By David Nagel
It’s hard to comprehend…but Kooweerup has raised more eyebrows than any team in the WGFNC over the last fortnight despite not winning a game.
The Demons are quickly building a reputation for being a high-pressure combination that can match it with the best teams in the competittion.
The next challenge now is to prolong it for the full four quarters.
New coach Kate Sidebottom has led her team to a 4-4 record after eight rounds…which on face value doesn’t sound overly impressive.
But it’s those last two weeks – against Tooradin-Dalmore and Inverloch-Kongwak – that have pricked the interest of many.
The Demons led at half time against Tooradin last week, before falling off the pace in the second half, and had a good crack against the Sea Eagles on Saturday…eventually falling 41-35 against last year’s premiers and this year’s competittion favourites.
The Sea Eagles were more composed and jumped the Demons early, leading 5-0, before the home side started to settle.
With Sidebottom (C), Chantelle Stokkel (WD) and Claise Janssen (WA) matching motors with Lanni Pryor (C), Ella Sadler (WA) and Kelsey Buxton (WD) through the midcourt, the Demons evened the balance of power with scores locked at nine at the first break.
The Sea Eagles were then more than up for the challenge, showing their class with a 23-16 run through the middle stages of the contest.
Their six-goal lead was cut to five at the final buzzer with the Demons winning the last quarter 10-9.
Jarrad Walker and his Sea Eagles have games against Bunyip and Cora Lynn to come, but must surely have one-eye already firmly fixed on a round 11 shootout with the also undefeated Tooradin.
As for Sidebottom and her Demons…well they face another huge challenge this week in a battle for fifth-place against Korumburra-Bena.
Dalyston has ended a two-game losing streak with a comfortable 61-42 victory over Phillip Island.
The Magpies were forced to work hard early, leading by just two at quarter time, but gradually put the foot on the accelerator to pull clear.
Alana McRae (C), Ruby Brosnan (WA) and Olivia Bramley (GK) warmed up for a big fortnight ahead (Tooradin/Nar Nar Goon) with impressive four-quarter performances for Dalyston, while Jaclyn Clark and Anthea Bennett were rock-solid in defence for the Bulldogs.
Kilcunda-Bass added another chapter to a beautiful story on Saturday, this time with a 50-27 win over Korumburra-Bena.
It’s hard to look back now and think the Panthers are a newcomer to the competition such has been their seamless transition to A Grade netball.
The Panthers trailed by one at quarter time, but took control with a 13-5 second term with Caitlin Egan (GK) and Caitlin Stephens (GD) giving nothing away at the defensive end of the court.
That trend continued into the second half, the Panthers outscoring the Giants 27-11 to race away with the four points.
The Panthers face a tough task against Nar Nar Goon this week, while the Giants host Kooweerup.
Nar Nar Goon is nestled nicely in third position on the ladder after making it six wins from seven starts with a 65-16 destruction of Bunyip.
The Goon girls were ruthless from the start, with Steph Lee (GA) and Kyra Esler (GS) ramming home 41 goals between them in the first half.
Players like Aimee Wright (C), Nat Dijkstra (GD) and Matilda Cunningham (WD) were more competitive for the Bulldogs after half time, but the damage had well-and-truly been done.
Meg Evans and her Goon-team have two big home games on the horizon, against Kilcunda-Bass and a season-definer against Dalyston.
Tooradin-Dalmore is going about its work beautifully and the Seagulls produced almost the perfect quarter of netball against Garfield on Saturday.
The Seagulls were already in control, 16-11 up at quarter time, but then stunned the home side with a devastating 21-1 second term.
Everything clicked for the Gulls, with Ebony Mason (GK) and Jess Maher (GD) being the beneficiary of some terrific all-court defence, while Zoe Coventry (WD), Kayla Bratic (GA) and Abbey Howes (WA) all had the ball on a string.
The 68-33 victory was the seventh time in eight outings that the Gulls have scored 50-or-more goals this season.
And winning has all-of-a-sudden become a habit for Cora Lynn, who banked consecutive victories with a 71-25 success over Warragul Industrials.
The Cobras chalked up their first win of the season last week against Bunyip, and players like Maggie Blackman (GK), Bianca Douglas (GS) and Dani Cameron (GD) were keen to keep that momentum rolling.
The Cobras led 19-6 at quarter time and pretty much kept that ratio going for four quarters.
TIPS – Round 9
Dalyston v TOORADIN-DALMORE, INVERLOCH-KONGWAK v Bunyip, Korumburra-Bena v KOOWEERUP, NAR NAR GOON v Kilcunda Bass, PHILLIP ISLAND v Cora Lynn, Warragul Industrials v GARFIELD.
