By David Nagel
Kooweerup’s finals hopes are alive and well after the Demons dug deep to score a 50-41 victory over Phillip Island at Denhams Road.
The Demons had one of the toughest draws to start the WGFNC season, with five of its opening six games being played against teams that currently sit in the top six on the ladder.
Kate Sidebottom and her team opened the season with back-to-back losses against high-quality outfits in Dalyston and Inverloch-Kongwak, before recording a crucial win over Nar Nar Goon in round three.
A six-goal loss to Kilcunda-Bass then ensued, before a thrilling 51-51 draw with Tooradin-Dalmore.
The game against Phillip Island on Saturday was basically a test to see which of the two would most likely edge into finals this year.
The draw now opens up for the Demons, who could sneak into the top six as early as next week.
Sidebottom (C), Claise Janssen (WA) and Chantelle Stokkel (WD) set the scene for the Demons with some high-pressure play through the midcourt; creating scoring opportunities with their hard running and causing intercepts in defence.
Ash Murphy (GA) and Jayda McConkey (GS) were typically efficient in the circle, while Mikaela Stokkel (GK) and the athletic Talia Charalambides (GD) gave the Phillip Island goalers plenty of headaches for four quarters.
The Demons, now half a game clear of the Bulldogs, should extend that gap to six points in round seven.
The Dees head to Western Park this week to take on bottom placed Warragul Industrials, while the Bulldogs host reigning-premier Inverloch-Kongwak at Cowes.
Phillip Island players Lexi Walton, Lily Mewett, Maya Huther and Ella Duggan will take good form into the contest.
Nar Nar Goon has scored a huge win in the context of its season after the Goon girls won the first three quarters on their way to a 60-52 victory over Dalyston.
There weren’t huge margins in each quarter, but four, two and three goal advantages led to a match-winning nine-goal lead at the final interval.
Goal Shooter Kyra Esler capitalised on the great work of Olivia Hamilton (C), Meaghan Winter (WA), Chantelle Dale (WD) and Steph Lee (GA) to score 18 of her team’s 27 goals to half time.
Taylah Boatwood (GK) and Taylah Ellis (GD) were also in great form, holding the dangerous combination of Bella Schmidt (GS) and Britt Thomas (GA) to a losing score.
Dalyston faces another tough test this week, heading to Tooradin-Dalmore, while the Goon makes the short trip to Cora Lynn for a blockbuster top-three clash.
The Cobras rubber-stamped their growing credentials on Saturday with a come-from-behind 48-43 victory over Korumburra-Bena.
This one was tight from the outset, with the Giants leading by a goal at the first break before the Cobras bounced back to take a two-goal lead to half time.
The Giants then responded with a 13-10 third stanza to take a one-goal margin to the final quarter.
Cora Lynn then dominated the last quarter when the pressure was at its highest.
The Cobras outscored the Giants 14-8, with Danielle Cameron (GK) and Annabel Sheppard (GD) taking care of business at the defensive end of the court, while Gemma Stacey (GS) and Brooke Abu-Jaber (GA) kept a steady hand under the ring.
In other games this week, Inverloch-Kongwak was forced to work hard for its 51-38 victory over a brave Kilcunda-Bass, while Garfield banked its second win for the season against Warragul Industrials.
Things didn’t look good for the Stars early, trailing 10-13 at quarter time, but a dominant mid-period of the match helped them take control of the contest.
Georgia Coleman (GS) and Tyla Redwood (GA) scored 10 goals each in a magnificent second-quarter display, before the Stars shut the Dusties out with a 15-9 third quarter.
The Stars face a tough task in going back-to-back this week; heading to fifth-placed Kilcunda-Bass.
And Tooradin-Dalmore has staged a remarkable turnaround to defeat Bunyip at Bunyip.
The Gulls were down by nine goals at half time, but turned things around with 32 goals to 15 in the second half.
Alex Maher made a massive difference when moved to Goal Shooter in the second half; scoring 29 of those 32 goals.
Jess Maher (GK) and Ebony Dolan (GD) also lifted their rating to ‘manic’ in a ruthless defensive display.
NETBALL
A GRADE: Bunyip 44 v Tooradin-Dalmore 52, Inverloch-Kongwak 51 v Kilcunda-Bass 38, Korumburra-Bena 43 v Cora Lynn 48, Nar Nar Goon 60 v Dalyston 52, Garfield 58 v Warragul Industrials 39, Kooweerup 50 v Phillip Island 41.
B GRADE: Bunyip 34 v Tooradin-Dalmore 56, Inverloch-Kongwak 42 v Kilcunda-Bass 41, Korumburra-Bena 31 v Cora Lynn 47, Nar Nar Goon 63 v Dalyston 27, Garfield 49 v Warragul Industrials 48, Kooweerup 39 v Phillip Island 48.
C GRADE: Bunyip 29 v Tooradin-Dalmore 28, Inverloch-Kongwak 35 v Kilcunda-Bass 25, Korumburra-Bena 21 v Cora Lynn 28, Nar Nar Goon 42 v Dalyston 30, Garfield 37 v Warragul Industrials 30, Kooweerup 36 v Phillip Island 16.
D GRADE: Bunyip 41 v Tooradin-Dalmore 28, Inverloch-Kongwak 47 v Kilcunda-Bass 7, Korumburra-Bena 37 v Cora Lynn 31, Nar Nar Goon 60 v Dalyston 13, Garfield 53 v Warragul Industrials 15, Kooweerup 22 v Phillip Island 12.
17 UNDER: Bunyip 22 v Tooradin-Dalmore 40, Inverloch-Kongwak 29 v Kilcunda-Bass 20, Korumburra-Bena 41 v Cora Lynn 32, Nar Nar Goon 47 v Dalyston 30, Garfield 46 v Warragul Industrials 7, Kooweerup 19 v Phillip Island 36.
15 UNDER: Bunyip 10 v Tooradin-Dalmore 49, Inverloch-Kongwak 37 v Kilcunda-Bass 13, Korumburra-Bena 17 v Cora Lynn 37, Nar Nar Goon 34 v Dalyston 12, Garfield 15 v Warragul Industrials 39, Kooweerup 19 v Phillip Island 26.
13 UNDER: Bunyip 4 v Tooradin-Dalmore 38, Inverloch-Kongwak 22 v Kilcunda-Bass 15, Korumburra-Bena 12 v Cora Lynn 37, Nar Nar Goon 32 v Dalyston 15, Garfield 29 v Warragul Industrials 29, Kooweerup 11 v Phillip Island 49.
11 UNDER: Bunyip 1 v Tooradin-Dalmore 24, Inverloch-Kongwak 21 v Kilcunda-Bass 13, Korumburra-Bena 3 v Cora Lynn 35, Nar Nar Goon 54 v Dalyston 2, Garfield 14 v Warragul Industrials 6, Kooweerup 7 v Phillip Island 22.
LADDERS
A GRADE W L D F A % PTS
Inverloch Kongwak 6 0 0 324 201 161.19 24
Cora Lynn 5 1 0 278 217 128.11 20
Nar Nar Goon 5 1 0 325 277 117.33 20
Dalyston 4 2 0 309 248 124.60 16
Kilcunda Bass 4 2 0 257 247 104.05 16
Tooradin Dalmore 3 2 1 299 265 112.83 14
Kooweerup 2 3 1 262 293 89.42 10
Phillip Island 2 4 0 285 299 95.32 8
Korumburra Bena 2 4 0 299 315 94.92 8
Garfield 2 4 0 239 308 77.60 8
Bunyip 0 6 0 185 264 70.08 0
Warragul Industrials 0 6 0 234 362 64.64 0
B GRADE W L D F A % PTS
Tooradin Dalmore 6 0 0 316 186 169.89 24
Nar Nar Goon 5 1 0 348 229 151.97 20
Inverloch Kongwak 5 1 0 337 230 146.52 20
Dalyston 5 1 0 311 274 113.50 20
Kilcunda Bass 4 2 0 277 218 127.06 16
Warragul Industrials 3 3 0 286 302 94.70 12
Cora Lynn 3 3 0 222 238 93.28 12
Phillip Island 3 3 0 253 273 92.67 12
Garfield 2 4 0 246 278 88.49 8
Bunyip 0 6 0 214 302 70.86 0
Korumburra Bena 0 6 0 217 347 62.54 0
Kooweerup 0 6 0 215 365 58.90 0
C GRADE W L D F A % PTS
Nar Nar Goon 6 0 0 251 163 153.99 24
Inverloch Kongwak 5 1 0 240 156 153.85 20
Tooradin Dalmore 5 1 0 202 145 139.31 20
Cora Lynn 5 1 0 195 160 121.88 20
Kilcunda Bass 3 3 0 176 154 114.29 12
Korumburra Bena 3 3 0 191 172 111.05 12
Kooweerup 2 3 1 161 177 90.96 10
Garfield 2 3 1 169 199 84.92 10
Bunyip 2 4 0 158 172 91.86 8
Dalyston 0 4 2 156 207 75.36 4
Warragul Industrials 1 5 0 142 242 58.68 4
Phillip Island 0 6 0 119 213 55.87 0
D GRADE W L D F A % PTS
Nar Nar Goon 6 0 0 255 90 283.33 24
Garfield 6 0 0 258 137 188.32 24
Inverloch Kongwak 5 1 0 233 99 235.35 20
Korumburra Bena 5 1 0 222 158 140.51 20
Kooweerup 4 2 0 142 103 137.86 16
Bunyip 3 3 0 193 185 104.32 12
Tooradin Dalmore 3 3 0 158 159 99.37 12
Cora Lynn 2 4 0 168 188 89.36 8
Phillip Island 1 5 0 120 182 65.93 4
Kilcunda Bass 1 5 0 102 228 44.74 4
Warragul Industrials 0 6 0 104 236 44.07 0
Dalyston 0 6 0 86 276 31.16 0
17 UNDER W L D F A % PTS
Phillip Island 6 0 0 290 146 198.63 24
Tooradin Dalmore 6 0 0 220 120 183.33 24
Inverloch Kongwak 5 1 0 192 113 169.91 20
Garfield 5 1 0 212 140 151.43 20
Nar Nar Goon 5 1 0 251 169 148.52 20
Korumburra Bena 4 2 0 287 199 144.22 16
Kooweerup 2 4 0 120 188 63.83 8
Dalyston 1 5 0 160 215 74.42 4
Bunyip 1 5 0 156 210 74.29 4
Cora Lynn 1 5 0 167 226 73.89 4
Kilcunda Bass 0 6 0 140 221 63.35 0
Warragul Industrials 0 6 0 60 308 19.48 0
15 UNDER W L D F A % PTS
Nar Nar Goon 5 0 1 250 120 208.33 22
Warragul Industrials 5 1 0 202 137 147.45 20
Phillip Island 4 1 1 230 124 185.48 18
Tooradin Dalmore 4 2 0 193 82 235.37 16
Cora Lynn 4 2 0 168 104 161.54 16
Kooweerup 4 2 0 141 107 131.78 16
Inverloch Kongwak 3 3 0 145 117 123.93 12
Korumburra Bena 2 4 0 125 225 55.56 8
Dalyston 2 4 0 68 124 54.84 8
Garfield 1 5 0 94 164 57.32 4
Kilcunda Bass 1 5 0 76 234 32.48 4
Bunyip 0 6 0 64 218 29.36 0
13 UNDER W L D F A % PTS
Nar Nar Goon 6 0 0 237 73 324.66 24
Cora Lynn 5 0 1 243 74 328.38 22
Tooradin Dalmore 5 0 1 229 70 327.14 22
Warragul Industrials 3 2 1 151 167 90.42 14
Garfield 3 2 1 112 141 79.43 14
Inverloch Kongwak 3 3 0 114 123 92.68 12
Kilcunda Bass 3 3 0 121 135 89.63 12
Phillip Island 2 4 0 159 175 90.86 8
Korumburra Bena 2 4 0 136 158 86.08 8
Dalyston 1 5 0 83 122 68.03 4
Bunyip 1 5 0 49 204 24.02 4
Kooweerup 0 6 0 54 246 21.95 0
11 UNDER W L D F A % PTS
Tooradin Dalmore 6 0 0 171 20 855.00 24
Nar Nar Goon 6 0 0 166 29 572.41 24
Phillip Island 5 1 0 142 46 308.70 20
Cora Lynn 4 2 0 121 53 228.30 16
Inverloch Kongwak 3 2 1 75 77 97.40 14
Garfield 3 3 0 44 79 55.70 12
Kooweerup 2 3 1 75 105 71.43 10
Warragul Industrials 2 4 0 69 91 75.82 8
Kilcunda Bass 2 4 0 70 120 58.33 8
Bunyip 1 5 0 33 100 33.00 4
Dalyston 1 5 0 26 118 22.03 4
Korumburra Bena 0 6 0 23 177 12.99 0
FIXTURE – ROUND 7
Saturday 25 May, 2024
Warragul Industrials v Kooweerup
Phillip Island v Inverloch-Kongwak
Tooradin-Dalmore v Dalyston
Cora Lynn v Nar Nar Goon
Korumburra-Bena v Bunyip
Kilcunda-Bass v Garfield
