By David Nagel

Concentrating hard and simply getting the job done will be the key focus for the top-five teams in Chisholm MPNFL Division One this week when the gun netball sides take on the bottom half of the ladder.

The top-three, Rosebud, Mornington and Sorrento, will look to consolidate their hopes of a double chance, while Edi-Asp and Dromana will seek to keep the pressure on. The Eagles and Tigers have played one game less than the top three – but catch up next week with winnable games against Bonbeach and YCW respectively.

The most likely scenario is that just two games will separate the top five teams with six rounds remaining in the season. It’s going to be a tough, challenging, and hard road to the finish line!

A dizzy Edi-Asp will host at its fourth-different venue of the season when the Eagles welcome Pines to Bennet Street Dandenong on Thursday night.

The Eagles, who will be the proud owners of new courts in 2020, have relied on the generosity of Bonbeach, Pines, and Mordialloc College, to get it through to this point of the season. But that constant inconvenience hasn’t stopped the Eagles from being strong contenders to win a remarkable sixth-consecutive premiership.

The Eagles had a roller-coaster ride against Mornington last week in the game of the season that ended in a 39-all draw. A great first quarter saw the Eagles lead 12-6 before the Bulldogs fought back through the middle stages of the match to take a 35-31 lead at three-quarter time.

The last quarter was tight and intense, but the Eagles rallied strongly, scoring eight goals to four, to lock things away at the final whistle. Caris MacInnes (GK), Michelle Sanders (GD) and Christina Vickery (GD) showed their outstanding quality in the final exchanges, while Leah Percy (C) and Allie Carmona (WA) gave some great drive through the midcourt.

Edi-Asp defender Michell Sanders (GD) will look to keep the Pythons’ goalers under wraps on Thursday night. 

Pines will certainly have its hands full on Thursday night.

The Pythons broke a frustrating run of outs with a 31-27 victory over Mt Eliza last week that keeps their faint finals hopes alive. A slow start saw the Pythons trail by five at quarter time before a 9-4 second quarter rectified a dodgy situation.

Players like Samantha Gabriel (GS), Tarina Tiaiti (WA) and Akanisi Seeto (C) then lifted even further in the third quarter to ensure their team a solid four-goal victory.

But the Pythons will fall a little short this week – with the Eagles to win by an even dozen goals.

Full previews are now available for all Round 11 games in MPNFL Division One netball. Download the GameFace Record App to read this week’s previews.