North Warrnambool Eagles edge out Warrnambool in Hampden netball

North Warrnambool Eagles goal shooter Victoria Grundy was thrown a curve-ball on Saturday when she realised Warrnambool goal keeper Emma Cust was away.

The Blues threw regular goal shooter Danielle Keilar a job in defence, surprising Grundy.

But the Eagles' dynamic duo - Grundy and goal ring partner Skye Billings - adapted, helping their team to a 51-48 victory at Reid Oval.

Grundy drained 24 goals and Billings 27 as the Eagles snapped a two-game losing streak.

Grundy said the match-up kept her guessing.

"I definitely wasn't expecting to play against her but I really enjoyed it," she said.

"It was great to play on someone who was actually a little bit taller than me.

"She was a really great player and it was a great contest with her."

Grundy and Billings have formed a dominant combination for the Hampden league premiership contender in 2019.

"I love being with Skye. This is our first full year of being in the ring together," Grundy said.

"The last two years I was in div one and coming up to fill in for a couple of games but we sort of sync and know where each other is.

"Skye often says to me in the ring 'just stay and I will work around you', so I listen to what she has to say."

North Warrnambool Eagles had their own surprise move, bringing Indi Morrison off the bench.

Barr said Morrison was available sporadically due to work and university commitments.

"We were able to do a bit of a rotation down our defensive end and through the mid-court," she said.

Barr was relieved to secure a win after falling to top-five hopefuls Terang Mortlake and Camperdown in recent weeks.

"It got out to six goals and they let it get back to one, so they are pushing the coach's buttons, there's no doubt about it," she joked.

"But the competition is just so even so we know each week we have to work really hard for our wins so I am just really pleased to get the four points."

Warrnambool coach Raewyn Poumako said it was a game of inches.

"There was nothing in it. I thought the first and second quarters there were a few intercepts and turnovers and the score went up and down a bit but the second half was goal-for-goal," she said.

"The girls played pretty good. We didn't make many mistakes."

The Blues will regain midcourter Kelsey Perry from injury against Port Fairy and will also have Cust, who was on holidays, back in defence.

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