Yarrawonga has overcome the late loss of coach Bridget Cassar to maintain its slim minor premiership hopes.
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Cassar was ill as the home team rotated Abbey Jones and Gemma O’Sullivan through the crucial goal shooter position in the 60-37 win over Wodonga Raiders.
“’Bridg’ was a last-minute withdrawl but Gemma and Abbey did really well in there,” captain Annalise Grinter said.
“Not having a tall timber in there we really struggled last week, but this week we used our angles properly and fired the ball in really, really well.”
The premiers suffered their biggest loss in five years in round 15, falling to Albury by 14 goals.
Not having a tall timber in there we really struggled last week, but this week we used our angles properly and fired the ball in really, really well.
- Annalise Grinter
“I think the speed we moved the ball worked really well,” Grinter said.
“Raiders are a young side and it’s physical, it was probably what we needed before Lavington next week and into finals.”
Yarrawonga trails Lavington by six points, so it would need to upset the Panthers and then beat second-bottom Wodonga, but the Panthers face eighth-placed Raiders in the final round.
“I’m actually really thrilled with our girls, ‘Yarra’ is obviously a super opponent and we won one quarter and nearly drew that last quarter, so we’re just looking to small milestones,” Raiders’ coach Alison Leech said.
Yarrawonga blew the match apart in the opening stanza, racing to a 13-goal lead.
Jones was electric, finishing with 38 for the match, while O’Sullivan snared 22 to be named in the Pigeons’ best.
Hannah Symes made her return from illness and starred in defence.
Georgia Thomas was outstanding for the visitors in attack, posting 29 goals, while Courtney Hillier also played well.
Raiders have won four games and now face the sixth-placed Roos.