Round 15 Preview
Four rounds to go in the SS&A OMFNL 2022 season with two matches this Saturday and then the three remaining a week later as part of the split round. While there is a break in play for some teams there has been plenty happening off the field and another special event about to happen.
This Saturday the SS&A OMFNL Hall of Fame will be conducted at the SS&A Club with six new inductees being added to the current list. Established in 2005, the purpose of the O&M Hall of Fame is to recognise and promote the outstanding achievements of players, administrators, support staff and media.
The other big news was announced midweek that the 2022 grand final will be returning to the recently renovated Lavington Sportsground on Sunday September 25. 2017 was the last time the grand final was played at Lavington, with Norm Minns Oval, Wangaratta being the venue in 2018 and 2019. No grand finals were played in 2020 and 2021 due to COVID.
Interestingly the home teams who have hosted grand finals in recent times have a poor record. The last team to win a grand final on its home ground was Lavington in 2005. The Panthers have lost grand finals at home in 2008, 2015 and 2016. While Wangaratta after winning a premiership at Lavington in 2017 then lost the next two deciders at home in 2018 and 2019 to Albury and Lavington respectively.
The Ovens and Murray netball rep sides made the trip to Melbourne last Sunday for the Netball Victoria Associations Champions Finals series.
The senior side won six of its seven pool matches including a win over Goulburn Valley in round one 18-14 to make the semi-finals. They took on the Goulburn Valley and unfortunately the Purple and Gold reversed the result of earlier in the day to win 16-11. The Goulburn Valley went on to beat Bendigo in the final to make it back-to-back titles in the Association Championships.
The 17 and Under side also made it to the semi-finals but were beaten by Banyule & Districts 18-15 in the semi-final. They had won eight of their eleven pool matches.
Staying on netball and this week has a mouth-watering top versus third clash with Corowa Rutherglen travelling down the Murray to tackle Yarrawonga. The Roo’s are coming off its first defeat of the season, while Yarrawonga are starting to really build ahead of the finals in a months’ time.
Will it be back-to-back
losses for the visitors, or can they bounce back and repeat its seven goal win
in round seven when the teams last met. The Pigeons with a similar percentage
as the Roo’s could also put pressure on for top spot with a win leaving them
one game behind and ready to swoop if the Roo’s lost again.
Wodonga Raiders
season is firmly on the line when they play host to Albury. A Raiders win will
put them just half a game behind fifth placed Tigers. The Tigers were
understrength last week in a loss to Wangaratta but should welcome back
experienced pair Heidi Fisher and coach Skye Hillier.
The football
action looks by ladder position to be a pretty regulation set of results with
Raiders at home to Albury and Yarrawonga lining up Corowa Rutherglen.
The Pigeons have
locked away the double chance in what has been a very solid and consistent year
with a win over Wangaratta their season high thus far. Corowa Rutherglen’s lack
of depth to replace key players injured has seen them gradually slide out of
finals calculations and a tough day at the office looms. Leigh Williams who has
not played since round eleven is close to a recall, with the week following
this Saturday he is likely to wait until round sixteen for his return.
Wodonga Raiders
will be buoyed by its thrilling final seconds victory over North Albury and
being back at home could be a tricky opponent for the visiting Tigers. Albury
lost no admirers in last week’s six goal loss to the Magpies. The Tigers though
had some sore and sorry soldiers by end of the game and could miss a few.
The Tigers have
a very tough final three rounds ahead of them and will be keen to lock away the
double chance with a victory at Birallee Park. They currently sit two games and
clear percentage ahead of both Myrtleford and Wangaratta Rovers for the valued
double chance inside the top three.