Lakers, Lions eager to bring their best

LAKE Wendouree coach Meg Porter has emphasised the importance of a full four quarter effort as her side heads into a top four showdown against Sunbury this Saturday.

Barring a North Ballarat loss to Sebastopol, third place on the ladder will be up for grabs when the Lions and Lakers clash at Clarke Oval.

Lake Wendouree, currently third, moved to 4-1-1 before the interleague break with a hard-fought but convincing 56-39 win over East Point, taking control of the game after quarter time.

Porter, in her first season as the Lakers A-grade coach, said a fast start and sustained effort were imperative to her side’s chances against a Lions team, gradually gaining in strength and momentum.

You’ve got to play the full hour .. that’s what it takes. You can’t afford not to,” Porter said when asked about the key to a Lakers victory.

“And you need to bring the pressure everywhere.

“It will be a great test of where we are at as a team.

“Until you play everyone, you don’t know where you sit.

“Sunbury have been missing some of their big guns some rounds, so you just need to be switched on and playing for as long as you possibly can.

“One-percenters will be crucial.”

Porter hailed the Lakers’ win over East Point as one of their more impressive ‘full-team’ efforts for the season and is hopeful of carrying that momentum into their clash with Sunbury.

Lions premiership coach Kim Bailey warned her side would need to bring their A-game against a youthful and dangerous Lakers.

“They’ve shown everyone they are a good side; and they’re young,” she said.

“They’re sitting third, which has been well-earned as every game is a tough game in the BFNL now.

“You’re always going to be pushed, no matter who.”

“It’s a bit of a crunch game in terms of the ladder.”

The Lions have been dealt a blow with confirmation Sarah Croft will miss the remainder of the season with a knee injury.

They have however regained Abigail Inglis, who featured in the Lions’ 18-goal round 6 win over Bacchus Marsh.

Bailey has inked in their round 10 grand final rematch against Darley as the starting point for high-profile recruit and Melbourne Mavericks training partner Ruby Shannon’s season.

“It’s been a disrupted start to the season, but we appreciate we’ll be stronger towards the second half of the year,” she said.

“You don’t win finals in May or June … and it’s nice to be the underdogs for once.

“No matter what team she is in, Ruby makes a massive difference, so we’ll patiently wait.

“We’ve still got Tayla Honey and Georgia Hellyer, so the midcourt is strong.”

In other games this weekend, sixth-placed Sebastopol hosts North Ballarat (second); Ballarat (fifth) and Bacchus Marsh (seventh) clash at Alfredton Recreation Reserve; Darley (top) plays Redan (eighth) at Darley Park; and East Point (ninth) and Melton (10th) will both chase their first win against each other at Eastern Oval.