Hawks, Storm primed for high-stakes showdown

JUST one goal separated Eaglehawk and Strathfieldsaye when they last met at Canterbury Park earlier in the season.

While crucial at the time, the stakes will be even higher when the pair clash at Tannery Lane this Saturday.

This battle, more than any, has the potential to decide the one likely finals vacancy, with Kangaroo Flat, Sandhurst and Gisborne all secure, and South Bendigo needing only a win over Broadford this week to lock its spot in.

It won’t by any means be the last chance for either side, but with the Hawks, currently fifth, and Storm (sixth) locked together on five wins apiece, it will be a valuable leg-up.

The Hawks will go in with momentum with four wins in their past six games, including a one-goal thriller in round 11 over fellow aspirant Golden Square, which remains an outside chance of making finals, albeit with four tough games to come against Kangaroo Flat, South Bendigo, Strathfieldsaye and Gisborne after this weekend’s bye.

As pleasing as those wins were, it was a creditable 12-goal loss to undefeated Kangaroo Flat a fortnight ago that coach Jannelle Hobbs believes was the real turning point in their season.

“The girls were awesome that day – we were within five (goals) in the last quarter,” she said. “It (the margin) only went out to a bit over 10 in the last few minutes.”

The Hawks continued their good form with a stirring 75–60 win over South Bendigo last weekend, with Hobbs grateful to finally have an ‘injury-free’ team at her disposal.

“We had a few niggles early in the season, but we’ve just got everyone right,” she said.

 

“We didn’t have Mia (goaler Mia McCrann-Peters) for a few games, or only had her for parts of games.

“Her and Chloe Langley are combining beautifully at the moment; Ella (Flavell) and Gracie (Berryman) have really got the hang of each other and our defensive end is combining really well too.

“We pushed Flat, so I was really confident going in against South Bendigo. The girls really played well.

“We got some good ball off Gabe (South Bendigo goal shooter Gabe Richards) and the girls made it count.

“Mia and Chloe shot at a very high percentage, which always helps.

“It was good to see Mia back playing her smooth, skilful netball, but it was a top effort over all.”

A model of consistency for the Hawks, Morgan Keating was again a standout at wing defence.

Hobbs said her side would be desperate to atone for its one-goal loss to the Storm in round 3, a game that they led by as much as eight goals and had their noses in front of until the final minute.

 

“It’s one that got away and had we won it, we’d be in the box seat (for finals) right now,” she said.

“But we’ve moved on.

“We realise how important these games are with a bit of a logjam at that point of the ladder.

“I feel we’ve found some real four-quarter consistency since then and the girls are playing with confidence and enjoying their netball.

“In the past we’ve had those drops in play and been really up and down; the last few weeks we’ve played four good quarters of netball.

“We’re definitely hitting our straps at the right time, which is pleasing.”

The Storm, who have gone 2–4 in the same period as the Hawks went 4–2, will be bolstered by the returns of playing coach Jess Mangan and sister Rachelle after a stint away.

Interim coach Steph Freemantle said while their absence, which was planned well ahead of the start of the season, and other player unavailability had presented some challenges for the Storm, they had done well to stay in contention, their hopes boosted by a 44–38 win over Castlemaine last weekend.

“We’ve also had four or five of our under-17 girls injured, which has meant we haven’t been able to bring them up either,” she said.

“It’s been pretty tricky.

“Saying that, (a fortnight ago) we had Chloe Tweed play and she did a great job, and (last week) Sophie McDermott was back from injury, so we gave her a run in A-grade and she was in the best, so that was exciting.”

 

Often featuring in the shooting circle, the versatile McDermott filled a void at goal defence and performed outstandingly, while Brooke Mangan was the steady head and calming influence the Storm needed as the Magpies surged in the final quarter.

Heading into Saturday’s must-win clash level on wins with the Hawks, but with a game in hand, Freemantle said it was “make or break”.

“We’re very aware of just how important it is and the girls are focused on that,” she said.

“We want to be in the finals.

“The girls themselves have taken on the responsibility of getting to training Tuesday and Thursday and putting the effort in that is needed.

“They are eager to get a win.

“It would be disappointing to miss out – we have sat in fifth most of the year.

“It has been hard having Jess and Shell away, but that was always part of this year’s plan.

“I do think we are the fifth best team, but it’s up to us this Saturday to prove it by being at our best.”

Round 13 results:

Broadford lost to Kangaroo Flat 16–106; Eaglehawk defeated South Bendigo 75–60; Golden Square lost to Sandhurst 49–70; Castlemaine lost to Strathfieldsaye 38–44; Gisborne bye.