A huge thanks to Jellis Craig North East for presenting this weekend’s match preview.
Out the Western Highway, past Bacchus Marsh, past the wind farms, past the turn-off to Daylesford. 140km of road before the bus pulls into Morshead Park. The Eltham Redbacks women made the long trip to Ballarat last Wednesday night in the NIKE FC Cup, and came home with an emphatic 6-1 victory. This Saturday, they do it all again.
Spirits will be high among the Redbacks players after a fabulous second half. Leading 2-1 at the break thanks to Samantha Black and Taylor Halabi, a quickfire Paige Foa brace had Eltham in control, before late strikes from Izzy Berks and Ally Giovino put more gloss on the scoreline.
Nine rounds in, this league campaign is shaping into the most ambitious in recent memory. Second on the ladder. 31 goals already, more than any other side in VPLW. Two 4-1 wins on the bounce. Saturday afternoon is the next chance to keep the pressure on.
Clifton Hill sit two points clear at the top, while Bundoora are hot on Eltham’s heels in 3rd, with the unbeaten record and the best goal difference. The Redbacks have the league’s best attack and the squad depth to back it up. Jonathan Barrientos has rotated the bench across this recent run, with Ally Giovino the latest to make a goal-scoring impact as a substitute. Izzy Berks remains in outrageous form, with 13 goals in nine appearances. Only once – against Bundoora in Round 6 – has she been kept scoreless.
Ballarat City have endured a tough run of late, sitting 9th on eight points, with five defeats in their last 6 league outings. However, the side is capable of competing with the league’s best on their day – twice leading away at Hillsview in Round 8 before Bundoora rescued a point with a late equaliser. How the players pull up from another long road trip is the intriguing wrinkle. Eltham will know the value of another early goal.
Three road points from Ballarat keeps Clifton Hill in clear view and keeps the chasing pack at arm’s length.
5:15pm kickoff at Morshead Park. Long drive home if it goes well. Longer if it doesn’t.
Up the ‘Backs.