BEWARE of the Dogs!

– Tym Glaser

BEWARE of the Dogs!

Four games into the 2024 A Grade season and South Mildura, last year’s semi-finalists of whom much was expected, were languishing winless at the bottom of the ladder, and facing the daunting task of an encounter with the high-flying Swallows.

Somehow, some way, the Bulldogs rediscovered their bite and pulled off a shock two-point victory at the Mildura Sporting Precinct courts.

That upset victory has proved to be the catalyst for a huge turnaround in fortune as the Doggies clinched their fourth win in a row at the Brian Weightman Oval courts on Saturday, and have bounded into the top five.

The 48-37 victory over struggling Imperials (2-6) was no great work of art but ‘Ws’ are far more important than style points as the home-and-way season hits the halfway mark.

“The combinations we have been working hard on are finally working,” South Mildura coach Tara Bate said of the team’s massive form reversal.

“We are just stoked. I couldn’t be happier for the girls and myself. It just shows that hard work pays off. We have finally found our feet and what works best for us as a team. Each girl’s spirit has lifted since we’ve been winning. We’re just getting that little more hungry each week.”

The Bulldogs jumped out to a seven-point quarter-time lead and were never seriously threatened. Goal defence Regan Zaxos and Yasmin Thompson were named the team’s best, but Souths had winners all over the court, including centre Bate and ever-consistent wing defence Tayla Sellens.

Imps fought hard on their home court and never let the margin get too far out of hand but just appeared to be a step off the pace against a slicker South outfit.

“I think our passes probably let us down – particularly in the middle part of the game,” assistant coach Annie O’Donnell said.

“We’ve just got to keep working harder. We have to keep our heads held high … our morale is pretty good. We’ve got lots of girls coming through the squad so everybody knows they have got to perform well. But we just need to get some wins on the board … it’s a lot more fun winning games than losing so that’s enough inspiration for anyone.”

Kia Scott and Ella Hards were the pick of Imps.

Imperials 37 lost to South Mildura 48

BEST: Imperials: Kia Scott, Ella Hards. South Mildura: Regan Zaxos, Yasmin Thompson.