By David Nagel

Either Mornington or Rosebud will take the biggest step yet towards winning this year’s Chisholm MPNFL Division One netball premiership when the Bulldogs and Buds battle for a huge prize at Alexandra Park.

The Thursday-night showdown between the top-two teams in the competition promises to be a beauty, with the winner to basically lock away top place on the ladder at season’s end.

The benefits that come with being the number-one ranked team are huge – with just two finals wins required, from a maximum of three games, to take home this year’s title.

The alternative – well there are absolutely no guarantees for the vanquished with quality teams like Edithvale-Aspendale, Sorrento and Dromana ready to make life extremely difficult indeed when the finals begin on Saturday, August 24.

The chance to elevate yourself above the rest…what a massive carrot for both teams!

The Bulldogs currently sit half-a-game clear in top spot and have relied heavily on stability across the court to get the job done. Jane Taylor and Brittany Archdeacon provide the scoring power, while Georgia Hunter (WD), Holly Hood (C) and Tess Haddock (WA) have made the midcourt positions their own.

Brittany Archdeacon will be a key player for Mornington in Thursday night’s top-of-the-table clash against Rosebud. 

Alex Newton and Candace Page have been the stabilisers in defence, while Tess Cooper is the versatile floater who can fill any void left by Hunter, Hood or Haddock. Cooper has spread her 41 quarters played this year evenly across the three midcourt posts and will no doubt play a key role again against the Buds.

Rosebud also has the flexibility to change things up when things get a little needy.

Sally Hunter and Jacqui Witt are the mainstays at the defensive end of the court, while Lauren Robinson (GS) and Courtney McLennan (WD) have also largely stayed put. But the Likes of Nicole Hadgkiss (GA/GD), Beth Leach (C, WD, WA), Millie McDermott (C, WA) and Emma White (GA/WA) can mix things up at the drop of a hat – and that’s what makes the Buds so dangerous.

This one will be an absolute cracker with the Bulldogs keen to repeat the seven-goal margin over the Buds in round six, while Rosebud will be out to make it a clean sweep of victories against all other teams in the competition.

It’s the Bulldogs to win a cracker by two goals.

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