CARDROSS have a chance to capitalise on a diminished Werrimull this Saturday, with the Magpies’ A Grade side depleted by injury woes.
The MFNL A Grade ladder leaders will be forced to trial some new combinations as they take to the court against the Lions without Rachel Thomas, who suffered a knee injury in last week’s match against Bambill, as well as Cassie Morris and Brooke Watson, who have both been sidelined for a number of weeks.
But Magpies playing coach Anna Thomson is choosing to look on the bright side, saying it gives her team an opportunity to adapt to new challenges.
“There definitely will be a few changes this week with different positions being played, but thankfully my girls have the versatility to be able to do that,” Thomson said.
“In the long run, coming into finals and the end of the season, that is what needs to be done, because if someone is not playing well, it means I’ve got that choice of being able to change and put them into different positions.”
Thomson said exactly how those new midcourt combinations would look would likely be a “last-minute call”.
Focusing particularly on the little things will be the main aim for the Magpies this week.
“I think this is a really good opportunity for us to be able to really try to improve those skills, focus on those little things that we have be working on at training, and then really get those structures down so when we have Bambill and Nangiloc in the next few weeks, we know that we are doing that well and we will be able to focus and improve our game,” Thomson said.
Although they currently sit atop the ladder a game clear plus percentage, Thomson said that was not necessarily her preferred finishing position.
“I can’t say I would be feeling confident,” she said.
“We know what happens when we finish on top of the ladder: we go through finals.
“The competition is still so tight.”
Lions playing coach Melissa Kennedy will return to the court this week after being overseas and said she felt like they had some of their confidence back, despite having gone down to Nangiloc by two goals last round.
“We know we can beat Werrimull – we just have to execute our game style,” she said.
“If we want to be a top-two side come finals, we need to limit our turnovers and reward defensive efforts.”
In other games, Nangiloc will host Gol Gol and Nangiloc Football Oval, while Bambill will travel to Lake Cullulleraine Oval to take on Meringur.
