MAKE OR BREAK CLASH FOR STORM, HAWKS
BY KIERAN ILES
BENDIGO TIMES
CRUNCH time arrives for BFNL A-grade netball finals aspirants Strathfieldsaye and Eaglehawk this Saturday.
Entering their round 12 clash at Tannery Lane, it’s clear that only one of the Storm or Hawks will play finals this season, given South Bendigo’s mid-season resurgence that has yielded three wins in a row, headlined by a stirring two-goal triumph over reigning premier Gisborne in round nine.
The Hawks have put themselves in the box seat, six points ahead of the Storm with five rounds remaining.
Complicating the equation, the two clubs have a different number of games to play.
Following their clash against the Storm, Eaglehawk plays just twice in the final four rounds - against ladder leader Kangaroo Flat and second-placed Sandhurst.
The Storm will back-up against Kangaroo Flat, before ending the season with clashes against third-placed Gisborne and bottom-of-the-ladder Golden Square, following a bye in round 14.
Wins against the Hawks on Saturday and in round 18 against Golden Square, which the Storm have beaten twice already this season, could land them in fifth spot at just the right time.
Appraising her side’s finals prospects, first-year Storm playing coach Jess Mangan conceded it was a case of ‘now or never’ against Eaglehawk.
“Our goal always has been to try and make a finals game,” she said.
“We knew that we probably weren’t going to be in that top three this season, or even next season. Our club is playing the long game, trying to develop our juniors and bringing them up.
“But if we were able to get into a finals game and get a bit more experience dealing with a finals game, that would be great.
“The focus is all on this next one.”
The Storm are taking heart in their earlier season effort against Eaglehawk, with the Hawks only narrowly coming out on top by four goals at Canterbury Park.
It was the latest in a run of fiercely contested and mostly close clashes between the two clubs.
The Storm defeated the Hawks by six goals in their first meeting last season, before the Hawks exacted their revenge with a 13-goal victory later in the year.
Eaglehawk ultimately won the one that counted most, notching up a five-goal victory in the teams’ elimination final showdown.
Mangan insists the Storm’s fate against the Hawks is in their own hands.
“Honestly, last time, it was all little things that we did that counted against us, so we’ve worked really hard on our own offence and just taking our time,” she said.
“We were good at getting stops. We’ve always been good at causing turnovers against other teams, but we need to make sure we take that breath and convert and not rush things.
“If we focus on doing our little things well, it will really help us to be successful.
“It’s a big game for us – hopefully the break does everyone good.”
Hellbent on guiding the Hawks to finals in her first season at the helm at Canterbury Park, coach Jannelle Hobbs sees the Storm as both an obstacle and opportunity for her side.
“It was close last time – they are a much-improved team,” she said.
“There is a lot riding on it, but the girls know we have got to do to win this one.
“We feel like we belong in the top five, but we do have to get this win to prove it.
“Once you are in (finals), you never know what can happen.”
Despite the void left by Lucy Morcom’s absence through injury, Hobbs is largely pleased with the Hawks’ progress this season, in particular the development of young midcourter Eden Clifford and wing defence Darcey Lloyd, and Abbey McLean’s efforts in filling the breach at goal attack.
At wing attack, Gracie Berryman has enjoyed a remarkably consistent season.
“The girls are learning a lot … I’ve brought in a lot of new ideas that we are still trying to grasp,” Hobbs said.
“But I’m happy with where we are at.
“The experience Allira (captain Allira Holmes) has brought has helped the young girls. She’s been fantastic as a leader on court.
“They are good bunch of girls; they want to learn and go forward as far as they can.
“It’s a tough end to the season; two byes, Sandhurst and Kangaroo Flat, but we can’t do much about it.
“We’ll just focus on what we can do.”
In other games, Sandhurst stands in the way of South Bendigo’s bid for four straight wins at the QEO, while top-of-the-ladder Kangaroo Flat clashes with Golden Square at Wade Street.
REMAINING GAMES
EAGLEHAWK (3-6-1): v Strathfieldsaye (away); bye; v Sandhurst (away); v Kangaroo Flat (away); bye.
STRATHFIELDSAYE (2-8): v Eaglehawk (home); v Kangaroo Flat home); bye; v Gisborne (away); v Golden Square (home)
