By David Nagel
The ever-changing race for a place in this year’s WGFNC A Grade finals series reaches a significant fork in the road this weekend with several cracking contests set down for decision.
Two of the top-six – Kilcunda-Bass and Nar Nar Goon – let their guard down on Saturday, opening the door for seventh-placed Kooweerup to potentially sneak in.
This week’s game between the Demons and Nar Nar Goon promises to be a beauty; with both teams having almost identical records.
Both teams have won seven games and drawn one; with both having scored 614 goals.
Defensively they are almost identical as well, with the Goon conceding 598 goals; just one less than the Demons!
Kooweerup will go in confident after a commanding 66-47 victory over Phillip Island at Cowes.
The Demons led by two at quarter time, but put the foot down during the middle stages of the match, scoring 39 to 25 in the second and third quarters.
Kate Sidebottom, Alix Galante, Claise Janssen and Chantelle Stokkel were driving forces for the Demons, while Talia Charalambides and Mikaela Stokkel were at their defensive best, forcing the Phillip Island goalers to work for every score.
Nar Nar Goon won’t be so confident heading in after copping a 58-28 hammering from a fired-up Dalyston at Dalyston.
The Magpies were brilliant in the first quarter, leading 17-9 at quarter time, but then elevated that high level of play to extraordinary new levels in the second and third terms.
With Gemma Thomas (GK) and Olivia Bramley (GD) at their absolute best defensively, the Magpies outscored the Goon 13-4 in the second, and then backed that up with a 14-5 third quarter.
Britt Thomas, Bella Scmidt, Jarney Thomas and Mataya Maloney were on fire for the Magpies, while Taylah Boatwood and Taylah Ellis did their best to turn the tide for the Goon.
Tooradin-Dalmore is emerging as the most serious threat to Inverloch-Kongwak’s overwhelming dominance this year after the Seagulls made it five straight wins with a 54-45 triumph over Kilcunda-Bass.
This one was up for grabs at three-quarter time; the Gulls leading 42-41, but a phenomenal 12-4 final blitz gave the Seagulls a crucial victory.
The defensive brilliance of Ebony Dolan and Jess Maher was in full focus during that last-quarter thumping, while Stacey Sawyer, Zoe Coventry and Sara Howie will take some great form into this week’s bumper clash against Cora Lynn.
The Cobras, however, will be up for the fight this week after a fast start led to a 43-30 win over Korumburra-Bena.
The Cobras dominated the opening exchanges, leading 10-4 at quarter time, and had the game sewn up with a 33-19 lead at the final break.
The Giants won the last quarter by one, but the damage had been well and truly done.
Ellie Keen, Paige Brooks-MacMillan and Lexis Schade were dynamos through the midcourt for the Cobras, while Annabel Sheppard and Danielle Cameron were super effective in defence.
Bunyip is currently enjoying a stunning patch of form with the Bulldogs making it three straight wins with a 37-33 victory over a fast-finishing Garfield.
The Bulldogs won the first two quarters by 10 to 8, and led 31-20 after a dominant 11-4 third quarter.
Ally Johnson, Jess Drazzi, Nat Dijkstra and Keely Wright played superbly for the Bulldogs, who let their guard down in the final term.
Garfield won the final stanza 13-6, with goalers Nat Loogman and Georgia Coleman finding their radar when it was all a little too late.
And last, but certainly not least, is Inverloch-Kongwak’s 69-21 victory over bottom-placed Warragul Industrials.
The Sea Eagles must have really enjoyed their week off; beginning with a remarkable 24-4 first quarter, highlighted by 19 goals to Amy Scott.
With the game locked away, the intensity dropped for the back-to-back reigning champs, who sit three-and-a-half games clear at the top of the ladder.
Kelsy Buxton dictated terms through the midcourt, while defenders Amity McInnes and Renee Pilkington once again had the better of the opposition goalers.
Natasha Green and Steph Warburton never gave up for the Dusties.
