After a slow start to the season, Echuca United has put together an impressive seven straight wins, defying a poor 0-2 start to sit 7-2 at the halfway point of the season.
A-grade captain Jess Davidson said there was a great feeling among the group, who are yet to put a foot wrong since the round three bye.
“There is a very positive vibe in our squad at the moment, we are training hard and seeing the results on the court,” she said.
The Eagles have also overcome a mid-season coaching change, with Jess Saunders’ departure opening the door for Kate Donehue and Asher Arnel to take command of the side, which Davidson said had been seamless.
“It has been a smooth transition with Kate and Asher stepping into the coaching roles,” she said.
“They both have a wealth of knowledge and have made a huge impact on the way we are combining together as a team both on and off the court.”
Sitting fourth on the A-grade ladder, just one win separates Echuca United from Mulwala in second, and a win over the Magpies tomorrow will only increase the pressure on the teams ahead of them.
Moama finds itself right in the hunt at the midpoint of the season too.
The Pies sit in sixth spot on the ladder with a 5-4 record, one game back from fifth-placed Rumbalara (6-3), and remain a solid finals candidate.
A three-week patch from rounds seven to nine has been the Magpies’ best period of the year, after struggling for consistency at the start of the season.
Despite a loss last week to Rumbalara, Moama coach Jodie Lake said her side remained upbeat, with player reinforcements to arrive ahead of the Three Jacks trophy clash.
“We come (in) with heads held high after last weekend, nothing too negative there,” Lake said.
“We're nearly back to a full-strength squad this week, so that's really promising too.”
The positivity is also buoyed by the fact the Magpies were the last side to beat the Eagles way back in round two, something the side has talked about throughout the week.
“Definitely, and just the fact that they always put it to us, but we always come out on top,” Lake said of the messaging throughout the week.
“They certainly have had a really good run, so we will be looking at that, but it always comes down to (what happens) on the day.
“We'll go in positive, we are all ready, and we've trained all week really well. So yeah, positive things.”
The two sides will do battle at 1.30pm tomorrow at Moama Recreation Reserve, and with September creeping ever closer, this is a match both sides will be desperate to mark down as a win.
