All change when next we meet

NEWTOWN & Chilwell extended its lead at the top of the GFL ladder to eight points with a comfortable win over St Albans on Saturday.

But Eagles coach Jason Woolley is also aware the Supersaints will be a vastly different team come finals.

St Albans, who have rocketed up the ladder, were without mid-court star Maggie Lind and a number of other starters in the 69-37 loss.

“They had a few players out, which impacted the result and the game. Maggie sat out with a calf injury,” Woolley said.

“It was really hard to get a true gauge, but obviously it was good for us to play whoever they put out there and it was a good result.

“I do (expect them to line up different next time). Obviously Maggie is the main one of their strong midcourters.

“I definitely do expect, two, three, four changes for them next time around.”

A supreme team defensive performance limited the supply to Supersaints international netball star Tharjini Sivalingan.

Sivalingan, the world’s tallest toplevel netballer, finished with 34 goals from 41 attempts.

“I was really happy with how we went there,” Woolley said.

“To limit the supply to her helped set up the game, particularly in the first half. I think that was the main driver.

“We just wanted to keep any feeds coming in as far away from the circle as we possibly could. That gave our defenders a bit more of an opportunity.

“It wasn’t about the circle defenders and the mids. It was about the wing attacks and the goal attacks applying as much pressure as they could as well.

“It takes all seven to apply defensive pressure.”

Down the other end Kathleen Knott (55/59) and Julia Woolley (14/16) shot accurately in windy conditions.

“You obviously focus on their attack end and Tharjini and stuff like that. It was really important for us to look after our own attack end and make sure we kept the scoreboard ticking over and applying some scoreboard pressure,” he said.

“I thought Kath and Jules, and Sarah Wolff in wing attack, had really good games. To put 69 goals on the board was really pleasing for us.”

Only disaster would see Newtown & Chilwell slip from the top of the table. But Woolley is not taking anything for granted.

He is unlikely to give any members of his squad an extended break leading into finals.

“It will be a week-by-week basis. We have taken the approach of resting anyone with niggles,” he said.

“Kath had a calf issue and by giving her that rest she is now back in full flight.

“I don’t think we will change that approach coming home. We have tough games against Colac and Leopold coming up.”