PREMIUM
Sport

KDL | Eighth spot up for grabs in A-grade action

author avatar
Hands up if you want to play finals: Murchison-Toolamba’s coach Sharne Milne said her side would leave nothing in the tank this weekend. Photo by Aydin Payne

Go out there and leave nothing left in the tank will be the motto for four A-grade outfits on Saturday.

After 15 rounds of the Kyabram District League season, the make-up of the final eight is still up in the air.

Lancaster is the club that holds the highly-sought-after eighth spot, with three clubs all chasing to replace the Wombats.

Lancaster is in the box seat with six wins, while Murchison-Toolamba, Girgarre and Avenel are breathing down its neck with five wins to their names.

Murchison-Toolamba sits ninth and is one of the in-form sides in the competition following two strong wins.

The Grasshoppers take on Merrigum, an outfit who defeated them by one goal in round 13, in what shapes up as one of the must-watch games in round 16.

Playing coach Sharne Milne, speaking after last week's win over Stanhope, said her Grasshoppers would give it everything they had on Saturday.

"We'll leave nothing out there (next week)," she said.

"It was a close match last time and they beat us by one goal. We just couldn't play four quarters.

"We learnt a lot from that game and we know where we are at and I'm expecting another very tight match."

Meanwhile, Nagambie gets another crack at knocking off ladder-leader Shepparton East.

The second placed Lakers suffered a disappointing 31-53 defeat last month.

Nagambie coach Katie Sullivan said her side was focused squarely on what they could control.

“It was more ourselves (that caused the loss), they certainly played a great game but we certainly didn’t play anywhere near our best netball,” she said.

“In these games leading into finals you certainly need to bring your best, so it is more about what we can do and focusing on what we know we didn’t do as a team against them last time and trying to rectify it.

“We won’t be playing (Shepparton East) first up in the finals, but we know they are the benchmark of the competition, so it is nice to get one last hit-out against them.

“It gives us another look at how they like to play and a chance to get our match-ups right.”

Sullivan added that the Lakers would relinquish any pressure on themselves as they prepared for a qualifying final against Tallygaroopna.

“There is no pressure on us, I don’t think any results this weekend will change our position on the ladder, we will finish in second or third and we already know it will be us and Tally playing in that first final,” Sullivan said.

“So this one would just be for our mindset really, obviously last time we stuck with them for the first half but then our second half was terrible, so getting to play them so soon and so close to finals is a great thing.”

Around the courts, Girgarre must win on Saturday to have any chance of playing finals.

The Roos began the season slow out of the blocks but have recouped thanks to player availability.

Girgarre hits the road on Sunday to play 12th-ranked Longwood.

Lancaster, who holds on to the precious eighth spot, has its future in its hands.

A win will shut the door on the challengers and ensure the Wombats play finals.

But top four talent Dookie United stands in Lancaster's way.

Avenel is another who is chasing a finals berth but takes on fifth-ranked Violet Town.

Lastly, Rushworth and Undera will aim to finish the year on a high, while finals-bound Stanhope faces a stern test against Tallygaroopna.