Sport
22 April, 2026
Eagles hold off Warriors’ comeback
Stawell Warriors A-Grade netballers have fallen short despite a spirited fightback, going down to the Eagles 41–35 in round two of the Wimmera Football Netball League at Anzac Park last Saturday.
The Warriors made a slow start, trailing by six goals at quarter-time, but showed resilience to claw their way back into the contest. They reduced the margin to just two goals late in the game before the Eagles steadied in the final stages to secure the win.
Co-coach Jemma Clarkson said there were plenty of positives to take from the performance, particularly the side’s ability to respond after a difficult opening quarter.
“We let them get ahead of us early, but it was great that we were able to fight back and get close,” she said.
“Although it didn’t go our way in the end, we didn’t let the game blow out, which is a big positive. The belief was there that we could work our way back into it.”
Clarkson also highlighted improvements in ball movement and decision-making as the game progressed.
“We were more patient and more calculated moving the ball down the court,” she said.
“In the first quarter we weren’t converting turnovers, but we cleaned that up and made better use of our opportunities.
Ayva Mitchell led the scoring for the Warriors with an impressive 29 goals, while Madi Taylor added an important six. Clarkson praised both shooters and emphasised the importance of creating opportunities inside the ring.
“Ayva is shooting really well, and we need to keep building her confidence by working hard to deliver the ball into the circle,” she said.
“Madi is also a very capable shooter, so it’s about making sure defenders can’t just focus on Ayva.”
In defence, Meg Walker and Lisa Considine were named among the Warriors’ best, with Clarkson commending their growing partnership.
“They played a terrific game and are really starting to find their rhythm together,” she said.
“They’ve played alongside each other before, and it’s great to see that connection coming back and how well they read each other.”
With a bye approaching, Clarkson said the team would use the break to regroup.
“We’ll take the opportunity to rest, reset and come back ready to go,” she said.
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