Netball
10 June, 2024
Saints on track to defend title
At the halfway stage of the netball season in the Wimmera Football Netball League, there are no surprises with the expected top teams heading the charge at the top of the ladder, with the Saints firmly cementing themselves as flag favourites.
The Horsham Saints are unbeaten and are looking well on track to defend their premiership from 2023. Horsham and Dimboola are on five wins apiece, a game behind and both teams believe they can win the premiership and it's going to be a great battle between all three teams in the second half of the season.
Nhill is having a good season meeting their expectations in fourth place, one win behind that duo. They will be looking to fine-tune their team in the second half of the season and hit the finals running.
Minyip Murtoa is currently occupying fifth spot with Stawell in sixth, both on three wins. After a slow start to the season, the Burras have found their chemistry and should be damaging in the second half of the season and should hit the finals with good momentum.
The Warriors can't be discounted from finals contention due to their ladder position, but if they are to play finals, they need to beat the Burras and the Tigers when they play them again.
The Southern Mallee Thunder are next with two wins and will look to add more in the second half of the season as they look to the future.
The two youngest teams in the competition, Warrack Eagles and Ararat, are sitting in eighth and ninth respectively with the Eagles on one win.
Ararat are starting to put together some good quarters of netball and a win is around the corner for them.
Jorja Clode is leading the way in goal shooting with 279 goals, 93 ahead of Horsham's Imogen Worthy in second place with 186. Burras Kirby Knight has shot 185 goals with Thunder's Steph Thomson and Roos Nicole Polycarpou rounding out the top five with 179 and 165 goals respectively.
The Hatcher Medal for the league best and fairest is an interesting proposition between three Saints players.
Last year's winner Abby Hallam is in contention, but leading the way would probably be Ashlee Grace through the centre who is having a better year than last year when she nearly won the award.
Maddison Bethune cannot be discounted either. The youngster should be leading the best under-21 award by a country mile at the moment and has been consistently one of their best players down in defence.
For Horsham, Imogen Worthy, Tahlia Thompson and Ebonie Salter have consistently been amongst their best, and one, or more will be in contention.
For Dimboola, mid-courter Maddison Mara and defender Bridget Dorringon will be leading their charge alongside shooter Nicole Polycarpou.
Ellen Bennett is having a terrific season in the centre for Nhill and should also be up there in contention.
Burras' Lauren Dodgshun is having a terrific season in defence and is leading their charge whilst Warriors' Lisa Considine is having an excellent season in the centre.
Whilst players from the following teams won't feature at the pointy end, they need to be named as having excellent seasons for their respective clubs.
For the Thunder, Abby White has been their best, most consistent player this year down in defence whilst Codie Robins has been good through the midcourt.
Ashlynn McKenzie has been the best player for the Eagles through the first half of the season and is leading the way through the centre.
For Ararat, Laney McLoughlan and Ayva Mitchell have been outstanding up forward and are leading the Rats charge.