One side furiously pressing its weapons to the grindstone is Tallygaroopna, with the reigning premier’s road to the pointy end of the season more precarious than most.
The Redlegs have showdowns with three sides inside the finals bracket starting this weekend with Nagambie, and are hell bent on shaking a slight fickle patch of form.
Fiona Down’s side went five games unbeaten at the start of the season, but has dropped two matches in the following five, most recently losing out to Dookie United 54-47 in a pulsating grand final rematch.
“It was a really good game actually, it was nice to have a strong hit-out with another side. Dookie are always great to have a game against,” Down said.
“We knew it was going to be a tough game and I thought we really stuck with them.
“It was probably more about us not converting our opportunities and Dookie were able to execute.
“At the end of the day that’s what it came down to ― it was nothing either team was doing wrong, the pressure was really good, but every opportunity Dookie got they were able to convert.”
Nagambie sidles alongside Tallygaroopna on 32 points, but the Redlegs hold a much superior percentage.
The Lakers produced a 10-goal triumph over Avenel in round 10, scoring their fourth win on the bounce following a 51-46 loss to Girgarre in round six.
It’s a simple equation this weekend: the winner joins the top four and the loser exits.
Skilled defender Bree Giles will not feature for Tallygaroopna while overseas and, with a number of niggles amongst the squad, Down anticipates the clash to be fought hammer and tong at Nagambie.
“I think it’s going to be another tough game coming up on Saturday,” she said.
“We always have a good tussle against Nagambie, there’s always that little bit of rivalry too.
“It’s going be another opportunity for us to work through some systems and have another good strong game under our belt.”
Analysing the season, Down was buoyant when referencing her side’s situation as the premiership defence begins to ramp up.
The Tallygaroopna leader relished the challenge of a demanding final few rounds, ensuring she’d rather have it that way than simply meandering into the business end of the competition.
“At times it’s a bit of a challenging season with the competition, sometimes you’re faced with a strong team early and then not for a little while and then you might get a couple in a row,” she said.
“But it’s really nice to have some tough games in the last six weeks of the season which is where we’re at.
“We’ve got Nagambie, then we’ve got Gig and then Dookie again, so some really strong games still to play yet, which is good.”
In other matches, Violet Town hosts Rushworth, Undera travels to Lancaster and Girgarre welcomes Avenel.
Dookie United and Longwood face off, Merrigum plays Shepparton East and Murchison-Toolamba goes toe-to-toe with Stanhope.
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