The Blues occupy third spot on the ladder after beating second-ranked South Warrnambool 43-37 at Deakin University.

Blues coach Raewyn Poumako said the result, on a special day for milestone due Emma Cust and Amy Wormald, gave her side belief.

Cust (200 senior games for the club) and Wormald (100) were among the Blues' best.

"This would be our best win, by far. Every player played really well today," the non-playing mentor said.

"We didn't have any weak spots."

MORE NETBALL: All the round 10 Hampden league scores

Poumako said the Blues' form spike was encouraging as they strive to finish top-five and, potentially top-three which would earn them a double chance comes finals.

"I think you can never underestimate any opposition and the game is anyone's on any day," she said.

"We don't underestimate our opposition but they also have to beat us.

"We just want to get in the top five. Top-three would be icing on the cake."

Warrnambool's ability to play as a cohesive unit is pleasing Poumako who wants to make the Blues a consistent finalist again.

"It's exciting and it's refreshing for the girls.

"We have a real mix in our team - we have our three really experienced players (Cust, Wormald and Sarah O'Keeffe) and then we have a lot of young ones," she said.

"Even our young ones are experienced in that they've been playing open (grade) from juniors.

"It is like the next wave of players coming through as well. When you have a real mix on the court of ages and playing history, it's nice when it starts to come together."

Poumako said Warrnambool, which started the season slowly before finding its rhythm, was a goal down at quarter-time against South, which has been one of the competition's biggest improvers in 2021.

The Blues swung the ascendancy their way and were six goals up at half-time.

"They are a very good team and the first quarter was goal-for-goal and the second quarter we built on a bit of momentum," she said.

"Our defensive pressure really caused some unforced errors from South and some balls that were thrown out of court.

"I thought that was really a big part of our success and we also didn't try and play fancy, we just played in front. Keeping possession was our goal.

"Everything we have been practicing the past few weeks is starting to transpire in our games."

Poumako said her players' driven nature was a catalyst for their winning form.

"The girls are really accountable for errors or ways they can improve their game, individually and as a team," she said.

"We are seeing positive results from that."

Warrnambool midcourter Sarah Smith hurt her back pre-game but "pushed through and played a stellar game".

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can access our trusted content:

Have you signed up to The Standard's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in the south-west.