The equation is simple for the Bendigo Strikers 23-and-under team against Casey Demons this Sunday.<\/p>\n
Win and the Strikers play finals; lose and their finals fate won\u2019t be known until after next Wednesday night\u2019s round 18 clash against Hawks, one of four teams fighting for just two open finals vacancies.<\/p>\n
The Strikers, currently fifth at 9-7, will enter their clash against the seventh-placed Demons (7-7-2) one win ahead of their rival and also the eighth-placed Western Warriors (8-8).<\/p>\n
Their round 18 opponent Hawks are sixth at 8-8-1, having lost their chance to progress up the ladder with a 47-51 loss to North East Blaze on Wednesday night this week.<\/p>\n
The Warriors need a win over top side Geelong Cougars (13-1-2) this Sunday to remain in contention.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s opened the door for the Strikers to finally take control of their destiny, having missed their chances through a four-game losing streak, the latest a 64-71 loss to the Cougars last week.<\/p>\n
Boyer conceded there was a sense of urgency around Sunday\u2019s clash with so many teams in contention for just two open finals spots.<\/p>\n
\u201cI feel as though we are far from safe; we need to win these next couple of games, but you also want to be in that (winning) sort of form going into finals,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou can only take that as a good thing. It\u2019s a good rehearsal for a finals campaign.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo doubt Demons and Hawks both want our spot and we lost to Casey last time.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe absolutely need to make sure we don\u2019t let that happen again.\u201d<\/p>\n
A finals berth will be the Strikers\u2019 second in their three years in the competition, having qualified for the first time last season.<\/p>\n
The margin was eight goals the Demons way in their round 8 contest, with the Strikers missing star goal shooter Jorja Clode.<\/p>\n
Her importance can be gauged by a stellar 51-goal performance last week against the Cougars at 96.23 per cent accuracy (just two misses).<\/p>\n
She is averaging 42.2 goals per game in her last five appearances.<\/p>\n
Boyer could not the fault the effort of her side against Geelong and insisted a repeat would go a long way to setting them up against the Demons.<\/p>\n
\u201cGeelong played extremely well – just a great side,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut I thought we played well too. Geelong was just clinical from the start.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe were slow to get going, but unfortunately that costs you the game and has a few times this season.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was high-scoring \u2026 (135 goals) is a lot in an hour of netball, but it was great netball.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cJorja was strong and a great target in attack. She has had an extremely consistent season and has really enjoyed it.\u201d<\/p>\n
The margin at quarter time was eight, but only seven at game\u2019s end.<\/p>\n
Like the championship team, the 23s will enter Sunday\u2019s game at 2-2 in games played in Bendigo.<\/p>\n
Boyer hopes a return to familiar surrounds at Junortoun will brings out the best in her side.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe go in confident. We know we\u2019ve put a lot of work into it and whilst we didn\u2019t win against Geelong, we certainly played very well,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI feel we carry a bit of form into it and there\u2019s no reason why we can\u2019t come out with a win.<\/p>\n
\u201cHopefully there is a bit of noise and support around us playing at home.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sunday’s 23-and-under game starts at 1.10pm.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The equation is simple for the Bendigo Strikers 23-and-under team against Casey Demons this Sunday. Win and the Strikers play finals; lose and their finals fate won\u2019t be known until after next Wednesday night\u2019s round 18 clash against Hawks, one of four teams fighting for just two open finals vacancies. The Strikers, currently fifth at […]<\/p>\n