ramayer Gourley, Kate French and Maddie Stockdale but the return of experienced midcourter Stacey O’Brien has brought a welcome reprieve.
Maffra v Drouin
Maffra and Drouin are both sitting inside the top five on the Gippsland league A grade netball ladder and will go head to head for vital premiership points this weekend.
The Eagles came close to notching a win on Saturday but were edged out by a single goal by Sale at the final whistle.
The Hawks were outclassed by a young-gun side in Moe in round 10 and went down, 69-56.
Warragul v Wonthaggi
Warragul came within four goals of top side Morwell in round 10 and will enter their round 11 clash with Wonthaggi this weekend with some added pep in their step.
Wonthaggi enjoyed their second win of the 2018 season on Saturday in a minor upset over Leongatha on Saturday.
Warragul can move inside the top five with a win this weekend if both Maffra and Bairnsdale go down.
