Round 11 Preview
Welcome to round eleven – a split round of the SS&A OMFNL with three matches played this week and the remaining two on July 2.
The results of round ten and some of the injuries has certainly thrown the competition up for grabs with the previously unbeaten Wangaratta in particular licking its wounds.
They will play host to Wodonga with a third of its best side out of action in a real test of its emerging local talent that will come into the side.
Cal Moore, Chris Knowles, Matt Grossman, Dylan Van Berlo, Daniel Sharrock, Jamie and Mark Anderson, as well as injured young guns Tyler Norton and Hunter Goschling, will all miss.
Whispers coming out of the Doggies kennel are that they could also be missing some top end talent including Canberra duo Alex Smout and Angus Baker, as well as Ethan Redcliffe with a hamstring.
The Bulldogs biggest issue this season has been converting inside fifties into goals and with Baker, who landed six goals last week, and Redcliffe out, it is hard to see them post a winning total.
The closest match of the round could well be at the Lavington Sportsground where the Panthers will be looking to avenge the narrow Easter Sunday loss to Yarrawonga. On that day Lavington looked to be home before the Pigeons led by coach Mark Whiley booted the last three goals to snatch victory. Both sides come into the game with excellent form and are regarded as two of the more physical teams in the competition. The Pigeons last week applied massive pressure around the contest to upset the Magpies, while Lavington did the same against Myrtleford two weeks ago. The Panthers pace up forward in Darcy Smith, Shaun Driscoll and Jake O’Brien will provide a different test for the Yarrawonga defence.
Daryn Cresswell will make a return to Birallee Park where his OMFNL coaching career started when at Wodonga Raiders back in 2015. His return will be with the Wangaratta Rovers where he commenced as coach in 2019, after four years at the helm of Raiders.
The Rovers are coming off a pulsating one-point win over Albury in round ten, that has got them back into the top five and with high hopes of a double chance.
Raiders have lost ten straight and sit at the bottom of the table. They look certain to get Morris Medallist Jarrod Hodgkin back after missing over a month with injury.
Issac Muller is having a great season for the Raiders and his tussle with Rovers big man Shane Gaston will be a beauty. Todd Bryant also makes a return to Birallee Park where he formerly played. Jake McQueen has been a star all season with the Rovers and his work rate along with the class of Dylan Stone and Alex Marklew should ensure Rovers take the points.
A mouth-watering contest awaits in the Optus O&M TV live streaming and 1494 2AY broadcast netball game of the round at the Lavington Sportsground. Lavington and Yarrawonga are both sitting nicely on the ladder with 8 wins and two losses, with the Pigeons holding a 7.3 % buffer in second position. Both teams are two wins behind unbeaten Corowa Rutherglen and two wins ahead of fourth placed Wangaratta Magpies with a healthy percentage break. Lavington caused a big upset back on Easter Sunday in round two when they won by eleven goals in what arguably has been their best performance of 2022.
The game will also see Sarah (Senini) Moore return to her old playing court, where she was a premiership player in a 300 game plus career.
Wodonga Raiders have a must win scenario when they host Wangaratta Rovers. The Raiders are a game and a half out of the top five. The Rovers are several narrow losses at the start of the season are desperately looking for their second win of the season and will give themselves some chance. The Raiders young talent at the club is as good as any other in the league with its under 17 side currently unbeaten and top of the table.
Mackensey
House, Molly Goldsworthy and Taylor Donelan have had superb seasons for Raiders
and despite the work of Rovers star Sami Kreltszheim the home court should
equate to a win.
The final game will see the Magpies very keen to bounce back after they were well beaten by Yarrawonga last week. This they should do with the visiting Wodonga Bulldogs still without a win despite some encouraging performances at times during the year. Star shooter Georgia Clark will be a hand full for the Bulldogs defence, while Cassi Mathey will be the best chance up front for the visitors to push for an upset win.
