OUYEN United have the chance to advance to their first SFNL A Grade grand final today when they play Irymple in the preliminary final at Sarah Oval.
The Kangas will be fresh, coming off a week’s break after defeating South Mildura in the first semi a fortnight ago.
It is Ouyen United’s second successive finals campaign and they will be hoping to advance one spot further than last year when they were beaten by Merbein in the corresponding game.
The Kangas have been building momentum in the back half of the year and their thrilling one-goal win over South in the opening week of the finals will have given them plenty of confidence.
But Irymple are a formidable combination who are sure to bounce back.
Both sides have an even spread of talent, but the match could be decided in defence.
Last week, Wentworth’s Amanda Edwards proved the difference between the sides.
Edwards was brilliant in attack, shooting 30 goals, despite often being double-teamed.
The Swallows cannot allow the Kangas’ Ashlee Morrish and co-coach Casey Crothers the same freedom.
Morrish and Crothers work well together in front of goal with Crothers’ height a real issue for the Swallows.
Like Edwards, Crothers is a tall player with great reach and she will be looking to use this to expose Irymple’s defence, which is led well by coach Rachelle Hollingworth.
At the other end of the court, Ouyen United will have their own challenges trying to curb goal attack Stephanie O’Loughlin.
O’Loughlin shot 33 goals last weekend, but the Kangas’ Tsharni Burns is arguably one of the best shut-down players in the competition.
Burns is rarely out of the Kangas’ best and is always given a big job each week, but they don’t come much bigger than the one she will get today on O’Loughlin.
If she can contain her scoring, then the Kangas will be a step closer to making it through to their first SFNL grand final.
There is sure to be plenty of support for both sides, but the Kangas army will be out in force.
No matter which of their sides is playing, whether it be football or netball, everyone involved in the Ouyen United Football Netball Club gets behind them.
It will be no different today and this support is sure to help lift the girls from Blackburn Park.
