IT is set to be a hard-fought battle in the SFNL A Grade match between Ouyen United and Irymple this Saturday, but it is all in the spirit of the game.
Although the Swallows came away victorious with a five-goal win the last time the two sides met, coach Sherrie Geister said the Kangas were a team they always looked forward to matching up against.
“I have so much respect and admiration for the girls down there – they play a different style of netball to other teams: they are just really physical, skilful, well drilled, a really good side,” Geister said.
“Especially in the back half of the season they always seem to find another gear, so we will not be underestimating them, that’s for sure.
While they had a convincing 15-goal win over Merbein last round, Geister said the bye weekend didn’t appear to have done her squad any favours as they took the first half of the match to find their groove.
“I think having the week off made them a little bit sluggish,” she said.
“We didn’t do any match play with the week off, and I just think they took their time to find their mojo.
“They were good in patches but it just wasn’t as consistent as you would hope.
“But I guess having that game under their belt now, we will just get on with it now this week.”
With their finals position all but secure as they sit third on the ladder, Geister said she was feeling “pretty relaxed”, taking each week as it came.
“It is what it is,” she said. “We just come up against each team each week and work on what we are good at.
“Netball is the game where everybody gets the ball given to them the same amount of times.
“It is just how you can use it and capitalise on each possession.”
The Kangas have now been winless since round 9, having lost to South Mildura, Mildura and Wentworth over the past three weeks, leaving them teetering on the edge of the top five.
A win today could possibly see them move up the ladder and help secure them a spot in finals with four rounds left to play.
In other games, Imperials take on Red Cliffs at Brian Weightman Oval, South Mildura host Wentworth at the Mildura Sporting Precinct, and Robinvale Euston travel to Kenny Park to go up against Merbein.
