Tricky year: Kelsey Pallpratt and Benalla have had an up and down year in A-grade (Photo: Rechelle Zammit).
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Rechelle Zammit
It is shaping up to be another action packed weekend of Goulburn Valley League A-grade netball, with a number of competitive games in prospect.
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In the second week of the round 13 split round, Tatura will welcome Benalla in what is sure to be an exciting contest.
The duo have not met since round two, where Benalla picked up a tight 41-33 win, and while much has changed since that day, Saturday afternoon’s clash is sure to be close.
Benalla coach Kellie Keen said she was unsure how the Saints would shape up after a week off.
“It’s a week-to-week proposition,” she said.
Keen explained that with players in Melbourne and Bendigo, the side had been unable to train as a whole group this season.
“As a coach it is very frustrating, and you can’t be very competitive when you can’t get together as a group to work on things from the previous week,” she said.
“It’s just a matter of the girls going out and enjoying the last six weeks.”
Keen said the Saints had been competitive in plenty of games this season; however, had failed to string four quarters together against top-quality teams.
“It was competitive last time (against Benalla) and I don’t see why it would be any different this time around,” she said.
“They’ve got quality players and we just have to make sure that we go out there and play four consistent quarters of netball and see what happens.”
Sally Washfold will be one to watch for Benalla, with the attacker playing well all year, while defensive option Chloe Hill “always puts in 100 per cent”.
For Tatura, Steph Smith-Gorrie, Elsie Boyer and Molly Kennedy are sure to stand out, with Fiona Boyer’s side aiming to finish the season strong.
Future star: Shepparton Swans’ Harriet Gall is showing plenty of promise (Photo: Megan Fisher).
Photo by
Megan Fisher
In one of the weekend’s other games, the ladder-leading Seymour will travel to Princess Park to take on the Shepparton Swans.
Despite facing an injury crisis, Swans coach Courtney Simpson said she was proud of the way her side had shown grit and resilience this season.
“We’re just really blessed with some depth within our group, which has been great, and some incredibly talented juniors that are stepping up into our A/B squad and really doing a fabulous job and helping us fill the gaps,” Simpson said.
“We have been hit really hard by injury; the flip side is the opportunity we’ve been able to provide our juniors and younger girls.
“And every opportunity they get they impress, and they are certainly coming to that level.”
These talented juniors include under-17s Emelia Mercuri and Harriet Gall, while Ella Knightly has also been involved in the A-grade side.
The Swans’ young brigade will be prominent in the squad on the weekend and Simpson said she expected it to be a tough game against Seymour.
“Our goal is certainly still finals,” she said.
“It’s definitely achievable and certainly mathematically achievable but these next six games we’ve got to put together probably at least four wins if not five.”
Elsewhere, Rochester will play host to Mansfield.
Both the Tigers and the Eagles have had a difficult year on the court; however, supporters can expect an exciting game of netball.
With the season drawing to a close both sides will be aiming to finish the season strong, and with the teams yet to face each other neither will know what to expect.
All of this weekend’s round 13 GVL games will begin at 2:15pm.
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