As one of the most consistent players in the league, Grace is using that to drive her a bit and is not stopping anytime soon.

"It's frustrating, and it drives me a bit, knowing that for the last five years, I have been one of the most consistent players in the league," Grace said.

"It's great that I am always high up in the ranks, and hopefully, I get there one day, but I may be the person that never gets there."

The 26-year-old is consistently one of the best players on the court for the Saints. She provides excellent drive and great defence, having worked on that part of her game.

"This is up there as one of my better years. I feel fit and agile within the team, and I have good support," Grace said.

"I have tightened up in my defence against certain players that I know are influential down the court, and I stick together and work around them differently than I would have in the past."

As a senior member of the A-grade team and coach of the 17-and-under, her leadership and mentorship are invaluable.

"I feel privileged to coach and play with the younger players," Grace said.

"Hopefully, they can learn some maturity and netball etiquette and play their best netball, and if they do, I'm doing my job."

As for team success, the Saints lost their first game in over two years on July 7 against the Horsham Demons, and Grace said it wasn't a bad loss.

"Horsham played well on the day, so it's a huge credit to them, and I just think sometimes it isn't too bad to have a loss," Grace said.

"When you lose, you learn more about yourselves, and we take out what we can improve on, and with Jorja Clode coming back in a couple of weeks, we are confident about what we can do this season."

Bethune plays 17-and-under and backs it up with A-grade, just like she did in 2023, but there is one difference in 2024 - she has made a remarkable improvement and is turning into one of the best defenders in the league.

Bethune plays goal defence predominantly in both grades but occasionally plays goalkeeper or wing defence. She is enjoying her second year of A-grade.

"It's been really good this year, and all the girls are welcoming, and I am having a lot of fun," Bethune said.

"It's sometimes a bit hard playing both grades, but I get through it."

When asked who her toughest opponent has been, Bethune quietly pointed out the Horsham Demons, one of the flag favourites in the league in 2024.

Bethune looks up to netballer Jamie-Lee Price, one of the best defensive midcourters in the Suncorp Super Netball League.

Bethune's A-grade coach, Jess Cannane, said she is just getting better and adding good versatility to her game in various positions.

"She is getting better and better, and in the last couple of weeks, she has played different roles, such as wing defence and goalkeeper," Cannane said.

"She comes from a solid basketball background; you can see that in how she plays.

"She has great defensive views, and it's pleasing when she turns that into an attack, which gives us opportunities to score."

"She is thriving, and seeing where her netball could take her is exciting."

Stawell lost Ayva Mitchell before the game due to an injury she suffered in the 15-and-under match and managed to keep up with Dimboola early, showing grit and determination to trail by one point at quarter-time.

In the second quarter, the Warriors started to get on top, scoring 17 goals to take a six-goal lead into the main break.

The Roos bounced back in the third, showing why they are one of the premiership contenders and a top-three team, to peg the margin back to one goal.

In the last quarter, it was goal-for-goal, and it was Stawell, spurred on by their home fans, that prevailed, 54-53.

Ebony Summers scored 31 goals for the Warriors, with Madi Taylor stepping up in Mitchell's absence with an impressive 23 goals.

Lauren Homden was sensational in defence, containing Nicole Polycarpou to 37 goals.

Warriors coach Jemma Clarkson said she is proud of the girls.

"We knew they would come back firing, and they did just that, and it was goal-for-goal in the last quarter, and I am proud of the girl's efforts for holding their heads and remaining calm," Clarkson said.

"To hold them off and keep cool heads and play smart netball was great to see, and it was an important win in the context of the season."

Clarkson highlighted her forwards and Homden as their best players in what she described as a 'team effort'.

"Ebony has been a rock this season, has stepped up, and is a leader in attack as captain," Clarkson said.

"We are also fortunate to have a player like Madi Taylor, who is super versatile and adaptable. It was great to see her step up and take on the challenge of playing goals against the Dimboola tough defenders."

"Lauren came back after a week out and could hold Nicole well. Nicole has been shooting well, and we were able to stop that easy feed in the circle. She worked tirelessly all game and kept getting hands to everything she could."

"She was positive, encouraged everyone on the court, boosted the spirit and was influential, especially when the game was tight in the last moments."

Thunder stay in the hunt with a commanding win in Codie Robins 150th

Southern Mallee Thunder, one of the teams challenging for the fifth spot, secured a comfortable 36-goal win over Ararat, with Steph Thomson playing a blinder, scoring 51 goals.

The Thunder led by six goals at quarter-time and extended the lead each quarter to win 75-39.

Sydney Thorogood also scored 18 goals for the Thunder, and Caitlin Douglass scored six after moving from defense.

For Ararat, Sophie Cooper and Philippa Bush were their best players, with Jesse Bligh scoring 14 goals.

Thunder coach Steph Thomson said that it was an incredible team performance in Robins' 150th match.

"It was really great to win Codie's milestone game," Thomson said.

"It was a great team effort with everyone playing their role, especially with Abby White missing and needing to shuffle things around; it was even better."

"We trained on Thursday and worked hard with what we had, but we had to change up the squad, with one of the changes playing Sydney Thorogood down back and Caitlin Douglass up forward."

"It was a great game of netball, and our intensity was high. Ararat was shooting unbelievably well, and we managed to flow better down the court and win."

Saints bounce back with an easy victory over the Eagles

At Anzac Park, the Horsham Saints defeated the Warrack Eagles by 32 goals.

It was a low-scoring quarter in a tight tussle, with the Saints taking a two-goal lead into quarter-time, 8-6.

An incredible 19 goals in the second quarter saw them extend that lead to 14 at the main break. They shot another 17 goals in the second quarter, conceding only three as they led by 28 goals at three-quarter-time. They ran the game out to win 55-23.

Taya Quick led the Saints with 31 goals, and Abby Hallam scored 24. Holly Phillips was best on the court in defence.

For the Eagles, Amber O'Connor scored 17 goals, with Jordan Heller and Ava Koschitzke excellent at goalkeeper and wing attack/defence, respectively.

Demons keep rolling

Horsham defeated Minyip Murtoa by 37 goals at Horsham City Oval.

The Demons led by five goals at quarter-time, extending that margin to 14 at half-time. They were relentless in the third quarter, scoring 18 goals to lead by 24 goals before scoring another 20 in the last to run out 71-34 winners.

Imogen Worthy scored 36 goals, and Georgia Batson chipped in with 33 for the Demons. Romi Miller played an excellent game at goal defence.

For the Burras, Kirby Knight led the way with 16 goals, with Taylor Forster and Lauren Dodhshun, their best players at goal defence and goalkeeper, respectively.

The Cougars were without Zoe Hawker and Melanie Maddern due to commitments in South Australia but welcomed back goal-shooter Blair Burke from two months on the sidelines with a hand injury.

Coming out of the blocks fast, the Cougars scored the game's first five goals through relentless pressure. The Cougars scored 15 goals in the first quarter to lead by six at quarter-time.

The Rams started to get closer in the second quarter, scoring 13 goals to trail by four at half-time.

The Cougars slowly started to regain their lead in the third quarter, extending their margin to eight goals at three-quarter time.

On their homecourt, the Rams put up a tremendous fight in the final quarter, scoring 14 goals to nine, but they just missed out on the win, losing 45-48.

Burke scored 28 goals in her comeback game, with Nikki Hawker scoring 20. Lauren Brown was outstanding throughout the center.

For the Rams, Emma Uebergang scored 33 goals, with Keeta Scown excellent at goalkeeper.

Cougars' coach, Kylie King, said the fast start was the key.

"It was an excellent start and we emphasised our starts, and it proved vital because they stuck with us for the rest of the game," King said.

Burke's return saw Ruby Gordon move down back, and it was a battle of the young stars, with Gordon and Uebergang matching up on each other.

"Blair slotted back in well, and her hand gave her no problems, so she will be right for the rest of the season," King said.

"It enabled us to move Ruby Gordon back down in defence, and we matched her up with Emma, which was a fantastic battle.

"They have played alongside each other a lot, but to match up two rising stars against each other was a good matchup to watch unfold."

King was ecstatic that players stood up in the absense of Hawker and Maddern.

"We put Lauren Brown back in the centre position this week, and she is always a workhorse. She gets the job done and never shows signs of slowing up," King said.

"Lauren has played wing attack and wing defence this season and is one of those versatile midcourters invaluable to the team.

"Kahli Maddern stepped up in goal defence and is one of those consistent and persistent players, making it difficult for the attackers. She was outstanding."

The win moves the Cougars two games clear of the Swifts in sixth position. However, with three of the four games coming up against top sides Laharum, Rupanyup, and Kalkee, they are far from assured a finals spot, with King taking nothing for granted.

"We know it will be difficult, and we can't take anything for granted, but considering the injuries we have faced this year, everyone is thrilled with where we are sitting, and regardless of what happens, we are pleased with where we are currently at," King concluded.

Bombers bounce back in style

Noradjuha Quantong bounced back from their shock loss to Edenhope Apsley last week to defeat Harrow Balmoral by 37 goals at Harrow Recreation Reserve.

The Southern Roos battled hard early, but a fast quarter saw the Bombers take an eight-goal lead into quarter-time.

Another 16 goals to five in the second quarter extended the margin to 19 goals at the main break.

The Bombers didn't stop after half-time, adding another 17 goals to eight to lead by 28 at the final break. They were relentless in the last quarter, running out 69 to 32 winners.

Shannon Couch shot an amazing 62 goals, continuing her great string of form. Holly Nuske dominated through the centre again.

Tori Dunstan shot 22 goals for the Southern Roos, with Megan Little and Jorja Jones among their best.

Bombers coach Fiona Rowe said the girls connected well.

"They played with great intensity and connected well throughout the court," Rowe said.

"Following the loss last week, we just needed to focus on ourselves and keep possession of the ball, and the girls did that well, which was pleasing to see."

Rowe pointed out Couch and Jayne Tucker as standouts.

"Shannon was amazing, and she added different elements to her game, which was great to see," Rowe said.

"She has been a focal point down in our attack and has been working on implementing different things into her game with the support around her, such as positively influencing our team and causing havoc to defenders."

"Jayne is miss consistent and is just providing us with those magnificent passes in attack and hustling pressure through the midcourt, which is nice to see."

Saints stay within reach of battle for second

Edenhope Apsley remains a game away from battling for the second position on the ladder thanks to a comfortable 28-goal win over Taylors Lakes.

The Saints led by six goals at quarter-time after the Lakers brought the heat early but ran away with the game in the second quarter, shooting 20 goals to lead by 14 at the main break.

They shot another 34 goals to 20 in the second half to win 68-40.

Lavinia Fox was sensational for the home side with 44 goals, and Krystal De Jong chipped in with 24. Amy Geary was also sensational for the Saints through the midcourt.

Harriet Overman scored 22 goals for the Lakers, Zoe Gray was excellent in defence, and Tayla Eltze was good up front, with 18 goals.

Kees with a convincing win over the Swifts

Kalkee stormed to a 26-goal win over the Swifts at North Park. It was a tight battle early, with the Kees taking a slender four-goal lead into quarter-time. In the second quarter, they slowly got away, extending that lead by nine.

In the third quarter, they shot 17 goals to eight to lead by 18 goals at the final break before running out the game to win 59-33.

Jarrah Martin scored 33 goals for the Kees, with Jenna Bywaters shooting 26. Penny Fisher was also solid in defence.

Michaela Armer shot 18 goals for the Baggies, with Edwina Flakemore and Olivia Barber, their best players at goalkeeper and centre, respectively.

Laharum with a comfortable win over spirited Tigers

At Cameron Oval, Laharum stormed to a 28-goal win over Pimpinio. The home side came out of the blocks fast, scoring 17 goals in the first quarter to lead by eight at quarter-time. They added another 14 in the second quarter, with Pimpinio putting in a spirited effort as they extended their lead to 13 at half-time.

The Tigers didn't give in, putting in a competitive effort in the third quarter, but the Demons took a 20-goal lead into three-quarter time. In the final quarter, Laharum stormed away to win 67-39.

Caitlin Jones-Story shot 47 goals for the Demons. Emalie Iredell was one of the best down in attack, and Maddison Iredell was great up forward, with 20 goals.

For the Tigers, Ada Binney led the way with 16 goals, with Annie Felini and Steph Runciman excellent at wing attack and goalkeeper.

Dubbed a grand final preview, the game didn't disappoint, being close throughout. Imogen Worthy was outstanding for the Demons, scoring 34 goals, with Georgia Batson chipping in with 22.

Abby Hallam scored 23 for the Saints, and Taya Quick continued her outstanding run of form after filling in for Jorja Clode with 20 goals.

Eagles win two on the trot

In the second consecutive week, Amber O'Connor's calm, brilliant shooting helped lead the Warrack Eagles to their third win, a seven-point victory over Ararat at Alexandra Oval.

O'Connor shot 24 goals for the match, which was tightly contested throughout. The Eagles came out firing in the first quarter to lead by five goals at quarter-time.

On their home court, Ararat fought back hard in the second to trail by one point at half-time.

It was goal-for-goal in the third quarter, with the Eagles taking a slender two-goal lead into the final quarter.

O'Connor and Sarrah Marchment were strong in the final quarter, nailing their goals to guide the Eagles to a 44-37 win.

Jesse Bligh scored 23 goals for Ararat, and Demi Bligh and Mia Robb were their best players.

Eagles coach Leiah McKenzie said that it was a great win.

"We were challenged a bit, but luckily, the girls had the confidence to grit their teeth and get the win," McKenzie said.

"Amber shot incredibly well again and was steady, and we had Lauren Clyne rotating through the goals to mix it up a bit, and along with Sarah Marchment, all did well."

"Ash McKenzie was reliable for us and steadied the ship. She has good leadership skills and stands up in tough moments. The girls look to her guidance, and she leads from the front."

Roos and Tigers fight out stalemate

A draw has been recorded for the first time this season, a 49-49 stalemate at Dimboola Recreation Reserve.

Dimboola took a two-goal lead into quarter-time, but Nhill scored 18 goals to 11 in the second quarter to lead by five at half-time.

The Tigers threatened to run away with the game, but a 17-goal third quarter from the Roos saw them retake the lead by two goals heading into the final quarter.

In a tight quarter, the Tigers were able to lock it up as the final siren went.

Nicole Polycarpou scored 31 goals for the Roos, with Paige Glover and Bridget Dorrington among their best players.

Emma Beer scored 27 goals for the Tigers, Ellen Bennett was excellent through the centre, and Claudia McRae was solid in goal attack, with 22 goals.

Warriors move a game clear in fifth

Stawell has moved a game clear of Southern Mallee Thunder and Minyip Murtoa following a ten-goal win over the latter at Minyip Recreation Reserve.

It was a tight first half. The scores were level at quarter-time, and Stawell took a two-goal lead into half-time.

The Warriors scored 13 goals to seven to extend the lead to eight goals and then ran out the game to win 58-48.

Ayva Mitchell and Ebony Summers scored a game-high 29 goals for Stawell, and Rachel Wood was excellent at wing defence for the away team.

Kirby Knight also shot 29 goals, with Lauren Dodgshun and Johanna Griffiths among their best down back.

Stawell coach Jemma Clarkson said it was a tough-fought match and that she was proud of the girls.

"I am pleased with our efforts and it's nice to be back in the finals hunt," Clarkson said.

"It was a hard-fought game, and we knew coming in the style they play is fast, and we were also aware of how much they had improved, so we had a game plan in mind on how to combat it.

"The first half was tight, and in the third quarter, the girls kept putting that pressure on, which caused a few turnovers, and we were able to sneak away and maintain it for the rest of the game."

"Rachel Wood had a terrific game at wing defence for us. We have focused on the importance of shutting down wing attacks, especially when they have tall dominant shooters, such as Kirby Knight, who is dangerous and an outstanding player."

"Rachel did a good job, worked hard, and stopped that feeding, which was great to see.

"Ebony Summers was a workhorse in our attack end and has been reoffering a lot and worked hard all day down the court defensively and had a great game."

It was a tough match, with the Panthers taking a two-goal lead into quarter-time. The Tigers stuck with the Panthers in the second quarter, to trail by one goal at half-time.

Both teams applied a lot of pressure in the third quarter, creating turnovers. The Tigers had a two-goal lead at one point. The Panthers fought hard and pegged the margin back to tie the scores at the last break.

Only 13 goals were scored in that quarter, with many misses due to both teams' pressure.

At the start of the last quarter, it was goal-for-goal. After five minutes, the Panthers capitalised on the turnovers and landed their shots, with Pimpinio fighting hard to the very end. The Panthers were too strong in the end and won 36-31.

Zanaiya Bergen scored 25 goals for the Panthers, with Anna Sudholz being excellent at goal defence and Meg Cashin being outstanding through the centre.

Ada Binney scored 15 goals for the Tigers, with Holly Ross and Steph Runciman outstanding down back, troubling the Panthers shooters.

Despite the loss, Tigers coach Jayde Ellis said it was their best game of the year, and she is proud of the girls.

"I am so proud of the entire team's effort, and it was really exciting to get that close to a team that is second on the ladder - it's super exciting and amazing," Ellis said.

"We got the lead a couple of times, which was exciting for us, and we also bounced back when we were a few goals down, thanks to our defensive pressure.

"It was amazing. It took them a lot of time to get to the goal ring, and when they did, we pressured them hard and forced them to miss shots."

"Emily Hannan had an amazing game in the midcourt. She ran all day, and her defensive pressure was incredible."

Saints shock Bombers in solid win

Edenhope Apsley defeated Noradjuha Quantong by six goals at Quantong Recreation Reserve.

The Bombers started the game well and led by four goals at quarter-time. The Saints slowly got back into the match, scoring nine goals to six in the second quarter to trail by one goal at half-time.

The Saints started to dominate in the third quarter, scoring 11 goals to lead by five at three-quarter time.

They ran out of the game, holding their nerve to record an upset win, 34-28.

Lavinia Fox scored 18 goals for the Saints, Tahlia Sailor was also excellent up forward with 16 goals, and Sarah Domaschenz was outstanding through the centre.

Shannon Couch could only manage 21 goals for the Bombers, with Taylor Shelly and Holly Nuske their best players at goal attack and centre, respectively.

Demons thrash Kalkee

Laharum has dismantled premiership contender Kalkee by 22 goals at Kalkee Recreation Reserve.

The Demons were on fire early, scoring 15 goals to six to take a comfortable lead into quarter-time.

They extended that margin to 14 goals at half-time.

Kalkee came out firing in the third quarter, but Laharum was too good. They scored 17 goals to lead by 21 at the last break.

Kalkee didn't give up and battled hard, but Laharum were too strong, winning 53-31.

Caitlin Jones-Story scored 35 goals for the Demons, with Olivia Jones outstanding through the centre.

Lotus Martin shot 17 goals for the Kees, and Georgia Schultz was great at wing attack.

The results on the weekend see Laharum staying two games clear at the top of the ladder ahead of Rupanyup. Noradjuha Quantong and Kalkee are in third and fourth, a game behind, with Edenhope Apsley moving up slowly, a further game behind. Kaniva Leeor round out the six, two games behind the Saints.

Team manager Holly Pepper stepped into the coaching role with coach Kylie King away. The Cougars came out of the blocks fast leading by three goals at quarter-time.

With Alanna Furmston at wing defence, limiting the influence of Baggies Kristy Dodds, Nikki Hawker and Ruby Gordon shooting well up forward, the Cougars extended the margin to six points at half-time, after scores were level in the early stages of the quarter.

The Baggies threw everything they could at the Cougars in the third quarter, but the Cougars held firm, making most of their opportunities to extend the lead by another three goals, to lead by nine at three-quarter-time.

In the last quarter, they kept their cool and again outscored the Baggies by three goals to win 59-47.

Pepper said they did a lot of homework following their 40-49 loss to the Baggies in round two.

"They surprised us the first time we played them with their defensive setup, so we did our homework, and the girls came out firing and gave us a strong start, which was good to see," Pepper said.

The Cougars have struggled with consistency this season due to injuries and player availability, but this was the first game they were consistent in. All seven players stayed in their same positions, and Pepper did not need to make any substitutions.

"We had a solid seven that stayed on the court this entire week, and to be able to settle in for all four quarters and to have some consistency and apply the things on game day we are working on at training is excellent to see," Pepper explained.

"The pressure was huge, and I was on the edge of my seat in the second quarter when scores were level, but the girls pulled it together and slowly chipped away, which was good to see."

Zoe Hawker and Alannah Furmston were the Cougars' best players, while Nikki Hawker and Ruby Gordon combined well and shined up front, scoring 31 and 28 goals, respectively.

The duo has been combining well up forward since Blair Burke got injured, and with Burke's return imminent, a hard decision is looming for the Cougars.

"That was Ruby's best game so far. She killed it," Pepper said.

"Her accuracy was quite good, and she did so well. To be able to go from playing defence in the 15-and-under to goal-shooter in A-grade is brilliant.

"Alannah is traditionally an attacker, but I put her at wing defence, and she did a great job and took Kristy Dodds out of the game. She did very well."

For the Swifts, Rebbekkah Seeary shot 32 goals.

The win moves the Cougars to sixth on the ladder, two games behind Edenhope Apsley, one ahead of the Swifts, and two of the charging Rams. This gives them a good chance of making the finals, which is remarkable after not fielding an A-grade side last season.

In wet conditions, teams played solid defence, and the Southern Mallee Thunder led eight goals to five at quarter-time.

Both teams scored ten goals in the second quarter, with the lead remaining the same three-point margin at half-time.

The Eagles started to get on top, creating turnovers in the third quarter to take a one-goal lead into the final break.

The start of the last quarter was goal-for-goal until the Eagles' pressure led to a few turnovers, where they capitalised, pulling out to a four-goal lead thanks to Amber O'Connor shooting brilliantly under pressure.

The Thunder came roaring back in the final few minutes to get within a goal, but the Eagles slowed the game down and took control. Amber O'Connor scored a goal in the final ten seconds to give the Eagles a two-goal win.

O'Connor led the way with 24 goals, with Lauren Clyne shooting 15 and Sarah Marchment chipping in with two in the first quarter. Charlie Inkster was sensational at goal defence.

For the Thunder, Steph Thomson scored 25 goals, with Rylee Cocks and Caitlin Douglass excellent in the centre and defence, respectively.

Eagles coach Leiah McKenzie said it was a physical game.

"We knew coming into the match that it would be a nice, physical game of netball, and that's how it played out, and unfortunately, we couldn't hit the scoreboard as well as we would have liked in the first half," McKenzie said.

"We spoke about how important the third quarter was and worked hard, knowing the game could slip away. We spoke about the need to stay level-headed, let the plays speak for us, and let our performance do the talking."

"We needed to stay composed and score when we had the ball in the ring. We knew coming out after half-time that the third quarter was important to dominate and not let the lead get away from us, and we battled away, got the game in our favour, and started to get a run on."

"When the opposition got a run on, we needed to take possession, slow the ball down and keep possession, and we had nice composure."

"I was pleased the girls were able to do that, and all seven girls on the court applied the pressure and played to the standard we wanted to play, and we managed to get the win."

The Eagles faltered in the wet weather against Minyip Murtoa at home in round four, but they applied what they learned from that match to this game.

"We were a bit nervous playing on the wet courts, but we had spoken about what we needed to do to play well in the wet," McKenzie said.

"We spoke about simple things like slowing the game down, passing short, and using our fitness to run these games out as it involves a lot more running, and it is pleasing that we were able to do that and come away with the win."

Amber O'Connor was a standout goal shooter in the last quarter, not missing a shot on goal, and McKenzie highlighted her performance.

"We have been waiting for it all year as she has some great potential, and she dominated, which will give her a huge confidence boost," McKenzie said.

"She is becoming a leader in that ring, and it was an unbelievable performance in the last half, and she took control of the ball. It was awesome to watch."

"Our girls in defence worked well to do the deflections and one percenters, which helped push the momentum in our favour. They worked hard to get those opportunities to get the ball to the girls in the goal ring."

"It was an awesome performance by the ring defenders in Jordan Heller and Charlie Inkster as younger players against more experienced players."

"They are still figuring out the intensity of A-grade netball, and they are improving every week."

The Southern Roos, led by Tara McIntyre and Tori Dunstan up forward, took a two-goal lead into quarter-time.

The match remained close in the second quarter, going goal for goal, as the Lakers tied the game up 18 apiece at halftime.

The third quarter was the same as the second, with both teams going goal for goal in a high-pressure match. The scores remained tied at three-quarter time at 29 apiece.

The Lakers started to wrestle momentum halfway through the third quarter and got a break to win 38-35.

Dunstan scored 21 goals for the Southern Roos, McIntyre scored 12, and Mia Rees came off the interchange in the last quarter to hit the scoreboard with two goals.

McIntyre was best on the court for the home side, with Febey McClure outstanding through the centre in a battle with Lily Weir.

Tayla Eltze scored 14 goals for the Lakers.

Lakers coach Lydia Schneider said it was a brilliant win.

"I am thrilled we had a win against Harrow Balmoral. It was a very close game, and I am proud the girls could keep their cool and win," Schneider said.

"Our standout player was Lilly Weir. She played centre all game and put pressure on every ball. She is also an under-17 player.

"Our next best went to Harriet Overman. She has been playing B-grade this year, stepped up on the weekend, and was strong under the post, combining well with Tayla Eltze in shooter."

Fox leads Saints to victory.

At Edenhope Recreation Reserve, 30 goals to Lavinia Fox have led the Edenhope Apsley to a seven-point win over Kaniva Leeor.

The Saints took control early, taking a five-goal lead at quarter-time. The Cougars bounced back in the second, scoring 18 goals to tie the game at 27 apiece at half-time.

The third quarter was tight with scoring hard, but the Saints wrestled back momentum to lead by six points at three-quarter-time.

The Cougars fought hard in the last quarter, but the Saints held their lead and were too strong to win 52-45.

Alongside Fox, Amy Geary and Tahlia Sailor both scored 11 goals. For the Cougars, Ruby Gordon and Nikki Hawker continued their good chemistry with 24 and 21 goals respectively.

Kalkee storm to a comfortable win.

In the final game, Kalkee had a comfortable 22-goal win over Natimuk at Natimuk Showgrounds.

Buoyed from their win last week, The Rams came out firing in the first quarter, but the Kees responded, taking a three-goal lead into quarter-time.

The Kees dominated the Rams in the second quarter, extending the margin to nine points at halftime.

The Rams fought valiantly in the third quarter, not letting the Kees run away with the game when they were threatening to, trailing by only 13 points at three-quarter-time.

In the final quarter, the Kees held the Rams to four goals as they ran out 56-34 winners.

Jenna Bywaters was best on the court with 28 goals, and Clair McDonald was excellent in defence. Jarrah Martin scored 18 goals, and Lotus Martin chipped in with nine, all in the first half.

Emma Uebergang was sensational for the Rams again, continuing her fantastic season by scoring 26 goals. Danielle Hanson was also solid up front, with eight.

Kalkee coach Paula Wiedermann said it was a great game to try a few different combinations.

"We changed things up and put girls in positions they haven't played this season in preparation for the last half of the season," Wiedermann said.

"In the first half of the game, we made many unforced errors, but once the girls settled, they managed to keep them to just four goals to our 13 for the quarter.

"Natimuk have a great young side; if they maintain it, they will be solid over the next couple of years."

The win now makes the battle for second to fourth on the ladder a brilliant tussle. The Panthers, Bombers, and Kees are all on eight wins, two games behind ladder leaders Laharum.

With both teams being in the first two positions of the ladder, the game would always be hotly contested, and it didn't disappoint when the Panthers took a two-goal lead into quarter-time.

The Panthers then wrestled momentum in the second quarter, scoring 12 goals to eight to lead by six points at half-time.

It was goal for goal in the third quarter, but the Demons got a few consecutive shots to bring the margin back to a point at three-quarter time.

The pressure was tense in the last quarter, but the Demons prevailed late in the game, winning 43-42.

Caitlin Jones-Story led the way with a game-high 31 points for the Demons, with Maddison Iredell scoring 12. Zanaiya Bergen scored 24 for the Panthers, with Bianca Drum coming from SA to play her first game for the Panthers in 2024, after playing eight in 2023, chipping in with 18 at goal-attack.

Demons coach Rebecca McIntyre said the final score wasn't as controversial as people made it out to be.

"We all thought it was a draw, and we were fine with that, as it was a good game of netball," McIntyre said.

"Our captain, Olivia Jones-Story, went over to the scores to count the goals as she always does at the end of each game and saw that something didn't add up.

"We went through the process, and everyone was happy in the end."

McIntyre said Rupanyup was tremendous and that they had to be brilliant to defeat them.

"It was a good test, and to come back from being seven or eight goals down was an even better show," McIntyre said.

"We will focus on what we can do to improve, and we will continue to look to keep improving week in and week out."

After a few weeks out, Mel Russell came back into the team, so the Demons were full strength. McIntyre said it was a team performance while highlighting a couple of players.

"Olivia Jones-Story was great in the centre, and Caitlin Jones-Story was amazing in shooting," McIntyre said.

"Rylee Hateley was great in wing defence, but keeping our proper seven on the court showed it was a great team effort, especially as we could dig deep and come back from a reasonable deficit.

"We haven't been down by that much all season, and to show that we can come back from it is a big thing for us moving forward and hopefully will put us in good stead come finals."

It was a tight battle in the first quarter, with both teams going goal-for-goal, with the Saints able to wrestle a three-goal lead at quarter-time.

The Saints started to dominate in the second quarter, extending their lead to seven goals at halftime.

On their home court, the Warriors put up a fight in the third, wrestling the margin back to seven goals at three-quarter-time.

The more experienced Saints, however, battled hard in the last quarter to win 54-45.

Abby Hallam was sensational up forward for the Saints, scoring 31 goals. Taya Quick continued her excellent form in a more permanent role up forward without Jorja Clode, scoring 23 goals.

Jessica Cannane was outstanding at wing defence for the Saints. Ashlee Grace was her usual brilliant self in the centre, and Maddison Bethune continued her outstanding defensive season.

Ayva Mitchell led the way for the Warriors with 29 goals, and Ebony Summers was also brilliant with 15 goals. Madi Taylor was excellent at wing attack.

Saints' coach Jessica Cannane said Quick relishes her role in Jorja Clode's absence.

"Without Jorja, it has provided us a good opportunity to bring in different combinations and give us a different look in the attack line," Cannane said.

"We knew that Taya would be able to handle more A-grade, and playing a full game against tougher opponents is seeing her grow in confidence and improve at this level."

Cannane relishes the tough competition as it shows them where they need to improve.

"Credit to Stawell. Their defensive pressure was good, and it was a hard match," Cannane said.

"We were able to find a way to secure the four points and work through a couple of combinations, which was pleasing as a coach.

"We pride ourselves in the ability to control the ball and have been able to develop that a bit. It is vital we slow ourselves down and hit the target at the top before feeding our goalies, and we are strengthening our midcourt, which allows our defenders to attack."

Cannane said that Elly Barnett is starting to hit her straps after time away last year.

"Barnett is growing week in and week out and is returning to where she was a few years ago," Cananne said.

"She has a slightly different role coming back into goalkeeper but is providing us direction and voice and creating a tighter defensive unit.

"With Maddison Bethune also in defence as a youngster, having Elly's experience is beneficial."

Tigers consolidate fourth with a tough victory over the Burras

At Davis Park, Nhill defeated Minyip Murtoa by 13 goals in a tough match.

The Tigers took a four-goal lead into quarter-time and extended that margin to seven at half-time.

The Burras fought hard, but the Tigers could extend that margin again, this time by two points to lead by nine at three-quarter-time.

In the final quarter, the Tigers responded to the Burras pressure, running the game out to win 58-45.

Ruby James was sensational for the Tigers, scoring 41 goals, with Claudia McRae chipping in with 17.

The Burras were led by Claire Mackay, who scored 24 goals, continuing her great A-grade season after coming up from B-grade in round five. Kirby Knight scored 21 goals for the Burras.

Demons thrash Ararat

At Horsham City Oval, Horsham blew away Ararat by 61 points.

The Rats were comprehensively beaten, with the Sasints extending the lead in each quarter to win 82-21.

Imogen Worthy and Georgia Batson scored 41 goals for the Demons, showing the dominance of their attack.

Jesse Bligh and Sophie Cooper scored nine and eight goals, respectively, for the Rats, with Laney McLoughlan chipping in with four.

The Tigers were strong early, taking a six-point lead into quarter-time, 12-6. A 17-to-8-goal quarter saw them extend the margin to 15 goals at half-time.

On their home court, the Baggies weren't going down without a fight, scoring 12 goals to six to reduce the deficit to nine goals at three-quarter-time.

With the Baggies full of charge, the young Tigers held firm, running the game out to win by four goals, 44-40.

Rising star Ada Binney scored 25 goals for the Tigers at goal-attack, with Lana Ellis chipping in with 18 in her 150th match as goal-shooter. Holly Ross was sensational as goal-keeper, keeping Rebbekkah Seeary in check and combining well with Steph Runciman, who played well on Michaela Armer.

Seeary scored 23 goals, with Michaela Armer chipping in with 16. Lisa Monaghan, in midcourt, was a solid contributor for the Baggies.

Tigers coach Jayde Ellis was thrilled with the second quarter.

"We had a massive quarter, and we put our feet down. Everyone played amazingly," Ellis said.

"It was awesome for us to take that lead into the second half, and everyone just gelled together, and the game seemed to flow well for us."

"They had a much stronger second half, chipping away and came right back at us at the end and got to within three goals, and we were getting a bit nervous, but credit to the girls they composed themselves, remained calm, and that was good to see."

Ellis said that Lana's 150th game pumped the girls up.

"Everyone was excited as a team and a club, as it is an amazing achievement," Ellis said.

"Everyone was super pumped heading into the game, knowing what she was achieving. She brought that energy into the game and helped us - it was awesome."

"She played a good game, and Ada Binney also shot well, so it was also good to see Ada performing well in a grade as a junior."

Ellis also praised the defenders in Holly Ross and Steph Runciman.

"They both kept their opponents in check and did well in the first half and stood tall when it mattered in the second half," Ellis said.

"Anna Felini controlled the ball well with Emily Hannan through the midcourt and helped set up our attack. Everyone played well. It was a great team performance."

The win was the Tigers' second for the season, which moves them to eighth on the ladder on equal wins with Taylors Lake and Natimuk in ninth and tenth.

The Panthers were solid early in the match, with Jedda Heard providing outstanding defence and Meg Cashin and Ally Hiscock providing plenty of drive through the midcourt. They led by six points at quarter-time.

The Panthers' defence stood tall in the second quarter as the Swifts could not penetrate it, with the Panthers holding that same margin into halftime.

The Panthers pushed clear in the third term, scoring 13 goals to nine to extend the lead to ten at halftime.

In the last quarter, the Panthers pounced, scoring another 14 points to win by 16 points, 51-36.

Jedda Heard was sensational in defence alongside Victoria Taylor, with Ally Hiscock and Meg Cashin providing class and drive through the midcourt.

Up forward, Zanaiya Bergen starred again, continuing her awesome season with 38 goals, with Maddison Morgan chipping in with 13.

For the Baggies, Rebbekkah Seeary led the way with 12 goals, with Michaela Armer also good in attack, coupled with Edwina Flakemore, who stepped up down back.

Couch's 66 goals lead Bombers to the highest score of the season

Shannon Couch put on a shooting display for Noradjuha Quantong, scoring 66 goals in their massive 40-goal win over Taylors Lakes at Dock Lake Recreation Reserve.

The Bombers scored 16 goals to seven in the first quarter to take a handy nine-goal lead into quarter-time. They added another 17 goals in the second quarter to extend their lead to 16 at half-time.

They came out firing in the third quarter, shooting 24 goals to nine to lead by 31 at three-quarter-time before adding another 22 to run out 79-39 winners.

The score of 79 eclipses Rupanyup's 73, which they scored against the Lakers in round five.

Yolanda Molineaux was also brilliant for the Bombers, while Tayla Eltze led the way with 26 goals for the Lakers, Zoe Gray and Chloe Kelm being their best players.

Bombers coach Fiona Rowe said Couch was amazing.

"She was on that day, and she was amazing. She was fed well and made the most of her opportunities," Rowe said.

"Shannon and Jayne Tucker have an amazing connection, and Jayne plays either goal attack or wing attack and feeds her spot on.

"Also, a win like we had on the weekend means we can rotate players and give everyone a go. We had ten contributors and have a great team bond and team connection, and everyone contributed, which was a plus."

Cougars leap to sixth with win over Southern Roos

Kaniva Leeor has pounced to sixth on the ladder with a comfortable 22-goal win over Harrow Balmoral at Kaniva Recreation Reserve.

The Southern Roos took the match to the Cougars early, trailing by five points at quarter-time.

However, a 15 to seven-goal second quarter saw the Cougars lead by 13 goals at half-time.

The Cougars didn't stop there. They held the Southern Roos to four goals in the third quarter and added 15 more to their lead by 24 at the last break.

The Southern Roos battled hard in the last, winning the quarter by two goals to go down 34-56.

Nikki Hawker was sensational up forward, scoring 30 goals, and Ruby Gordon shot 26. Sinead Kuchel was excellent at wing attack for the Cougars.

For the Southern Roos, Tara McIntyre shot 20 goals with Jorja Jones and Emily Langley, who were great in defence.

Cougars coach Kylie King said it was pleasing to string four quarters together.

"The girls brought it together on the weekend and were able to string a consistent four-quarters together, which was the key, and it was nice to see," King said.

"Lauren Brown stood out after changing her role from centre to wing defence. She played well."

"It was also pleasing to see Ruby and Nikki continue to combine well, and it was the best game they have played since we lost Blair Burke to a broken wrist."

"All seven girls on the court put in and played a solid game and did their job, and it was a great team win, and it sets us up well for the rest of the season."

Rams claim second win of the season over the Tigers

At Pimpinio Sporting Complex, the Rams' last-quarter effort has seen them win their second game over the season, a seven-point win over Pimpinio.

The match was tight throughout, with the Tigers taking an early three-goal lead into quarter-time. In the second quarter, the Rams outscored them by two goals to trail by one at the main break.

In the third quarter, the Rams scored 12 goals to eight to lead by two goals at three-quarter-time.

The Rams shone through in the last quarter, scoring nine goals to five to win 41-34.

Emma Uebergang was outstanding for the Rams with 26 goals, while Danielle Hanson and Casey Vanstan were also among their best players.

Holly Ross continued her great season down back for the Tigers with another good display. Jayde Ellis was excellent up forward with 12 goals. Ada Binney scored a team-high 13 goals, continuing her excellent season.

Rams coach Danielle Hanson said the changes they made at half-time were pivotal.

"We made some changes that helped us out, and we were able to get a lead and maintain it for the rest of the game," Hansen said.

"One of the changes was that we put Casey Vanstan in attack as she was taller and could get the rebounds as myself and Emma weren't tall enough, and she played a great game coming up from B-grade filling in for Keeta Scown."

"Jo Taylor also came up from B-grade and did a good job, not to mention Emma is improving from week to week."

Kees win tough match against the Saints

Kalkee has fought a tough nine-goal win over Edenhope Apsley at Kalkee Recreation Reserve.

The Kees led by six points at quarter-time and extended the margin to nine at half-time. The Saints battled hard in the second half, but the Kees stood firm, winning 45-36.

Jarrah Martin scored 25 goals for the Kees, and Jenna Bywaters chipped in with 20. Molly Lakin was brilliant through the centre.

For the Saints, Lavinia Fox continues her good season with another 22 goals, whilst Rebecca Heath and Sarah Domaschenz were their best players in defence and through the midcourt, respectively.

The Saints, missing Jorja Clode from their starting seven, got off to a good start, leading by eight goals at quarter-time before extending the margin to 10 points at half-time.

The Tigers battled hard in the third quarter, but the Saints stood tall and led by 11 points at the last break.

Again, in the last quarter, the Tigers took it to the Saints, but the Saints ran out the game to win 59-47.

Abby Hallam was brilliant in goals, shooting 35, whilst Taya Quick stood up in Clyde's absence to score 24.

Nhill's best players were Ruby James and Claudia McRae, who scored 28 and 19 goals, respectively.

Saints coach Jess Cannane said they got a lot out of the match.

"To Nhill's credit, they pushed us through their defensive pressure, and their goalies were accurate too, so they played a really good game, and we were lucky enough to win," Cannane said.

"We pride ourselves on the short fast game, and it was good for our attacking end to play controlled netball. Ash Grace and Megan Byrne stepped up to control the pace, which was pleasing, especially with the new combination in goal due to Jorja's absence."

In Clode's absence, it provided Taya Quick a chance to play a full game, and the youngster took it with both hands and shot 24 goals against a good defender in Larnie Hobbs.

"Taya has played a couple of quarters over the last few weeks, and it was good to see her step up and handle it, especially against a tough opponent," Cannane said.

"I was impressed at how she went about it and still shot goals under immense pressure.

Roos bounce back in a tough win over the Burras

29 goals from Nicole Polycarpou has led Dimboola to a tough 12-point victory over Minyip Murtoa at Dimboola Recreation Reserve.

The game was tight early, with the Roos taking a slender five-goal lead into quarter-time and only a two-goal advantage into the main break.

In the third quarter, the Roos started to get on top, scoring 16 goals to 12 to lead by six points at three-quarter-time.

The Roos continued their momentum in the last to run out 54-42 winners.

Paige Glover and Stephanie Glover were the Roos' best players, through the centre and defence, respectively.

For the Burras, Claudia Griffiths and Tamika Mentha swapped positions at quarter-time. The latter was brilliant at wing defence and was great through the centre.

Demons too good for Thunder

Following a great win last week against Stawell, the Thunder travelled to Horsham City Oval to take on Horsham.

The Demons showed why they are one of the challengers for the premiership, storming to a 13-point lead at half-time after leading by six at quarter-time.

They extended the margin to 19 points at three-quarter-time before running the game out, shooting 22 goals in the last quarter to 11 to win 71-41.

At just 15 years of age, Mitchell made her A-grade debut on Good Friday, scoring 10 goals in Stawell's 26-goal win over Ararat.

Since then, she earned her spot as a goal shooter and has scored an additional 125 goals, which included a season-high 32 against the Warrack Eagles in round seven. She narrowly sits outside the top 10 for the season, shooting at 86.53%.

In the 15-and-under, she has scored 224 goals in eight games, with a shooting accuracy of 82.35%, amassing 33, 36, and 35 in the last three weeks. She leads the goal-shooting by quite a margin over Horsham's Hannah Gabbe.

What is also impressive is that while she played in attack in the under-15s in 2023, she played in defence in B-grade, so moving to attack in A-grade was a massive step, one she has taken with both hands.

Warriors' A-grade coach, Jemma Clarkson, said that Mitchell plays with maturity beyond her years.

"She is growing as a player and is mature on the court in her game as a whole. Her accuracy in front of goals is brilliant, and she is practising all the time, working hard, and doing everything that is asked of her," Clarkson said.

"She takes on the guidance given to her, listens well, and tries really hard to implement it, and she is growing every week.

"It's a different game up in the senior grades, and it's not about height or how fast you are, but rather how smart you are, and she is displaying that on the court and showing what a great netballer she will be in the future and I am proud of the way she is going about her netball."

Ayva Mitchell represented the WFNL under-15 squad at Mildura on May 25. They finished runner-up to Central Victoria, 11-16.

The team made the state titles, which were held on June 16 at the State Netball Centre in Melbourne, with 19 regions around Victoria competing, where they won two games and drew one.

Netball Victoria conducts Talent Identification (TID) during Netball Victoria competitions and tournaments. Mitchell was recognised in those tournaments to trial for the academy, which will be held on November 9 at the Bendigo Stadium.

Ayva Mitchell was surprised she was selected to try out for the talent academy.

"I went to the Interleague in Mildura for the Association Championships and had to put numbers on my legs so that I could be identified as the scouts were there, and if they pick you out, you get an E-mail, and I was surprised I was selected," Mitchell said.

"I think it's going to be a really good opportunity to develop my skills and see how far I can actually go, and I am looking forward to it."

Mitchell trains extensively during the week. On Thursday nights, she trains for an hour and 15 minutes with the under-15s and then another hour and a half with the A-grade. On Wednesday nights, she trains for two hours for the interleague team; on Tuesday nights, she does fitness for an hour.

Mitchell said she was unsure what to expect in A-grade at the start of the season but enjoys every moment.

"Coming to the A-grade as a 15-year-old, I wasn't sure what it would be like as I am much younger, and I just treated it like another game of netball, and the season is going well," Mitchell said.

"A-grade is a lot more fatiguing as it's so much quicker, and you have to be switched on, and everybody moves faster than juniors.

"Without playing seniors, I would be way less experienced, but I have gained much experience this season. I like the thinking side of things.

"It's all well and good if you can play, but with the strategy, they can pick out what you are doing more, and you just need to think more."

Mitchell has identified what she can improve on.

"I need to improve on my movement in the ring. I feel like my holding is getting much better than it was at the start of the season," Mitchell said.

Mitchell's versatility was needed in their round eight match against the Southern Mallee Thunder, where she played the last quarter in defence.

"I like defence as there is a lot less pressure than shooting, whereas in defence if you don't stop the goal, it's not your fault, and if you get an intercept, that's great as it's a different type of play you do, and I love playing at both ends," Mitchell said.

As for the future, Mitchell is enjoying her netball and hopes it can lead to something more.

"Obviously, I want to see how far I can go, as it would be amazing to get further, but if I don't, that's okay, as I will be happy either way."

The 25-year-old moved to the Panthers from Minyip Murtoa and is having an outstanding season for the club.

Whilst she has been named the best on four occasions in nine games, her drive and speed through the midcourt have made her stand out on the court.

Cashin moved to the club alongside Maddison Morgan, and both girls' fathers have been involved in the club over the years.

In 2001, Meg's dad, Peter, coached Rupanyup to a premiership over Kalkee, whilst Morgan's dad also played for the club.

"With the family connections, Maddi and I decided to move to the District League, and we have made many new friends," Cashin said.

"I am enjoying playing here, and I feel like it's a nice group. We are playing great netball, and they are a great bunch of girls. That's all I can ask for."

Cashin has been playing centre for four quarters in every game this year, feeding the goalies and keeping the run and flow down the court. She is very fit and is trying to get fitter.

"I am working hard on getting the match fitness and being consistent over four quarters in the centre, and want to be as fit as I can be and continue to run out the games and will work on that as much as I can," Cashin said.

"It's been warm every round, which has been lovely, so it's good that I enjoy running."

When asked what she found different about the WFNL and HDFNL, Cashin pointed out that while she doesn't see much difference, she notes the quality of teams.

"There are some really dominant teams in this league, and it's nice to play against them and have a tight contest at the top of the ladder," Cashin said.

"I have enjoyed playing against those teams."

Rupanyup has won seven consecutive matches, the latest being a 15-goal victory over the Swifts on Saturday, June 22. They are second on the ladder and face premiership favourites Laharum next week, who are unbeaten in 2024.

Cashin said she believes they have the team to challenge them and is looking forward to the test.

"It's a good team, and I think we are starting to work together nicely with many new faces compared to last year, and the big game next week against Laharum will test us."

The Panthers pounced early, scoring 18 goals to two in the first quarter to lead by 16 points, extending it to 19 at half time.

An 11-goal to three third quarter saw them take a 29-goal lead into the main break before running out the game to win 56-19.

Zanaiya Bergen scored 44 goals in the win with Meg Cashin brilliant through the centre, continuing her strong season.

For Natimuk, Danielle Hanson and Bethany Sudholz were great in attack and defense respectively with Emma Uebergang scoring 13 goals.

Panthers coach Jedda Heard said it was a brilliant win, noting what they did well and what they can improve on moving forward."We played well and it was a massive win and good to have a win like that," Heard said.

"We threw the ball away a lot and forced the ball into Zanaiya and weren't disciplined in that regard, but we were great down the court coming out of defence.

"The drive was there, we were quick and there were a lot of nice things to take away from the match, but also things that we can improve on."

"Victoria Taylor was excellent in defence picking off a lot of balls and it gave us more opportunities."

Bombers soar to victory in massive win

Noradjuha Quantong defeated Kaniva Leeor by 33 points at Quantong Recreation Reserve.

The Bombers got out to a great start to lead by nine goals at quarter time. The second quarter is where they put on a clinic, keeping the Cougars to one goal in 12 minutes which enabled them to extend the margin to 19 points at half time.

In the second half, they scored another 34 goals to 20 to run out 66-33 winners.

Bombers coach Fiona Rowe said it was a great team effort.

"A day like yesterday enabled us to give everyone a good go and experiment combinations and everyone played well, especially as a team," Rowe said.

"That period in the second quarter where we kept them to a goal was amazing and that was thanks to our defensive line, which enabled our attacking players to rebound and make the most of their opportunities.

"Unfortunately we couldn't sustain that, but it was nice to see the girls capitalise and take their opportunities."

Shannon Couch scored 35 goals in the win with Holly Nuske brilliant through the centre yet again but it was defender Brooke Pay that caught Rowe's eye.

"Brooke was amazing yesterday with her defensive skills," Rowe said.

"She is an elite defender and is amazing and it doesn't matter where you put her in defence, she has that defence finesse."

For the Cougars, Ruby Gordon led the way with 18 goals with Zoe Hawker and Nikki Hawker continuing their great seasons in the centre and up forward respectively.

Swifts push Demons

At North Park, the Swifts pushed Laharum for four quarters, losing by 15 points.

The game was tough early with the Demons taking a seven-goal lead into quarter time.

The second quarter was much of the same as the first, as they were only able to extend it to 11 at half time.

In the third quarter, the Swifts fought hard to keep the margin to 14 goals at three-quarter time. In an even last quarter, it was the Demons that stood tall to win 50-35.

Caitlin Jones-Story scored 40 goals in the win with Ashlea Bylsma excellent at wing attack for the Demons.

For the Swifts, Rebbekkah Seeary scored 23 goals with Kathryn Boag excellent through the centre.

Saints down Tigers in big win

Edenhope Apsley secured a 28-goal win against Pimpinio at Edenhope Recreation Reserve.

The home team got out of the blocks fast, taking an 11-goal lead into quarter time before extending that to 21 at half time.

In the third quarter, the Tigers outscored the Saints to reduce the deficit to 17 goals at three-quarter time. The Saints, however, bounced back in the last quarter scoring 15 goals to six to run out 57-31 winners.

Sacha McDonald scored 30 goals for the Saints with Tahlia Sailor shooting 27 in an even performance up forward.

For the Tigers, Lana Ellis scored 19 goals with Ada Binney scoring 12.

Kees defeat Southern Roos by 35 goals

At Balmoral Recreation Reserve, Kalkee had a comfortable 65-30 goal win over Harrow Balmoral.

After securing their first win since 2022 two weeks ago, the Southern Roos were competitive in the first quarter despite trailing by nine goals at quarter time.

They pushed Kalkee in the second quarter, scoring 10 goals to 16 to trail by 15 goals at half time.

The Kees then came out of the blocks fast in the third quarter, holding the home team to four goals whilst scoring 13 themselves to lead by 24 points at the last break.

In the last quarter, they added another 17 goals to win by 35 points.

Jarrah Martin was brilliant in attack with 35 goals whilst for the Roos Tara McIntyre led the way with 15 goals.

The first quarter was tight with the Saints taking a one-goal lead into quarter time, but a 20 to seven-goal second quarter blew the game open as they took a 14-goal lead into half time.

They were equally as dominant in the second half, scoring another 37 goals as they won 70-37.

Ashlee Grace through the centre and rising star Maddison Bethune in goal defence were the standouts on the court with goal-shooting sensation Jorja Clode shooting 48 in the victory.

For Dimboola, Olivia Beugelaar shot 28 goals with Olivia Lehmann and Paige Glover their best through the centre and wing defence respectively.

Saints coach Jess Cannane said it was a tougher match than what the scoreboard showed.

"It took us a quarter and a bit to find our groove following the bye and we were able to get ahead and win, but it was a tough one," Cannane said.

"Credit to Dimboola. They are a strong side and there is a reason why they are sitting third. Their defensive end is strong and it made us work extra hard to get the result."

Ashlee Grace continues to get stronger and Abby Hallam down back has also impressed Cannane.

"It was nice to see Ashlee put four quarters of netball together and she is only going to get stronger as the season continues," Cannane said.

"Abby is finding confidence again and is continuing to get better and she is strengthening our goalie end which is great to see."

Thunder storm to 19-goal win over the Warriors

At Beulah Memorial Park, the Southern Mallee Thunder stormed to their third win of the season, a 62-43 victory over Stawell.

The game was tight early with the Thunder taking a one-goal lead into quarter time before a 15 to nine-goal quarter saw them extend the lead to seven at half time.

The Thunder were dominant in the third quarter, shooting 19 goals to lead by that margin at three-quarter time.

The last quarter was a formality as the Thunder ran out the game well to move into the top five.

Steph Thomson dominated with 39 goals for the Thunder with Rylee Cocks best on the court through the centre and Abby White solid in defence as always.

For the Warriors, Ebony Summers scored 23 goals with Madi Taylor and Jemma Clarkson their best players.

Thunder coach Steph Thomson said they are starting to find their groove.

"We had a good training session during the week and things worked well again on Saturday," Thomson said.

"We were able to get the ball flowing and rather than taking 10 passes to get from one end to the other, it was three passes which was good."

Thomson highlighted Rylee Cox and Abby White from the win.

"Abby just got intercept after intercept and she continues to play well down in defence," Thomson said.

"Rylee Cocks is making it hard for her opponent and is having an impact by deflecting the ball and picking up intercepts.

"It was also good to see Taya Horman and Nekeisha Bastin play well with the opportunities they were given and as younger players, didn't look out of place."

Warriors coach Jemma Clarkson said they fought hard but in the end found it hard with height.

"We managed to stay with them for a half and unfortunately for us, height wasn't on our side as they are a tall team and could combat both ends of the court," Clarkson said.

"Their skills were good and we were with them, but they made it hard for us and we had to work hard for the goals we scored and it wore us down and it just wasn't our day."

Rats push Tigers for four quarters

At Alexandra Oval, Nhill ran out six-goal winners in a tough contest against Ararat.

Ararat took the game on early and was rewarded taking a three-goal lead into quarter time.

In the second quarter, the Tigers scored 17 goals to eight as they reversed the margin to lead by six goals at half time.

The Rats came out hard in the third quarter, fighting hard, scoring 16 goals to 11 to trail by one at three-quarter time.

The Rats could sniff their first win of the season early in the last quarter, but the experienced bodies of the Tigers held firm to win 53-47.

Jesse Bligh scored 30 goals for the Rats with Demi Bligh and Kiara Davis also among their best players.

For the Tigers, Ruby James scored 34 goals.

Demons with a hard-fought win over the Eagles

At Anzac Park, the Demons had no trouble against the Warrack Eagles, running out 47-23 goal winners.

The Eagles showed fighting spirit early in the game to trail by five points at quarter time. The Demons started to get on top in the second, extending their margin to nine points at half time.

The Eagles continued to fight in the third, only conceding seven goals whilst scoring three themselves to only trail by 13 goals at three-quarter time.

The experience of the Demons proved too strong in the last, with the Eagles unable to hold them as they shot 15 goals to four to win by 24 goals.

Georgia Batson scored 22 goals for the Demons with Zarli Knight and Brittany Burns their best players through attack and defense respectively.

For the Eagles, Sarah Marchment scored 12 goals with their best being Jordan Heller, continuing her brilliant season in defence alongside Leiah McKenzie at wing defence.

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.

At the top, Laharum is the team to beat, unbeaten in eight matches two games clear of Rupanyup and Noradjuha Quantong on six wins in second and third respectively.

The top six is rounded out by Kalkee on five wins and Swifts and Edenhope Apsley on four wins.

The battle for the top two is still hotly contested with the Panthers, Bombers and Kees all fighting for that second spot.

In seventh spot, a game below is Kaniva Leeor who is still in the hunt for finals contention.

It's no coincidence that the younger teams in the competition in Harrow Balmoral, Natimuk and Pimpinio are all on one win and out of finals contention, so improvement and building for the future will be at the forefront of their minds.

Laharum's Caitlin Jones-Story is currently leading the competition with 307 goals, 43 ahead of Zanaiya Bergen (Rupanyup). Shannon Couch (Noradjuha Quantong) is 44 goals away in a distant third on 220. Lavinia Fox, 171 and Rebbekkah Seeary, 159 are having great seasons for Edenhope Apsley and Swifts respectively.

Harrow Balmoral's 18-year-old Tori Dunstan is only 17 goals away from the top five which is a fantastic achievement.

The Michelle Mibus Medal, for the league's best and fairest, should be a tight battle with the leading contenders who are having outstanding seasons.

Laharum trio Caitlin Jones-Story, Olivia Jones-Story and Ema Iredell, Noradjuha Quantong's Holly Nuske and Brooke Pay, Rupanyup's Meg Cashin and Kalkee's Jarrah Martin and Penny Fisher.

Holly Ross is the dark horse and if Pimpinio starts winning a few more games, she could catapult into contention. Also, keep an eye on Febey McLure from Harrow Balmoral who is in the same boat.