MILDURA moved within a win of locking up the A Grade netball finals double chance with an emphatic 27-goal victory over South Mildura on an unseasonably warm day at the Brian Weightman Oval courts at the weekend.
But, for all intents and purposes, the Demons already have it sealed with a two-and-a-half edge over third-placed Robinvale Euston and three over Irymple, in fourth, and those sides meet in the penultimate round of the regular season.
“I don’t have a single complaint,” Dees co-coach Ava Zadow said of her side’s pleasant day out in the sun.
“This season’s been a little bit hairy and you never know what’s going to happen on the day. We had to come out hard at the start today, which I think we did a really good job of.
“I am happy with how we are going and excited to see the rest of the season,” she said after the red-and-blue’s fifth win in a row.
In another all-round effort, the best nods could have gone to any number of Demons, but a veteran and a youngster claimed the honours.
“Best on was given to Sharon (Watson) and Caitlyn Adamson, who had a great game today at centre, she’s continually improving and really finding her feet,” Zadow said of the evergreen defender and emerging mid-courter.
“Ash (Morello) was also very good and has improved so much. Her confidence has really gone through the roof… it’s awesome to see,” she said of the young goal shooter who scored 21 of the team’s 58 goals and got plenty of help up forward from Zadow (19) and the other co-coach, Jess McNamara (17).
The Demons get another week off before facing the team that beat them most recently, undefeated Wentworth, at home.
“I think the bye has come at a good time, particularly in the second half of the season as we all get pretty tired and fatigued,” Zadow said.
“We hope we can come out a bit better than we did last time,” she said of a 25-goal loss at the George Gordon Oval courts.
“We’ve grown so much over the season, and we just need to put that out on the court. They have got great players, but so do we.
“It’s just really important for us to stay calm and play our game.”
South Mildura coach Tara Bate believes if any team can threaten Wenty’s bid for the pennant, it’s Mildura.
“I believe they are the strongest challenger to Wentworth. They have got a really strong team and some great players,” Bate said after another tough loss which all but ended the Bulldogs’ finals hopes.
South held their own in the first quarter and only trailed by three but were blown out in the second as the hosts piled on 21 goals to the Doggies’ 10.
“I just said to the girls we need to work on those passes,” the coach said of her half-time address.
“Unfortunately, that’s what let us down… we just made some bad decisions.”
Things got little better after the big break and Bate concedes her side is basically playing for pride the rest of the season.
“I think we are just playing out our season and figuring out the team moving forward and focusing on each game,” she said.
“Alyse (Ross) at wing attack was one of our best. She was strong through the midcourt and is kind of that unstoppable player, and Amy (Lutze) went from goals to the defensive end and nailed everything we needed her to do,” she said, of some rare bright spots for South Mildura.
