ROUNDPREVIEWS

Casterton Sandford V South Gambier

Casterton Sandford and South Gambier are both looking for their first win of 2023 ensuring the Island Park clash between the two this weekend will be fierce.

Both sides have new look line-ups and are sll looking to sele into their best line-up.

Last weekend the Cats went down to East Gambier but certainly got their defensive efforts back on track, keeping theBulldogstoamodestscoreline.

The return of CaeleighHumphries to the court to team with Ebany Jarrad helped withthat,aswellasthetenacityofLibby Altorfer on the defensive wing and with Madalene Cleary taking the centre bib, she also brought more defensive intensity

Now the Cats will be looking to build some chemistry at the aacking end of the court as the young line-up that includes Ivy Lane, Chloe Foster and Chelsey Galpin tries to generate more scoringopportunies.

Coach Dani Russell will no doubt be using her experience and that of Cleary in the feeding roles to hopefully see thoseopportuniesincrease.

Of course, against the defensive efforts of the likes of South’s Ellie Bouchier, Mykaela Thiele and Sophie Wight, it won’t be easy as the Demons defensive stocksareathlecandreadtheplaywell.

At the other end of the court, youngster Gracie Dalton connues to find her feet and will only improve every week as she learns to compete at the top level, while Alyssa Duncan has become the clear leader of the aacking end and her bale with Humphries will be one of the mostpivotalontheweekend.

Eastgambiervwestgambier

The bale between the 2021 premiers and the reigning premiers would normally be the match of the round but itwillbeatoughoungforEastGambier given their personnel changes since taking the 2021 tle, especially as West Gambier has the same line-up that took lastyear’spremiership.

Easthastwoplayersremainingfromthat 2021 premiership team – Bo Creek and Tarsh McCallum – and they will need to be in the Bulldogs’ best if they are to challengetheundefeatedRoos.

McCallum will run the aacking end of the court as she looks to build chemistry between the new shoong combinaon of Casey Horrigan and Renee Henke, while Creek rules the roost at the defensive end, combining with Morgan Amy, as well as the mid court pressure coming from Eliza Cole and Chloe Perryman.

Westlookedunstoppableintheopening round and were challenged last weekend by North but with Sarah Rier dominang the shoong circle, Tara Bryant doing the same in the mid court and Amy Cram connuing to enhance her reputaon as arguably the best defender in the compeon, the Roos have no weaknesses and will be able to take advantage of East sll looking to gel as a team and take the points comfortably

Northgambiervmillicent

North Gambier was impressive on ANZAC Day and backed up that performance with a narrow loss to reigning tleholders West Gambier so this clash with Millicent is easily the matchoftheround. Every match up on court looms as crical.

T h e S a i n t s h a v e enjoyed two comfortable victories and thisweekend’s clashwillbetheirbiggest testatthisearlystageoftheseason.

Pora McRae will have the tough task of combang the work under the post of new North shooter Grace Pos, while Lauren Van Eeden will be looking to stop the creave feeding of Macey Griffith, who also upped her shoong load in roundtwo.

At the other end of the court, the North defensive line also has a tall shooter to deal with in Tabatha Sanderson, who receives good service from Demi Verbena, who was on fire last weekend in Sanderson’s absence, shoong the lightsout.

It means Mikaila Pi, Noni McConnell and maybe even young defender Stella Mobbs will need to work over me to limit supply to both Sanderson and Verbena, as well as relying on pressure fromthemidcourtofMelRenko,Lauran NormanandBriannaWalters.

And the Tigers mid court will need to apply relentless pressure when in defensive mode and show paence and precision with ball in hand, given the Saints mid court is a perfect mix of youth, speed and experience with Lillie Paul, Daisy Tunkin, Kimmi Varcoe, who can also fill a defensive role, and Lisa Duldigtakethoseroles.

TheSaintstotakethepointsinagenuine armwrestle.