Good start proves vital
Ararat A Grade coach Donna Spalding hopes her charges take a lesson out of their 14-goal loss to Warrack Eagles during Wimmera association action at the weekend.
Spalding said the loss was disappointing, particularly because the Rats trailed by 11 goals at the first break.
“This game was a good lesson for the girls, titled, ‘The importance of a good start’,” she said.
Eagle Briodi Mckenzie enjoyed a stellar start, slotting 13 goals in the first quarter to help her side to what would be a match-winning lead.
Following quarter time, the teams enjoyed a more even contest.
Spalding said Ararat goalies Tayla Borrelli and Laney Mcloughlan shot impressively, missing only eight goals for the game.
“It was great to have Krystal Fisher back in defence. She kept the circle well and used her reach effectively,” she said.
“Jess Williamson played a good captain’s game. She ran hard for four quarters and passed beautifully into the goalies, while young Racquel Scott filled in for the team due an injury to Kate Bligh.
“Racquel made good use of her agility and speed down the court.”
The Eagles were best served by Mckenzie, 30 goals, and defender Penny Fisher.
Emma Koschitzke also played well, providing plenty of drive through the centre, while Zandria Malone impressed in the midcourt.
Warrack Eagles have a bye this week and will look forward to welcoming back Sarah Spicer from a knee reconstruction against Stawell on June 9.
The fourth-placed Rats will need to be on top of their game this week when they take on the third-placed outfit, Minyip-murtoa. The Burras will be out for redemption after falling short of Horsham by seven goals.
The teams enjoyed a physical contest, with both hard at the ball all day.
Horsham took a three-goal lead into quarter time, which it managed to extend to six at the long break. The Demons lost centre Liv Jones to a hamstring injury at half time, forcing changes throughout defence and the midcourt.
Minyip-murtoa’s Ashley Knight started to challenge Horsham in the third quarter, helping the Burras to peg back the deficit to two goals, before Horsham found its rhythm once more and started to extend its lead.
Injury blow
The Demons faced another injury blow early in the third quarter, with defender Sheridan Petering snapping her achilles tendon in a season-ending injury.
The Demons slotted Olivia O’shea from the bench into the goal ring and put new recruit Casey Jess into defence.
Despite the pressure, Horsham adjusted to the changes and went on to dominate the last quarter. Young-gun midcourters Georgie Carberry and Tamika Mentha won best-on-court honours for Horsham, with defender Paula Weidermann and midcourter Ashley Knight judged the strongest Burras.
Minyip-murtoa will hope to get over any bruises in time for this week’s clash with the Rats. Creating goaling opportunities and accuracy will be vital.
A depleted Horsham outfit will look to go on its winning way against Nhill.
The Demons will be without Elley Heard again this week and will need to apply defensive pressure across the court to cause turnovers and capitalise on them to win the four points.
Nhill will be out to cause an upset against the Demons after losing to Horsham Saints by 17 goals.
The Tigers matched it with the Saints in patches, however, inconsistency hurt them on the scoreboard.
Emma Hawker and Tarrah Dodds were strong in defence for Nhill.
The Saints were also best served by defenders, with Rene Caris and Elly Barnett earning praise.
The young Tigers line-up has the talent to match it with the best, but lapses in decision-making and high patches of errors need to improve for this to happen. Round-five results: Warrack Eagles d Ararat 60-46, Horsham d Minyip-murtoa 55-37, Dimboola v Stawell 55-48, Horsham Sain ts v Nhill 57-40.