WEEK 2 FINALS NETBALL PREVIEW | Kangaroos face Demons’ fire on netball court
THE unbeaten Kangaroo Flat will face a fired-up Sandhurst in the Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL’s A-grade netball second semi-final on Saturday.
At stake in the match at Queen Elizabeth Oval is being first to the grand final.
The Kangaroos and Dragons showdown will start at 3.20pm.
Last season’s runner-up, Kangaroo Flat has dominated many matches across the ’25 campaign.
The Jayden Cowling-coached Kangaroo Flat won the fourth round match with Sandhurst at the QEO by 10 goals.
In round 11 the Kangaroos dominated on their court in Dower Park to record a 63-48 victory.
As the Roos had a rest on the first weekend of the finals the Tamara Gilchrist-coached Sandhurst won the qualifying final against Gisborne by 11 goals.
There will be many crucial match-ups in the Kangaroos and Dragons clash.
A formidable mid-court for Kangaroo Flat is led by dual Betty Thompson medallist and Bendigo Strikers captain Chelsea Sartori.
In attack the Roos have Ruby Barkmeyer to capitalise on the team’s slick movement in all thirds of the court.
The experience of Abbey and Ashley Ryan, and Alicia McGlashan is a huge plus for the Kangaroos.
Key players for Sandhurst include Rebecca Smith, Meg Williams, captain Sophie Shoebridge and Ruby Turner.
The team in maroon and blue also has the “big game” experience provided by Kelsey Meade and Heather Oliver.
Kangaroo Flat:
Abbey Ryan, Ruby Barkmeyer, Teal Hocking, Ashley Ryan, Chelsea Sartori, Milly Wicks, Stephanie Greene, Ingrid Hopkins, Alicia McGlashan, Megan Wilson.
Coach: Jayden Cowling.
Sandhurst:
Sophie Shoebridge, Heather Oliver, Kelsey Meade, Rebecca Smith, Kelsey Ralph, Meg Williams, Shae Clifford, Ruby Turner, Darcy Williams.
Coach: Tamara Gilchrist.
On Sunday it will be Gisborne and South Bendigo fighting to stay in the premiership race.
The first semi-final between the Bulldogs and Bloods will start at 3.20pm.
It’s one-all in this season’s meetings between the teams.
The reigning premier marked a 51-35 victory against South Bendigo in round two at Gisborne’s Gardiner Reserve.
The Lauren Bowles-coached South Bendigo stunned the Bulldogs in a 51-49 victory in round nine at Kennington’s Harry Trott Oval.
Gisborne tipped off another finals campaign by meeting Sandhurst in last Saturday’s qualifying final.
The Tarryn Rymer-coached Bulldogs were beaten 46-35.
The following day South Bendigo marked a return to A-grade finals by dominating the elimination final with Eaglehawk.
Gun goalshooter Gabe Richards was in superb form as the red and white won 59-38.
A highlight of the elimination final will be the likely duel between Richards and Gisborne’s ace defender Zoe Davies.
Both were team-mates in the Bendigo Strikers run to the finals in this season’s Victorian Netball League championship action.
Players to watch for Gisborne include Torie Skrijel, Kirby Elliott, Charlee Kemp and Claudia Mawson.
The South Bendigo line-up includes Bridgette Furphy, Tegan Elliston, Ella Flavell and Andrea Wilson.
Gisborne:
Torie Skrijel, Claudia Mawson, Sheridan Townrow, Emerson Lakey, Amity Drayton, Kirby Elliott, Zoe Davies, Charlee Kemp, Demi Young.
Coach: Tarryn Rymer.
South Bendigo:
Gabrielle Richards, Bridgette Furphy, Kyla Byrne, Andrea Wilson, Tegan Elliston, Maggie Burke, Hayley Harrington, Ella Flavell, Lauren Bowles, Isabel Coutts, Sarah Nash.
Coach: Lauren Bowles.
In the A-reserve competition, Kangaroo Flat takes on Sandhurst in Saturday’s second semi-final at 1pm.
The Kangaroos beat the Dragons in the home-and-away series by five and 12 goals.
Sandhurst won last Saturday’s qualifying final against Gisborne by seven goals.
The Gisborne line-up will be determined to bounce back when it plays South Bendigo in Sunday’s first semi-final at 1pm.
The Bloods marked a 50-37 victory against Strathfieldsaye in the elimination final.
Massive test for the Bloods as Gisborne won the showdowns in the home-and-away series by 11 and 26 goals.
It will be Gisborne against Kangaroo Flat in the B-grade second semi-final at 12.40pm.
The Roos won the qualifying final against South Bendigo by 13 goals.
Gisborne will start favourite as it defeated the Roos by 13 and 19 goals in their matches played in rounds one and eight.
On Sunday it will be South Bendigo against Strathfieldsaye in the first semi at 12.40pm.
Storm dominated the elimination final to beat Sandhurst by 19 goals.
It’s one-all in this season’s meetings between South Bendigo and Strathfieldsaye.
The Bloods began the season by winning the round one match with Storm at Harry Trott Oval in Kennington by nine goals.
In round eight Storm marked a 52-44 win against the and white at Triple M Park in Tannery Lane.
Gisborne will take on Kangaroo Flat in the B-reserve second semi-final.
The Bulldogs and Kangaroos will be on court from 11.20m.
As Gisborne had a rest last weekend, Kangaroo Flat scored a 41-34 victory against Sandhurst in the qualifying final.
The Bulldogs have beaten the Roos by six and 21 goals this season.
Sandhurst and South Bendigo will contest the first semi-final from 11.20am on Sunday.
The Bloods won a thrilling elimination final with Strathfieldsaye by three goals.
Huge challenge for South Bendigo as South won the round five match on the Bloods’ court by 15 goals and then scored a 51-23 at the QEO in the 12th round.
Second semi-final day will start with the 17-and-under match between Sandhurst and Golden Square at 10am.
These teams met three times across the home-and-away series.
Sandhurst won on Golden Square’s court in Wade Street in round three by three goals.
The Dragons then won 48-44 in the 10th round at the QEO.
Most recent meeting was the 15th round which went the way of the Bulldogs, 41-40 in Wade Street.
Golden Square scored a 41-38 victory against Strathfieldsaye in the qualifying final last Saturday.
The first semi-final on Sunday at 10am will feature Strathfieldsaye against Gisborne.
A 45-40 victory in the elimination final against Kangaroo Flat kept Gisborne in the premiership race.
Back in round three, Strathfieldsaye surged to a 48-28 win on Gisborne’s court.
Storm won a closely-fought contest in the 10th round, 50-46 at Triple M Park.
The round 15 match at Gisborne went the way of Storm by 10 goals.
