First Nations Round this weekend! Check out our Games of the Week previews below:
Championship Men
Melbourne University v Hume
A game that will potentially shake up the finals race is our Game of the Round this week as Melbourne University host the Hume Broncos. Melbourne University are sitting in 5th position and holding on for dear life as McKinnon tries to chase them down, they will be hungry for wins to close out the season to try to secure a finals birth in their first season in the Championship Division. These two teams haven’t played since Round 6 in a game where star Troyce Manassa was injured early in the game, Melbourne University won it by 16 points in the end. For Hume, it was Chris Elder and Max Viitala who stepped up to fill the hole left by Troyce, contributing over 20 points each. For Melbourne University, they got it done by committee with 5 players scoring in double figures. Melbourne University have since added star guard Isaac Turner to their lineup. This is bound to go down to the wire so make sure that you don’t miss out!
Championship Women
McKinnon v Pakenham
The race for 4th position is well and truly on and McKinnon and Pakenham are right in the thick of it. These teams have already faced off twice with McKinnon winning back in Round 3 by 7 points and Pakenham taking the chocolates the second time they played by 3 points in Round 9. This game will determine the head-to-head decider heading into the finals. Both times these teams have played it has been the Haille Nickerson show, averaging 22 points a game against the Cougars this season. Meanwhile for the Cougars, in the Round 9 loss, it was Briana Gray who was kept unusually quiet, with the Warriors restricting her to just 3 points for the game, as she could not find the bottom of the net. If the Cougars are going to get this win they are going to need a huge effort from Briana Gray to combat some of Nickerson’s elite scoring. There sure is a lot on the line in this one, don’t miss out!
Division One Men
Pakenham v Warrnambool
Finals are well and truly heating up as teams continue to jostle for positions in Division One Men. Warrnambool and Pakenham are both teams that have had a couple of bumps in the road across the last month but will be looking to find their early season form when they face off at Pakenham to begin the race to finals. These teams last played in Round 6 when Pakenham made the long haul down to Warrnambool to come away with an impressive 24-point win as Ned Weideman led the visiting Warriors with 19 points to go with his 3 assists and 4 steals. The Warriors were able to force Jamal Pollydore into an inefficient night in Round 6 and will be needing to do the same this time around if they are going to secure the win. It will be a tough weekend for Warrnambool as they face off against Gippsland United in Traralgon the night before taking on the Warriors. This weekend could make or break their finals run!
Division One Women
Mildura v Bellarine
Mildura Heat will be pleased to be back at home after a well-earned bye weekend last weekend. It is time for them to get their season back on track after two tough losses from their previous two outings. The Bellarine girls will not be letting them get anything easy though as they look to protect 1st place on the ladder in one of our toughest divisions across the entire Big V Competition. These teams last played back in Round 7 where Bellarine dominated from start to finish as Georgia Varley had 19 points to go with 4 assists. For Mildura, Tyra Johnson was the only one who could really get it going on the night finishing with 18 points. Will Mildura be able to turn the result around on their home court to try and consolidate their position in finals? Follow along with this one as it is set to be a cracker!
Division Two Men
Mornington v Sherbrooke
The race for 5th place is well and truly alive and this Mornington and Sherbrooke battle will be right at the heart of it. Mornington have been on a hot streak courtesy of June Player of the Month Kieran McQueen putting up ridiculous numbers whilst partner in crime Brad Murfett has also been influential. Meanwhile, Sherbrooke has started to find some form with Christian Soderholm doing his usual thing while Nick Tarrant moving to a bench role has been instrumental to the balance of the team line-up and helped him find some form of his own at the right time in the season. These teams last played in Round 7 where McQueen and Murfett were allowed to do as they please, and do so very efficiently. For Sherbrooke it was Simon Lokan who proved to be influential, using his size to dominate the glass. Make sure you get to this game to see how Division Two Men’s finals are going to shape up!
Division Two Women
Collingwood v Coburg
A local derby takes this week’s Game of the Round as Collingwood host Coburg as they continue to jostle for position up the ladder. Coburg have been in some fantastic form of late winning 4 of their past 5 games whilst Collingwood have done the opposite, dropping 4 of their previous 5 games. These teams last played in Round 9 which proved to be an incredibly close battle, with Coburg coming out on top after a huge second half. Jackie Smith proved to be the star off the bench for the Giants, pouring in 23 points to go with 8 rebounds and 3 assists whilst, for the All Stars, Anaya Rodisha and Lexi Mackey were impressive and kept the scoreboard ticking over. Which team will finish the year off strong against a local rival? Get to Collingwood College to find out!
Victorian Youth Championship Men
Diamond Valley vs Waverley
It is anyone’s game in the race for finals and the 2024 grading process as the Eagles and Falcons are in positions to compete in either. Diamond Valley have been on a roll recently winning 4 of their last 5 games and making a push for a top 3 position in the Watson conference. Waverley on the other hand dropped 3 games in a row before getting a win back in Round 14. The Falcons will be hungry to get this battle as they need to win just as much, if not more this weekend to keep themselves in the race. Waverley came out on top way back in Round 2 by just 2 points. Improved teams, more to play for, expect this to be a very competitive encounter.
Victorian Youth Championship Women
Frankston vs Dandenong
A preexisting rivalry now comes together in Youth League as Frankston hosts the Rangers in a must-win game to keep their seasons alive in the race for finals. With the return of Bravington and Boorer, the Blues have made a big push hoping to make the postseason. Dandenong, sitting with one more loss to their name have struggled to string wins together now unable to make finals. Yet their battle is to remain out of the grading process held in 2024. There’s no time to relax and play out the season as there’s always something to fight for. Who wants it more when push comes to shove?
Youth League One Men
Keysborough vs Geelong United
Coming from outside the city, Geelong will be hosted by Keysborough in a crucial game as the Cougars look to make a late charge and climb into the finals. Sitting just one game behind 6th they have just as good a chance to knock off some competitive teams and continue to prove themselves as the 2022 Youth Two Champions. Geelong United, sitting not comfortably in 4th place need to keep winning as they currently host Round 1 of the finals. Winning 4 of their last 5 there is no doubt this team can compete with the best of them even after falling to the Cougars back in Round 6 by just 13 points. Will we see a different outcome, or will the Cougars prevail again?
Youth League One Women
Camberwell vs Pakenham
It was a massive game back in Round 9 as Pakenham took down what was an undefeated Camberwell unit by just 8 points. Rhiannon Gallagher stole the show with 31 points shooting 7 from 11 from the Land of Plenty. Kaitlyn Wallace played a great role for the Dragons with 23 points and 7 rebounds, just unable to get the job done. Looking forward, Camberwell sitting 3rd currently on a 2-game winning streak hoping to make one last push for a top 2 finish behind Bulleen and Eltham whilst Pakenham are sitting 6th, 3 games ahead of 7th place with finals just around the corner. With ladder positioning and hosting Round 1 of finals up for grabs, this is a massive game for both sides as the season's end looms.
Youth League Two Men
Pakenham vs Melbourne University
A crucial game for Pakenham as they make a charge for finals at the back end of the season. Melbourne University sit on top of the Watson table 2 games ahead looking like the number one team in the division. Both units having taken out 5 of their last 5 games, will be a 4-quarter battle with a lot to play for. Pakenham’s Cooper Lanting has been consistent all year averaging just over 16ppg shooting 38% from 3pt now faces a big task of coming up against Player of the Month for June, Josh McNally, an experienced guard in Big V Youth and Seniors. Will Lanting step up and take on McNally or will the veteran be too much of a task?
Youth League Two Women
Albury Wodonga vs Southern Peninsula
It has become an extremely tight division with every team able to make finals. Albury Wodonga will host Southern Peninsula in a 4th vs 5th encounter with not only the fight to stay in finals but hosting rights in Round 1. The Sharks are one game behind Albury Wodonga, in arguably better form as of late taking out W against Western Port last round. The Bandits on the other hand, have lost 4 of their last 5 fights to remain in the top 5. With just 2 more rounds left in the season, both units need a win to help their case and hold their position in the finals race.
