Ladder tightens in evolving contest
AWimmera netball league season is evolving into one of the closest in years with positions tightening up on an A Grade ladder.
Results at the weekend reflected how close the competition is with winless Nhill getting within 10 goals of ladder leaders Southern Mallee Giants.
Action continues this weekend with Ararat taking on Horsham Saints in Ararat.
The Saints would be ill-advised to take Ararat too lightly but should be able to keep the home team at arm’s length.
A young Ararat team, which lost 45-60 to Warrack Eagles last week, will rely on coach Rebecca Skrabl to steady her team and work to restrict Saints goalers Abby Hallam and Jess Farrow.
Delaney Mcloughlan shot with high accuracy last week and with Tayla Borrelli will keep the Saints defenders busy.
Versatile Jesse Bligh is learning quickly for the Rats and would be relishing her opportunities to play against strong centres such as Ashlee Grace.
The Saints had a good 49-39 win over a Minyip-murtoa team, which welcomes Stawell to Minyip this weekend.
New Stawell recruit Zanaiya Bergen has provided confidence to the other
Stawell shooters, reflective of the flexibility in both teams.
The tenacity of Jemma Clarkson and Courtney Mcilvride also spurs on Stawell, full of confidence after a 59-42 win over Dimboola and with Rachel Wood, returning from illness, improving her match fitness every week.
Minyip-murtoa’s centre court of Laura Delahunty, Meg Cashin, Angie Clark and Hayley Campbell will look to pressure on passing down the court and limit feeding opportunities into the ring.
Warrack Eagles, meanwhile, should be too strong for Dimboola at Warracknabeal.
The Eagles have the ability to rotate players if match-ups are not working while Kiani Stewart, Jessica Kelly and Ashlynn Mckenzie are quiet achievers in defence, forcing many turnovers.
Dimboola is giving opportunities to junior players to compete at the best level and these players will only benefit from their experiences.
Much of what happens might depend on what end of the court the Roos’ Olivia Jorgensen plays and which role has the most impact.
The match of the round will be a one-versus-two clash between Southern Mallee Giants and Horsham at Hopetoun.
With Emma Buwalda out, Horsham will be keen to avoid a repeat of a loss to Warrack Eagles.
Paula Weidermann and Georgie Carberry will need to stand strong against the strength of Giants defenders Maddelyne Shannon and Caitlin Hickey.
Steph Thomson and Zali Brown have been polished for the Giants and the match-up against the likes of Jedda Heard, Georgia Hiscock and Marnie Lehmann will be fantastic to watch. Results: Warrack Eagles d Ararat 6045, Horsham Saints d Minyip-murtoa 49-39; Southern Mallee Giants d Nhill 58-47, Stawell d Dimboola 59-42. Ladder: Southern Mallee Giants 20 points, 147.65 percent; Horsham 16, 191.21; Warrack Eagles 16, 114.78; Horsham Saints 16, 112.35; Stawell 12, 118.55; Dimboola 12, 97.13; Ararat 4, 74.42; Minyip-murtoa 4, 69.35; Nhill 0, 51.01.