ROUNDPREVIEWS

Eastgambiervnorthgambier

East Gambier certainly challenged reigning premiers West Gambier for three quarters last weekend so despite the loss will be growing in confidence in its new look lineup as it takes on North Gambier – another new look team that certainly found its feet in round three with a strong victory over Millicent.

East will be hampered by a long term knee injury to goal aack Casey Horrigan –forcing another change to the already significantly restructured Bulldogs line-up, but with the Likes of Morgan Amy and Bo Creek patrolling the defensive end, Tarsh McCallum bringing her leadership and speed to the mid court and Renee Henke showing good composure and accuracy in the shoong circle, the Bulldogs will sll be inthemixin2023.

EastalsohastheXfactorofChloePerryman, who can impact in all three areas of the court and her tenacity and willingness to contesteveryballalwaysloomsascricalto theBulldogs’fortunes.

Northalsohasplentyofnewfacesinitslineup but the Tigers have the advantage of having been able to basically play the same combinaon, with the excepon of the defensive circle, for the past two oungs andtheylooktobeselingnicely Grace Pos has dominated the shoong circle as North looked to life without rered starshooterCarolineWakefieldwithMacey Griffith combining just as well with her new shoongpartnerasshedidWakefield.

At the other end, Noni McConnell has been super consistent at goal defence, whether teaming with Mikaila Pi or teenager Stella Mobbs, and the ght checking North defensive circle will challenge the East frontline.

North’s mid court has the class and experience of Brianna Walters and Mel Renko, as well as the athlecism and raw talent of Lauran Norman and at this early stage in the season, the more seledTigersshouldsecurethewin.

Westgambiervsouthgambier

South Gambier secured its first victory of 2023 last weekend but will get a real taste of the work they sll have to do whentheyheadtoMalseedParktotake on the reigning premiers on their new courts.

The unchanged Roos are undefeated in 2023, while the new look Demons have just been working on seling some new combinaons.

Denying Sarah Rier too much ball will be priority number one for South and that will rely on full court defensive pressure and cannot be le to Mykaela Thiele, who has been showing good forminthegoalkeeperbib.

Rier has been prolific and accurate in the opening three rounds and if she gets her usual number of scoring opportunies, the Demonsarenochance.

Tully McShane and Sophie Wight will need to work overme in the mid court to pressure the feeds from Mikaela Horrigan and Tara Bryant, while Ellie Bouchier will also need to try and create turnover ball before it gets to Rier and also deny her direct opponent Lisa McGregor too much ball as she is the key link player for the Roos and also the most prolific deliverer of the balltoherstarshooter

The Roos defensive line of Zoe Malseed, Amy Cram and Jade Rier is as tough as any in the compeon and will mean Alyssa Duncan will need to take charge of the aacking end of the court, as she has done already this season, and help work the ball with paence through the Roos relentless defensivepressure.

Teenager Gracie Dalton is finding her feet in her debut A Grade season for South and Megan Reid looks to be loving life at wing aackandshewillneedtoworkovermeto helphershootersfindspaceingoodrange.

West will remain undefeated but it will be a good audit for South ahead of a final first roundclashwithEastGambier.

Castertonsandfordvmillicent

Casterton Sandford is set to host Millicent this weekend and while that is a tough task at any me, it will be even tougher this weekend given the Saints are coming off a rareloss.

The 2022 runners up went down by 10 to North Gambier in round three as they look to sele on their best combinaonfor2023.

The shoong circle seems set with the height of Tabatha Sanderson and the speed and smarts of Demi Verbena out the front and with the Cats having lost reliable circle defender Ebany Jarrad to injury last weekend that only adds to the challenge and much will rest on the shoulders of Caeleigh Humphries to use her athlecism and probably means ulity Madalene Cleary will be called on to play at the defensiveend.

At the other end of the court, Cats shoong combinaon of Chloe Foster and Chelsey Galpin have now had a couple of weeks to start developing some chemistry and their ability to separate the Saints defenders and find gaps in the Millicent backline will be crical.

Pora McRae, Kimmi Tincknell and Lauren VanEeden have the height to worry their smaller opponents and the Saints defensive trio is also well supported by pressure on thefeedbyLisaDuldigandLilliePaul.

The mid court is where both sides are sll experimenng with what is the best combinaon with Duldig, Paul, Daisy Tunkin, as well as Nikeisha Facey, Tincknell and VanEeden in the mix for the Saints, while Dani Russell, Libby Altorfer and youngstersIndiLonghurstandIvyLanehave allspentmetheirfortheCats.

Millicent will bounce back with a win but the Cats look to be improving with every oung.

*All

13&UNDERB

Under11-East24wonWest5

Everyone played so well, it was such a team performance. Everyone played like superstars. Keep up the greatwork.

Bestplayers:R.Cook,H.Coote

Award Winners: R Cook (Fasta Pasta), H. Coote (Zambrero’s), S. Dwyer(Kaboom)