IT’S not the greatest game-day situation: knowing your whole season could be decided before you even hit the court.
Last week, South Mildura cracked the A Grade top five for the first time this year with an intense three-goal win over Red Cliffs at the ‘P’, which bumped the Tigers out of fifth.
But those positions could switch again tomorrow when Red Cliffs host Merbein while South face a far more daunting task a couple of hours later in a mid-afternoon clash at all-conquering Wentworth.
“We are hoping that Merbein can upset Red Cliffs,” South shooter and Mildura Golf Resort SNFL Netballer of the Week Sophie Fox said without giving up hope of pulling off the upset of the season and clinching a finals berth without outside assistance.
“Wentworth are really hard team and strong across the board,” said Fox, who switched with partner in crime Macey Andriske between shooter and attack, on her way to 16 goals in a low-scoring affair last week.
“It will be just a matter of us working together, as we have done over the second half of the season, and as long as we support each other, we are not too worried about the end result, to be honest.
“The last time we played them we had a good first quarter, so we just need to hold that for the whole game this time.”
The Bulldogs have been the most streaky side in the league but have hit a purple patch with three wins on the trot to give them another shot at finals action.
“The team this year has definitely had a bit of a change up with some young girls coming in and it took us a while working out how to play together,” the 26-year-old St Joseph’s College teacher said.
“Our team has a huge range of ages … some are at school, some have families and some work, but in the latter part of the season we have been able to come together and work on some more specific things and that has really helped.
“We’ve got some good connections happening through the court and the coach (Tara Bate) has said throughout the year she is really happy with our disposition on the court whether we win or lose.”
South will know exactly where they stand before playing at 2.30 tomorrow. Something Fox, who has scored 225 goals this season, is not all that thrilled about.
“We will know the result of the Red Cliffs and Merbein game before we hit the court. I’d rather not know,” she said.
Fox is the Mildura Golf Resort SFNL Netballer of the Week for round 17. She receives a $150 voucher for the Mildura Golf Resort.
