The Netball EFL Season heats up as we enter the final five weeks of the season!
Much like the Senior Football, finals across the Netball EFL season will come right down to the wire. With 6 positions on offer we take a look at the run home for those competing for the coveted positions in finals.
Boronia Gold: 1st 10 wins 251.31% Key Games: Round 12 v Wantirna South, Round 15 v Croydon A true powerhouse of the competition, Boronia Gold, has taken each and every side by storm. Not only have they managed an unbeaten run, they also hold a percentage of above 200, such is their dominance. Their true test comes in the return game in Round 15 against Croydon, win that and they cement themselves as likely premiers in the inaugural season of Netball EFL. Croydon: 2nd 9 Wins, 2 Losses 192.61% Key Games: Round 12 v East Ringwood, Round 13 v Mitcham, Round 15 v Boronia Gold The side slumped to its second defeat with a shock loss to Coldstream White two weeks ago, The Blues have the toughest run home and if they aren’t on their game there is a potential to slip places with Mitcham and East Ringwood hot on their trail. Croydon will need to ensure they come to play each Friday night as they will play most sides inside the Top 6 in the run home.
Mitcham: 3rd 8 Wins, 3 Losses 197.58% Key Games: Round 13 v Croydon, Round 14 v Wantirna South The Tigers challenged ladder leaders Boronia Gold a couple of weeks back, pushing them for three quarters before the Hawks pulled away, they have shown their best netball is good enough but just haven’t been there when the whips are cracking. A win over Croydon would shake the competition up and could possibly push them into second spot on the ladder.
East Ringwood: 4th 8 Wins, 3 Losses 127.44% Key Games: Round 12 v Croydon, Round 13 v Blackburn, Round 16 v Boronia Gold The Roo’s have put themselves into an attacking position, realistically they are safe in terms of making finals but have a couple of games against sides around them in the run home that can shape the top 6. Croydon and Boronia Gold in the final five weeks, most would see as a tough ask, for East Ringwood, challenging themselves with the best will give them an indication of exactly where they are at. Wantirna South: 5th 6 Wins, 5 Losses 106.99% Key Games: Round 12 v Boronia Gold, Round 15 v East Ringwood Probably the toughest draw of any side on the final few weeks, they will come up against four sides above them on the ladder, meaning they will need to be on their toes from this week onwards in order to hold their spot against the chasing Blackburn. It is going to come down to the final few rounds of the year for Wantirna South who from all reports could still play their hand, three wins will cement their position in the finals, any more than that and they may be hunting down Ringwood and East Ringwood in the coming weeks.
Blackburn: 6th 5 Wins, 6 Losses 137.59% Key Games: Round 12 v Norwood, Round 13 v East Ringwood The next month is crucial the Blackburn, they will need to beat at least three sides above them in the run home in order to take out Wantirna South or Ringwood. Percentage is also a factor, the Panthers have a better percentage than the three sides above them, however need to beat all three of those sides in the run home if they are to be considered a threat. On their night Blackburn have proven formidable, if they continue that run of form there is every chance we could see them in 6th or even 5th after Round 16.
Ringwood: 7th 5 Wins, 6 Losses 118.86% Key Games: Round 14 v Boronia Gold, Round 16 v Wantirna South Getting ahead of the ledger is the main concern for the Redbacks at the moment, they have the above three games aswell as three lower sides in the run home, if they can win one of the above games, against the run of traffic they will put themselves back in the hunt to be considered a contender. Expect the Redbacks to manage 3-4 wins on the run home, they have been a competitive side in 2014 and will challenge a few of the tops sides in the final few weeks of the year.
Norwood: 8th 4 Wins, 7 Losses 61.97% Key Games: Round 12 v Blackburn, Round 16 v Croydon A tough draw and a slim percentage don’t help Norwood’s case. They come into the final few rounds needing to win, effectively three more games than that of Blackburn and Wantirna South. They will play four sides inside the top half of the ladder including the two sides directly above them. Winning both those games will put them in the hunt, it is not just about winning for Norwood they need results to start going their way in other games. In the final month they play the top two and bottom two sides, status quo would have Norwood winning two of those games, including the two in the next couple of weeks, four wins in the last six weeks could see them sneak into finals contention late.
Predicted Ladder: 1- Boronia Gold 15-1 2- Croydon 13-3 3- Mitcham 12-4 4- East Ringwood 10-6 5- Ringwood 8-8 6- Wantirna South 8-8 7- Blackburn 7-9 8- Norwood 7-9