Battle of the raptors for a spot in the grand final

Both clubs have all senior teams competing – and in the case of East Geelong, all junior sides as well – with Saturday’s second semi-final schedule a genuine battle of the raptors.

The Hawks and Eagles play each other in A, B, D and E Grades with North Geelong taking on East in C Grade.

Inverleigh will be fresh from a week off after claiming the A Grade minor premiership while East Geelong defeated Bannockburn by three goals in a tight qualifying final.

While pleased with her team’s resolve to win a close final, East Geelong coach Justine Radford knows Inverleigh boasts star power all over the court. In their only meeting this season, the two sides couldn’t be separated at 32-32 in round 11.

“They’re obviously a really strong team across the board,” Radford said.

“Nicola McLennan has had a fantastic season in goals. She’s quite dominant there.

“They’ve got Zoe Saunders, who transitioned across from Belmont last year so she’s got that finals experience.

“Their defence end is strong. I really rate all of the Inverleigh players and I have a lot of respect for Lisa (Milne) as the coach and they’ve been up there for the last few years. I’m sure they’re very hungry.”

Radford’s Eagles aren’t too shabby either.

Their ability to adapt was on show in the qualifying final when goal attack Alicia Kelton suffered a hamstring injury towards the end of the opening quarter.

Radford was reluctant to move Jenelle Baker from wing attack where she was playing so well, so she called upon youngster Frankie Willson.

“Janelle is our third goaler, but she was having a good game at wing attack and I didn’t want to change that,” Radford said.

“So I threw in Frankie Willson, who is still in our Under 19 side and made her debut in A Grade this year, and she played in goal for the remainder of that game and she did a really great job, too.

“So the rotations through the girls, they can play across multiple positions in all thirds which is really handy to have.”

Kelton’s injury is on the lower end of the scale and Radford said she was hopeful the veteran would be right to go this Saturday.

“I think she’ll be fine,” she said.

“She actually did it a couple of weeks ago and then took the last game of the home and away season off.

“I think it’s just a little bit tight. She should be fine come next week, but if not, we’ve got those rotations and I guess we’ve got the double chance, too.”

Radford said having all teams still in the hunt for a premiership was a good position to be in for obvious reasons, but also for morale.

“We’ve still got every team remaining in finals (and) those girls in the lower grades are still there at training,” she said.

“It keeps it a little bit more consistent and a little bit more similar to what it normally is rather than it be a huge change for the girls comes finals time.”

WINCHELSEA progressed to a first semi-final match-up against Bannockburn and ended Thomson’s season with a 43 to 32 elimination final result.

With Maddison McKiernan strong in defence and Meg Royal patrolling the midcourt, the Blues were too good while Amelia Jarvis was once again superb at centre for Thomson.