Imperials v Red Cliffs
Brian Weightman Oval courts, 12pm
TWO of SFNL A Grade netball’s most pleasant surprises this season take to the court today with a fair bit at stake.
Red Cliffs, who finished bottom of the table last season, will be out to shore up their place in the top five while hosts Imperials, who are snapping at the Tigers’ heels in sixth, don’t want to drop two games off the pace as the path to finals action narrows week by week.
Imps are a vastly improved unit from the side which finished seventh last season.
The return of the McManus sisters, Meg and Maddy, and the steadiness of centre Tracey Sherlock provide a solid foundation which is surrounded by young talents like winger Ella Hards and shooters Ebony Ietto and last week’s debutant Charlotte ‘Lottie’ Littore, who put 19 goals through the net.
Unfortunately for the green team, they have dropped their past two games and another loss today would severely dent their finals ambitions.
Red Cliffs also went down last week in a 58-54 heartbreaker at home against second-placed Mildura, but a win today would see them gain an eight-point break over the sixth-placed team.
The Tigers play no-frills netball and it’s proved to be mighty effective. The Naqutos, Morna and Varanisese, and Parkers, Jorja and Jazmin, don’t give an inch on the court and shooter Zara Copley is a constant threat near the net.
PREDICTION: Tigers by seven goals
Robinvale Euston v Wentworth
John James Oval courts, 12pm
ROBINVALE Euston are another team which has impressed this season after finishing between Imperials and Red Cliffs in eighth position in 2024.
The Eagles after a scrappy start to their ’25 campaign have hit form and are fourth in the standings with the same amount of points but a better percentage than the Tigers.
Their turnaround possibly came when they ventured over to powerhouse Wentworth back in round 7 and pushed the Roos for most of the game before going down by 11 goals.
Coach Georgia Giofrelle has formed a potent shooting partnership with Sarah Hepburn and the return of her sister Belle to the fold after a break at the start of the year has added more spark midcourt.
The ability of Georgie Kelly and Kristie Neyland to interchange between wing and goal defence also provides the Eagles with greater on-court flexibility.
However, undefeated Wenty come to town today and will no doubt remember that first encounter and be keen to stamp their authority.
Led by coach and unstoppable shooter Amanda Edwards, the Roos have breezed past most opponents this campaign and look near invincible.
They don’t have any discernible weaknesses with Natalie Vercher and Courtney Wakefield rock solid in defence and Jessica Minter, Ashlee Cameron and Georgia Chase controlling the midcourt zone.
PREDICTION: Roos by 27 goals
Merbein v Mildura
Compound Accounting Park, 12pm
MILDURA received a major scare last week out at Red Cliffs before emerging with a four-goal win, but they remain the most likely challenger to dominant Wentworth.
The second-placed Demons welcome back co-coach and shooter Jess McNamara after a brief break and she will further solidify an already strong and deep group which includes co-coach and star Ava Zadow, young shooter Ashleigh Morello, mid-courters Molly McDonald, Demalza Henry, Katelyn Challis and tireless defender Sharon Watson.
The Dees are still evolving on the court as they iron out minor chinks but last week’s tough hit-out should have done them the world of good as they aim to seal second spot on the ladder heading into finals.
Today’s task against Merbein shouldn’t be too much of a struggle, but the Magpies are always tough out at Compound Accounting Park.
Merbein started the season well but have hit several road bumps of late and find themselves eighth with a 3-7 record. But they are still realistically in the finals race – only two games back of fifth on an extremely tight table.
As usual, a lot will fall on the shoulders of the Gray sisters, coach and defender Johannah, winger Sophie and shooter Emily, but wing attack Tasharni Hynes, centre Teagan Pettigrew and shooter Aimee Geyer have also made valuable contributions and there should be a high level of desperation in the squad as they can’t afford too many more defeats.
PREDICTION: Demons by 11 goals
Irymple v Ouyen United
Henshilwood Park, 12pm
IRYMPLE have gone quite quietly about their business this year and sit a sneaky third on the ladder with a 5-3-1 record and a game in hand on their nearest threats.
First-season coach Shelby Trigg has the team moving along nicely with good balance across all three areas of the court.
Trigg and goal attack Tarlia Couzner are getting the job done in the forward circle. Indi Spratt, Sophie Price and Eliza Burford are busy midcourt and impressive youngster Alice Leeder and Kasey Caristo pesky at the back.
Coming off a rest, they should be too sharp for the reigning champions who are having a devil of a season.
Ouyen United’s title defence is all but over after the team they beat in last year’s final, Wentworth, downed them for a second time this term last week to reduce their record to 2-8 and have them sitting alone at the bottom of the table.
Coach Kyra Nathan must be running out of ideas as to how to rally the Kangas for a highly unlikely late finals push.
Nathan, Tsharni Burns, Megan Jardine, Catherine Brown and Ellen Morrish have been solid performers, but their efforts just haven’t been able to reap positive results.
PREDICTION: Swallows by 17 goals
