Sport
5 September, 2024
Demons, Saints expecting another 'super fierce contest' | WFNL finals
Each side claimed a win over their local rivals during the season.
WFNL Finals
Netball
Respective coaches Ebonie Salter and Jess Cannane are confident in their sides' preparation as Horsham faces the Horsham Saints in the WFNL second qualifying final on Saturday, September 7.
The Demons will play its first match of the finals series after finishing minor premiers, whilst the Saints defeated Dimboola on August 31.
"It's really nice to be rewarded with being minor premiers, and we were able to have the week off. But now, we've got the next goal, which is to win on Saturday," Salter said.
"And that's what we're looking at, week by week at the moment."
There is excitement amongst Horsham's playing group in the lead-up to the Anzac Park clash, whilst nerves are a part of playing in big games.
"We're just working on channelling those nerves and really just enjoying the process," Salter said.
"We know where we've been playing well; we know that we've got the tools in our toolkit, and just looking forward to showing that."
Salter is interested in how the sides will match up in its third meeting of the year.
Horsham "didn't have the team we've been running with in the second half of the season" in round two, whilst the Saints were without sharpshooter Jorja Clode in round 11.
Salter believes her side's adaptability and full-court pressure hold them in good stead.
"We've been working on sticking with our game plan, and when things don't quite go our way, or if there are things out of our control like the weather, for instance, and adapting a bit quicker," Salter said.
"Our full-court pressure, which has really been our focus for the second half of the season, has really been able to get us over the line in some of those tougher matches and keep getting the margins on the board.
"We're expecting a really hard game. We need to earn every single goal that we get, and we need to try and stay with them in defence and stop as many opportunities as we can."
For Cannane, she believes that the uninterrupted court time in the lead-up to [and the first final] is an advantage.
"I think we've probably got a little bit of a leg up in that we've played consistently throughout, and we've played really good sides over the last three weeks," Cannane said.
"And we've had a little bit of exposure to potentially what the umpiring is going to be like. So I think we should be able to adjust and get into our game [quickly]."
The Saints will be out to continue where they left off against the Roos, with a continued emphasis on its "we versus me mentality".
"I think it's rinse and repeat, making sure that we control our game," Cannane said.
"[I expect] a super fierce contest that they're [Horsham are] hungry to win. They're fast; They get after the ball.
"They can score really quickly; I think it'll be a good hit out."
The two sides will battle in the 13 and 17 and under junior grades.
Horsham Saints face Ararat in the 15 and under.
Meanwhile, the senior netballers will match up in the B and C Reserve.
Horsham plays Stawell in C Grade.