South Mildura v Red Cliffs
Mildura Sporting Precinct, 2.30pm
IN Saturday’s collision of top six sides, the clash between the Bulldogs and Tigers has the most at stake.
Red Cliffs, in fifth, are only two points ahead of late charging South Mildura and would drop out of the top five with a loss while defeat would mean the end of the season for the Dogs.
The Tigers looked comfortably in the five a few weeks back but have since staggered and their plight was exacerbated by a 35-goal loss at Quandong Park against unbeaten Wentworth last week.
Red Cliffs could find no answers to the onslaught despite the gallant efforts of goal defence Taniel Willmott and midcourter Megan Milburn.
In their round nine encounter, the Tiges battled their way to a 12-goal home win, but they are facing a different South outfit this time around.
In an up-and-down season featuring strings of losses followed by winning streaks, the Bulldogs are riding high with three wins in a row including an impressive two-goal upset of top-three hopefuls Irymple at the Henshilwood Reserve courts last Saturday afternoon.
South fell behind early but kept clawing away thanks to veteran defender Sharne Laine and Macey Andriske and young teen Emma Mottram in the shooting zone.
A win would push them into the five with a round to play, but that last clash is at Wentworth while Red Cliffs have a far less daunting task at home against Merbein.
PREDICTION: Tigers by three goals
Mildura v Wentworth
Brian Weightman Oval courts, 12pm
THE top two sides collide on Saturday in what looks like a grand final preview.
Wentworth have hardly been tested all season on their way to a 14-0 record while Mildura have locked up second on the ladder with a 10-3-1 mark.
The Demons traipsed out to Wenty in round nine full of optimism but were given a reality check in a 25-goal defeat.
They have gone on a six-game winning streak since then and, on their home court and with talent to burn at both ends of the court through switching forwards/defenders Ava Zadow and Jess McNamara, defensive lynchpin Sharon Watson and young shooter Ashleigh Morello, should be quietly confident of pulling off an upset.
A strong away win at fellow finalists Robinvale Euston last week would have also boosted their hopes, but this is Wentworth we are talking about.
Few teams have gotten within 15 goals of the Roos, who are rampaging through the season and towards a title they felt they should have won last year after an unbeaten run to the grand final.
Playing coach Amanda Edwards is a scoring machine nearing an incredible 700 regular season goals on a team which dominates all over the court.
Courtney Wakeland and Natalie Vercher are as good as it gets in defence and Molly Mangan, Ashlee Cameron and Christie Becker are midcourt terrors.
PREDICTION: Roos by 18 goals
Robinvale Euston v Irymple
John James Oval courts, 12pm
THE Eagles and Swallows will wage a fierce fight for the double chance on Saturday.
An away win for Irymple would see them grab that prized position as Robinvale Euston’s regular season campaign ends. If they can defend their nest, they will stay third and have a nice break before playing Mildura in the qualifying final.
Last week they were beaten on their home court by that same opponent – 70-55.
Midcourters Georgie Kelly and Belle Giofrelle held their own and Sarah Hepburn (30 goals) and Georgia Giofrelle (25) were reliable targets, but they just couldn’t stop the Demons from scoring at the other end.
Irymple also suffered a home defeat; surprisingly falling to South Mildura by two goals after being ahead in the early running.
Winger Sophie Price was in fine form along with defender Kasey Caristo, but turnovers and wayward shooting ultimately cost them dearly.
They end their regular season against slumping Imperials next week but would prefer to wrap up the double chance this Saturday.
PREDICTION: Eagles by four goals
Merbein v Imperials
Compound Accounting Park, 12pm
THE one game that doesn’t count for much this weekend – except for pride – sees Imperials venture west to Merbein.
Both teams were in the finals race halfway through the season but have lost momentum down the final straight.
Imps arrested their slide down the table with a five-goal win over bottom side Ouyen United last weekend.
Centre Tracey Sherlock was again a standout for the team in green while Maggie Monaghan was stout in defence and Meg McManus couldn’t stop scoring on her way to 36 goals.
Imperials are obviously looking for things to build upon for 2026 and they have put some blocks in place for that campaign.
The Magpies had last week off but before that put up a creditable performance against Wentworth at the George Gordon Oval courts, ‘only’ going down by 17 goals.
Sophie and Emily Gray, at centre and goal attack respectively, were among the Pies’ best along with shooter Aimee Geyer but, like Imps, the Pies are also looking ahead to next season.
PREDICTION: Imps by seven goals
