COBDEN’S fate is still in its own hands as it prepares to tackle fourth-placed Warrnambool in a clash that will all but lock-in a finals campaign for the winner.
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The Bombers stumbled against North Warrnambool last week – going down by four goals – but can still snatch fifth place if they are able to down Warrnambool today.
Cobden coach Nadine McNamara said the Bombers would look to factors within their control in the lead up to the must-win contest.
“Our preparation has been the same as any other this season really, we’re working on things we know we can improve on from last week’s game against North Warrnambool,” she said.
“The last time we played Warrnambool it was a close game, I think there was only three goals in it. Our defensive pressure is strong, but we need to patient, rotate the ball around and into our two goalies.
“It’s going to be a highly contested match and we need to be steady early. That’s normally how games like this are won.”
She said her side’s improvement since she took the helm at the start of the season was evident.
“We’ve had injuries to players like Tegan McNamara, but I think we’ve adjusted really well. Our new combinations have been good.”
North Warrnambool Eagles must win against bottom-placed South Warrnambool to secure their spot in finals, but are most likely to advance to fourth if they can topple the Roosters at the Friendly Societies’ Park.
Eagles goal-shooter Laura Blackburn said the club’s coaching staff had relaid positive messages to the playing group in the lead up to the game.
She said the side was primed for tough encounter with the Roosters.
“Our coaches are good in that they don’t put too much pressure on us. They don’t sit us down and say ‘you have to win this’,” she said.
“Even though South are lower on the ladder, they are no easy beat and we aren’t going to take it easy in the slightest. We have to be ready mentally for a physical game.
“There is always that excitement around the place at this time of year and because we won the premiership last year, there is the fire in the belly to hopefully do that again.”
Blackburn, 24, said she believed the Eagles had improved consistency throughout the year.
“We used to beat Camperdown one week, and then lose the next – but we’re stringing together more four-quarter efforts,” she said.