OKFNL ǀ Panthers on top with sights set firmly on finals

Perched atop the Ovens & King Football League ladder with 12 wins, the side’s only blemish on a near-perfect record this season came in the form of a round-six defeat to cross-town rival Goorambat.

After enjoying the bye round last weekend, Panthers coach Nich Spencer said his side would be nearing full strength at an ideal stage of their season.

“We’ve had plenty more positives than negatives this year,” Spencer said.

“We’re looking like we’re going to be pretty much healthy (heading into finals), it’s just whether we do bring in our full side against Moyhu next week, or maybe give the odd bloke an extra week.”

“It’ll be good to have a few blokes come back, Chris O’Connor should be back this week, Joel Bate as well, whether we bring Harry Moran back, that could be on the cards as well.”

A number of Spencer’s troops have enjoyed superb seasons, the likes of Riley Moran, Lachlan Thompson and Cody Crawford all bringing unique qualities to what is now a formidable All Blacks outfit.

In a side with no shortage of top-end talent, Spencer said Moran’s return to the club this year has been a big part of their success.

“Obviously it’s pretty hard to go past Riley Moran with everything that he’s done this year, he's just a class above,” Spencer said.

“I think after the couple of years that he had back over at Benalla Saints; he’s come back a different player, he was already a gun when he left last time but I think he’s come back a more mature footballer now.

“He’s got so much time and composure and has been unreal with some of the young blokes in coaching them up as well.”

The versatile Cody Crawford has also been key for the Panthers, Spencer utilising his abilities all across the ground.

“Cody’s just got the ability to turn a game on its head — he’s a match winner,” he said.

“He can kick goals, he takes big marks, he can pinch hit in the ruck, we tried him on ball and he can do that as well.”

The Panthers next five games offer the side an opportunity to sharpen up their footy before finals, and the final fixture — a clash with Goorambat, is a chance for Spencer’s side to atone for their round six defeat.

“Unfortunately we were a bit undermanned, a bit underdone that day (in round six), it’s fair to say the boys are pretty keen to get one back on them,” he said.

“That last round could influence finals, the top four all play each other.

“But it doesn’t matter who we’re playing at the minute, as long as we worry about ourselves and what we’re doing.”

Netball

On the netball side of things, there’s been a lot to like about the Panthers’ season.

Samantha Bochtler’s side sit in fourth with an impressive eight wins and four losses after 13 games.

“We had a pretty strong first half of the season, towards the end though we got hit with a few injuries, it’s just been one of those seasons where you don’t know what’s happening week to week,” Bochtler said.

“We know that we’ve only got the five rounds left and we know that we can’t really afford to lose any if we want to stick with the top three at least.”

Despite a fairly topsy-turvy campaign, the Panthers mentor said the way her newcomers had gelled with the more experienced players this year had been particularly pleasing.

“We are still such new team in a sense, compared to some of the other clubs who have been playing together for years and years,” she said.

“It’s been very exciting to have some new people come into the club who are quite skilled and all bring something different to the team.

“We have quite a strong defence this year, Olivia Cavicchiolo has been very consistent in that goalkeeper role.

“Marnie Thorne who’s come over from Shepp United, she steadies us on the court with her maturity and experience, I’m looking forward to getting her back out on the court with us all.”

The All Blacks are back in action after the bye round for a trip to Moyhu this Saturday.