SANDRINGHAM Dragons will welcome Northern Territory to RSEA Park tonight for an intriguing clash. The Top End side will play the first of its three games in the Coates Talent League Girls competition, with two in the space of three days before returning home to host Calder Cannons in Darwin in a fortnight’s time.

NEED TO KNOW

WHEN: Thursday May 29, 6:45pm
WHERE: RSEA Park, Moorabbin
WATCH: Live streamed via Coates Talent League app

IN A NUTSHELL

Sandringham Dragons have hit their straps of late, pushing the undefeated Dandenong Stingrays in Round 5 before easily accounting for an inaccurate Murray Bushrangers in Round 6. Sitting 2-3 for the year, the Dragons have winnable games coming up in June, with three of their next four opponents sharing just one win between them. Of course that includes the Territory who play for the first time tonight.

TEAMS

Sandringham Dragons:

B: #29 Isla Tucker – #43 Georgia Zuchowski – #58 Gabrielle Trajer
HB: #51 Hayley Carr – #18 Ruby Hartney – #70 India Ford
C: #2 Grace McIntyre – #55 Grace Perrett – #28 Amy Smith
HF: #50 Izabela Ignjic – #32 Freya Smythe – #44 Sienna Sharp
F: #41 Molly Allan – #34 Peggy Martin – #68 Isabel Koster
R: #30 Olivia Smith- #59 Maya Duane – #10 Macy Watkins
INT: #11 Cleo Phillips – #24 Claudia Kogler – #39 Chloe Williams – #62 Cyan Van der Merwe – #66 Ella Matthews

Northern Territory:

B: #4 Bella McLean – #25 Danika McDonald – #23 Bella Foster
HB: #6 Tatyana Perry – #16 Lexie Cagney – #13 Lakhyah Hill
C: #3 Demi-Lee Braun – #12 Taelah Smith – #5 Elsie Harden
HF: #8 Peggy Rock – #26 Cate Twaddle – #18 Shakaila Gardiner-Dunn
F: #17 Sharna Edwards – #28 Bonnie Brown – #19 Jorja Davey
R: #11 Jade Moir – #1 Marika Carlton – #7 Aaliya Mukhlis
INT: #9 Gabriella Reisinger – #15 L’eja Roe – #20 Lavinah Pollo – #24 Summer Malone – #2 Layla May

ONES TO WATCH

Sandringham Dragons have a number of Vic Metro hub members with Macy Watkins leading the midfield alongside Under 16s star Maya Duane who has been named in the midfield after a few games up forward with great success. Grace Perrett rounds out the on-ball group, with the classy Amy Smith on one wing and speedy Grace McIntyre on the other one.

Sienna Sharp showed earlier this year her potential to inflict maximum damage when she does not have an opponent that can go with her and it could be the case again, while Chloe Williams is an exciting bottom ager named on the bench and could play on any line. Defender Isla Tucker will provide rebound out the back 50, while Claudia Kogler comes in with big wraps.

The Territory will lean on the support of Tatyana Perry in defence, with the over-ager having gained great experience with Oakleigh Chargers since moving to Victoria. Marika Carlton will add eye-catching pace to the midfield as well as great defensive pressure, while Danika McDonald is the other National Academy member with the potential to stand up and play a key role.

Shakaila Gardiner-Dunn and Peggy Rock are aggressive tacklers who can also find the ball, with Demi-Lee Braun named on a wing and Jorja Davey in a forward pocket among the other Top End talents to watch in the match.

PREDICTION

Sandringham should secure a comfortable win in the match, with the Territory only playing its first match of the competition. Last season the side was greeted by torrential rain, so hopefully the conditions are a little better and plenty of skills can be on display.