Mildura v Ouyen United
Brian Weightman Oval courts, 12pm
REIGNING champions Ouyen United need to find their best form soon or they are going to face a tough task emulating last year’s late premiership run.
The Kangas have hardly burst out of the gates this season and are mired near the bottom of the table with a 1-4 record.
They are renowned for being a second-half-of-the-season team, but this year’s comp looks considerably tighter than the past few years with all sides having racked up at least one win, so there will be no “gimmes”.
Today, they head up the highway to Mildura – another perennial finalist, who are struggling to find consistency with a 2-2-1 record.
The Demons, at their best look hunky dory and are perhaps one of the few combinations that might be able to push mighty Wentworth, but those glimpses have been fleeting so far.
They are strong in both circles when they have a full roster to call upon with Sharon Watson and Ava Zadow formidable in defence and Jess McNamara and young star Ashleigh Morello lethal near the net, but they have found it hard to adjust when the lineup has required some tweaking.
It’s way too early to write off Kyra Nathan’s squad which features shooter Melissa Dyda, defender/attacker Catherine Brown, wing attack Megan Jardine and Ellen Morrish and today is not a must-win situation, but that time is slowly drawing close for the Kangas.
PREDICTION: Demons by 12 goals
Irymple v Imperials
Henshilwood Oval courts, 12pm
IRYMPLE have only dropped one game this earlyish season, and you don’t need to be a nuclear physicist to work out who that was to.
But they bounced back on their court last week and comfortably handled Mildura, 50-37. The Swallows are back at home today and should add to their win tally of three when they host 1-3 Imperials.
Imps are a slowly improving outfit under the guidance of Ali Walker, but they got an A Grade reality check last week when Wenty came to town and gave them a 42-goal thumping.
Centre Tracey Sherlock was a standout for the hosts and Kia Scott and Maggie Monaghan battled gamely but vainly in defence. However, they just lacked the skill and all-court nous to even get close to the Roos and it should be a similar storyline at Henshilwood – just not by such a great margin.
Rookie coach Shelby Trigg has a strong core to work with including versatile players such as Tarlia Couzner and Samantha Garraway who are well complemented by young defender Alice Leeder, winger Sophie Price and fellow mid-courter Indi Spratt.
The team in green will fight hard but just won’t quite have the horses to run with Irymple for four quarters.
PREDICTION: Swallows by 23
Merbein v Red Cliffs
Compound Accounting Park, 12pm
MERBEIN, the early surprise of the 2025 season with a 3-1 record, should keep the good times rolling at home when slowly improving Red Cliffs (1-2-1) come to town.
New Magpie coach Johannah Gray appeared to be facing a tough task improving on the team’s sixth place finish last season, but that’s not been the case so far in ’25.
Gray, her sisters Emily and Sophie, shooter Darcy Chilton and wings Vanessa Rodi and Teagan Pettigrew have hit the court running and the team has defended and attacked with equal fervour.
Another victory today would see the Pies gain a nice little buffer over the chasing bunched pack.
The visiting Tigers are still a work in progress but have shown glimpses that they are improving under coach Romany Bowen.
Zara Copley remains a danger near the net and the Naqutos, Varanisese and Morna, and the Parkers, Jazmin and Jorja, have been consistent performers, but stringing four solid quarters together remains a problem for Red Cliffs.
The black and golds will battle hard – as usual – but just lack that killer edge to get past a soaring Magpie combination.
PREDICTION: Magpies by 17
South Mildura v Wentworth
Mildura Sporting Precinct, 12pm
YOUR turn Bulldogs!
Like a naughty schoolboy heading to the headmaster’s office, you kind of know what’s coming, it’s just how bad is it going to be?
South Mildura host Wentworth at the ‘P’ and they know it’s not going to be good against the A Grade juggernaut.
The Roos’ “smallest” margin of victory thus far has been 39 goals and shooter extraordinaire and coach Amanda Edwards is averaging an even 50, which is more than some teams amass in a game!
Can the Dogs push Wenty? Nope.
But, like several victims before them, 2-3 South can work out where they stand in the grander scheme of things against the top grade’s measuring stick.
They were looking good with two wins on the trot, but a 22-goal loss to Merbein last week brought them back to earth and pushed them, marginally, out of the five.
Shooter Sophie Fox, defender Macey Andriske, wing defence Tayla Sellens, Alyse Ross and centre and coach Tara Bate are regularly among the Dogs’ best, but they are going to have to play out of their skins to get near the Roos.
No defender has gone close to even curbing Edwards, Natalie Vercher and Christie Becker are a seriously good defensive duo and Ashlee Cameron is as good a centre as there is going around and should have a stellar duel with Bate, but that might be the closest battle of the day.
PREDICTION: Roos by 42
