GIPPSLAND Power will welcome Sandringham Dragons in a massive standalone Saturday clash at Shepley Oval with both teams preparing for finals action this season. After a week off the two sides enter off losses, and with a fortnight remaining in the regular season, will be keen to take home the four points.

NEED TO KNOW

Venue: Shepley Oval, Dandenong
Date: Saturday, August 16
Time: 11:00am

FORM

Gippsland is coming in off its worst performance since Round 1, going down to Tasmania Devils by 79 points and failing to kick a goal in that Round 16 match. It marked a rare defeat in the past few months, having won eight of the past nine prior to that. For the Dragons, a spirited 32-point loss to the Chargers after leading for a fair chunk came a week after they rolled an – albeit understrength – Eastern Ranges outfit.

TEAMS

Gippsland Power:

#2 Jamie Chapman
#5 Evelyn Gudgin
#6 Shae Langley
#7 Brooke Kelly
#8 Mia Smith-Clark
#9 Lily Milner
#10 Grace Dillow
#12 Bonnie Williams
#13 Summer Harbour
#14 Tia Jenkins
#15 Melissa Diggerman
#16 Jessica Grimsted
#17 Ashleigh Perkins
#18 Siena Lane
#19 Ella Stoddart
#20 Keira Gibbs
#22 Acacia Sutton
#23 Jayda Tannahill
#29 Rebecca Fitzpatrick
#32 Abby Hobson
#33 Maya Crestani
#35 Zahri Burn
#36 Chelsea Sutton

Sandringham Dragons:

#10 Macy Watkins
#11 Cleo Phillips
#17 Nina Pound
#18 Ruby Hartney
#22 Kera Galaminda Gellar
#23 Imogen Perrett
#28 Amy Smith
#29 Isla Tucker
#30 Olivia Smith
#32 Freya Smythe
#38 Chloe Shipton
#42 Molly Allan
#43 Georgia Zuchowski
#44 Sienna Sharp
#50 Izabela Ignjic
#54 Ashley Patton
#55 Grace Perrett
#57 Lila Saunders
#59 Maya Duane
#62 Cyan Van der Merwe
#66 Ella Matthews
#67 Hannah Dowling
#68 Isabel Koster
#70 India Ford

KEY PLAYERS

Gippsland Power

In-form National Academy member Ella Stoddart has a key role in defence, working well to link up with the likes of Abby Hobson coming out of attack, and athletic ruck Maya Crestani. The bottom-age midfield pair of Grace Dillow and Lily Milner are exciting prospects for next year, while Rebecca Fitzpatrick and Chelsea Sutton also gained experience through Vic Country. Gippsland has such a wonderfully balanced squad, the Power will have plenty of AFLW Draft prospects over the next three seasons.

Sandringham Dragons

Though some of the players will have an eye towards Tuesday with Melbourne Girls Grammar in the Herald Sun Shield Senior Girls final, Macy Watkins and Maya Duane will look to continue their fantastic form for the Dragons. Chloe Shipton and Isla Tucker are bottom-agers with great athletic traits, while Kera Galaminda Gellar has talent and makes her long awaited return from an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. Sienna Sharp and Amy Smith are talented Vic Metro reps to note down too.

PREDICTION

Gippsland Power will be hungry to bounce back from a disappointing loss to the Devils last week. No Chloe Williams is a huge blow for the Dragons who has become a key interceptor in the back half, which tips the scale in the Power’s favour. They need to get a fast start in order to get on top, and if Gippsland can do that, then the Power should come away with a narrow win. The Dragons certianly have the credentials to cause an upset though.

ROUND 17 FIXTURE:

Saturday, August 16:

Gippsland Power vs. Sandringham Dragons @ Shepley Oval, 11:00am

Sunday, August 17:

Tasmania Devils vs. Bendigo Pioneers @ Windsor Park, 11:00am
GWV Rebels vs. Dandenong Stingrays @ Mars Stadium, 11:00am
Geelong Falcons vs. Oakleigh Chargers @ Avalon Airport Oval, 12:00pm
Northern Knights vs. Western Jets @ Genis Steel Oval, 2:10pm