Shepparton’s Goulburn Valley League A-grade netball finals fate is in its hands.
After a thrilling come-from-behind win over Shepparton Swans a fortnight ago, the Bears will look to carry their winning momentum into their final three home-and-away encounters this season.
That starts this weekend, when Echuca makes the trek to Deakin Reserve to take on Tracey Brereton’s side.
Sitting in sixth, Brereton said a win this weekend would do wonders for the Bears’ finals hopes.
Shepparton takes on Rochester and Benalla in the final two rounds, who are hot on their heels and eager for a slip-up.
“It’s a really big game against Echuca,” Brereton said.
“It doesn’t matter what players they’ve had in or out this season, they’ve been such a strong outfit for a number of years.”
“At the end of the day we’d love to win, but really most of all — we want a better performance than last time out.”
The last time the two sides met, the Murray Bombers dismantled a hapless Bears side 74-46.
Brereton herself wasn’t at the last game, with the Bears’ coach and a number of her players missing due to illness in the defeat.
“I wasn’t there last time, so it will be good for me to have a look at them (Echuca),” Brereton said.
“It was a fairly big margin in the loss, we’ll be playing to either win or come much closer than we did last time.”
“We were missing a few, but that’s no excuse. This time they’ve got to travel to us so any little one percenters will do.”
Brereton said her side had put itself in a favourable position after the Swans win, but it was now up to her side to get the job done.
“The next three weeks in a row are really important for us, this one, then Benalla and Rochester, if we win as many as we can it doesn’t matter what other teams do.
“On any given day, anyone can beat anyone and who’s to say that it isn’t our day on Saturday, I’ve got all faith in the girls to do what they need to do.”
The remaining split round matches this weekend see Benalla make the trip to Kyabram.
The season is quickly escaping the Saints, and if they stand any chance of playing finals netball, a win this weekend is almost a non-negotiable.
Kellie Keen’s side will take on Shepparton next weekend, before a clash with Euroa rounds out their campaign.
Meanwhile, Mooroopna makes a trip to the High Country to take on Mansfield.
With a number of the Cats’ VNL stars set to return this weekend, last-placed Mansfield will hope to produce a competitive performance against a rampant Mooroopna side.
The Cats find themselves in third after a hugely impressive four-point win over Seymour last time out.
Two top-six clashes against Euroa and Echuca will round out the Cats’ season, as they look to secure a top four finish.