Ashe Pool:
Diamond Valley Eagles (4th, 2-0) vs Pakenham Warriors (8th, 0-2)
Dandenong Rangers (1st, 2-0) vs. Knox Raiders (3rd, 2-0)
Bulleen Boomers (6th, 1-1) vs. Southern Peninsula Sharks (5th, 1-1)
Nunawading Spectres 2 (7th, 0-2) vs. McKinnon Cougars (9th, 0-2)
Frankston Blues (10th, 0-2) vs. Kilsyth Cobras (2nd, 2-0)
In an all-important mid-table clash between Bulleen Boomers and Southern Peninsula Sharks, the top two leading shooters will go head-to-head. Bulleen’s Casey Valenti-Paea is averaging 23 points per game in season 2019, marginally ahead of the Sharks’ Charli Dobson (21.5). The top-of the table Dandenong Rangers have no trouble with fire power, as Elly Morgan (19.5 points per game) and Emily Sewell (18) have had great starts to the season and will look to continue that form against third placed Knox Raiders, who have Arielle Mackey-Williams (14) and Alannah Chatfield (11.5). Likewise for Kilsyth, they hope to pile on more pain against Frankston, led by Tia Wotherspoon (19.5) and Nikita Young (18). In other games, fourth placed Diamond Valley Eagles hope to keep touch with the other three undefeated sides with a win over Pakenham Warriors, while Nunawading Spectres 2 and McKinnon Cougars go head-to-head as both sides search for their first victory.
Watson Pool:
Warrandyte Venom (10th, 0-2) vs. Dandenong Rangers 2 (7th, 1-1)
Nunawading Spectres (9th, 0-2) vs. Hawthorn Magic (1st, 2-0)
Geelong Supercats (4th, 1-1) vs. Broadmeadows Broncos (6th, 1-1)
Altona Gators (3rd, 2-0) vs. Keilor Thunder (2nd, 2-0)
Bendigo Braves (5th, 1-1) vs. Melbourne Tigers (8th, 0-2)
The number one shooter from the Watson pool is Hawthorn Magic’s Ryleh Killian who has posted 40 points this season at an average of 20 per game. They take on the ninth placed Nunawading Spectres, whose top ranked shooter is Louisa Fakalata (25 at 12.5). The match of the round has to be third placed Altona against second placed Keilor Thunder. The Gators escaped last round with a close win over Melbourne Tigers, and Jordan Wilson leads the way in points with 13.5 per game. For the Thunder, Georgia Hanna (14.5) and Victoria Ikenasio (12) are both in good form early. The Tigers hope to bounce back against Bendigo in Round 3, with Emily Kurkowski leading the way so far this season (15 points per game), while Braves’ shooter Tess Barnes has sunk 25 points at 12.5 per game. In other matches, cellar dwellers Warrandyte Venom hope to get on the board against Dandenong Rangers 2 at home, while Geelong Supercats engage in a mid-table battle with sixth placed Broadmeadows Broncos.
