MOOROOPNA V ECHUCA
Mooroopna’s form going into the finals was probably not at its usual best. The Cats jumped out of the blocks with eight straight wins.
Then after they have lost four their last 10 games, including twice to Echuca. One of those defeats to the Murray Bombers came in round 18 at the Cattery. But the master coach Di Hanslow got her group up for the qualifying final. They got to the front against Euroa and was never headed.
Ash Lancaster (28) and Ella Ogier (16) combined beautifully to put the score on the board for the Cats. But what would have impressed Hanslow the most was the defensive work of her team.
They were able to restrict Mia Sudomirski to 20 goals and credit must go to Maddison Wong and her defensive team.
And through the mid-court the likes of Asha Gray, Shelby Britten and Paigen Impey were able to ensure plenty of supply to the shooting duo of Lancaster and Ogier. They will again be important.
Hanslow will no doubt be digesting what went wrong in the round 18 clash. The Murray Bombers’ were clinical in winning by 17 goals and played one of their best games of the season.
Coach Belinda Lees is no fool. She knows her girls will have to play as well if not better than the round 18 clash. Lees and her group will be ready for the Cats.
Steph Vick through the mid-court will be important to ensure she links up with the attackers to ensure Sherridan Townrow can influence the contest.
Down back, Lauren Jones and Ash Mangan will be important.
They have been a dynamic defensive combination, especially in the second half of the season as the Murray Bombers have won 10 of their last 11 including last Saturday’s elimination final against Shepparton.
With two wins against Mooroopna this year, the Murray Bombers will feel confident it can advance to the grand-final.
I think you can’t discount that and it is for that reason I am going for Echuca to move into the big dance. Tip: Echuca.
EUROA V TATURA
Tatura will be looking to continue its giant-killing run after it ended the aspirations of Seymour claiming back-to-back titles.
After playing in their first finals series in 17 years, the Bulldogs produced arguably one of their best performances of the season to blitz the Lions.
That win has made the others sit up and take notice.
For those that were thinking that the Bulldogs were maybe making up the numbers, then think again.
Beware Euroa. Coach Ellie Warnock knows this will be a tough game as it looks to bounce back from the qualifying final loss to Mooroopna last Saturday night.
They have had a wonderful year, finishing as the minor premier, but Warnock and her Euroa team knows it means nothing if it can’t beat Tatura.
Tatura’s form is really good going into this contest, winning its final three home-and-away rounds and then producing a sensational four-quarter effort to skip past the reigning premier.
The teams played once during the year at Tatura on May 27 and Euroa won comfortably by 18 goals.
The key match-up could between Molly Boyle and Mia Sudomirski.
Boyle will be imploring her team-mates to put pressure on the ball to make it hard to get the supply to one of the league’s leading shooters in 2023.
So, I believe the team which is more desperate, copes with the pressure and can take their chances will win a spot in the preliminary final.
Winning form is good form and that is why I am going with Tatura. Tip: Tatura.
