KOROIT co-coach Carly Pulling says teenager Isabella Baker will play wing defence in her absence against Terang Mortlake.
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Pulling will miss the Hampden league round 16 match with Big V basketball commitments.
The Warrnambool Mermaids guard will travel with the team to Mildura for game two and, if needed, game three of its semi-final series.
Pulling is confident Baker, who is still eligible for the 15 and under competition, will slot into defence with ease.
Baker has played goal attack and wing attack for the Saints’ top team this season.
“We know what she’s like in goal attack and how she can play, so we want to work with her in different positions,” Pulling said.
“We’re playing (bottom-placed) Terang and no disrespect but taking me out of the side with the form we’re in at the moment, we should be OK.”
Koroit jumped to second on the ladder with a percentage-boosting 62-24 win over fellow finals contender Port Fairy on Saturday.
Pulling put the strong performance down to defence, in particular co-coach Jess O’Connor.
“Jess is just amazing. She’s still one of the best, if not the best, defender in the league at this point,” she said of the reigning Hampden league netball best and fairest winner.
“She’s incredible to watch and play with. I wouldn’t want to play against her.”
Pulling said the Saints were rapt to be consolidating a spot in the top three after jumping into second.