Kestrels Get Best Chance To Upset Swifts

The Age

Friday May 11, 2007

Linda Pearce

IF THERE is such a thing as a good time to play a team that has not lost a game since late in 2005, against the Sydney Swifts, it is probably during the next fortnight. Rarely will the winless Melbourne Kestrels get such an upset opportunity as against the unbeaten but depleted Swifts in Launceston tomorrow night.

Prolific Kestrels goal-scorer Caitlin Thwaites (knee) is expected to return for the contest, but star defensive recruit Julie Prendergast (ankle) is doubtful. And although Kestrels co-captain Rebecca Bulley is away on Australian duty, the flipside is that the national team's tour of England has claimed five Swifts.

Only Kimberlee Green, Jackie Murphy and occasional wing attack Vanessa Ware remain, but former Swift Megan Dehn will use a break in the New Zealand league to return for a cameo appearance in the shooting circle now ruled by Susan Pratley and Cath Cox.

"You can never underestimate the Swifts," said Kestrels coach Jane Searle. "They haven't lost a match in nearly a year-and-a-half and whether they've got their full line-up or not, they have got that belief in themselves that they will always win.

"(But) it is a big opportunity for us, and although we're also going in without our captain, and probably without Julie, I think we've certainly shown that we've got enough depth in our group to combat them."

Still, much hinges on Thwaites, for the Kestrels' attack faltered in her absence during a 15-goal loss to the Firebirds last week.

"Caity's not 100 per cent at the moment, but she's improving every day and she did some light training last night, so I'm pretty hopeful she'll be on the court," Searle said.

"Julie will go to Tassie with us, but we'll leave it until the last minute to decide whether she's going to be able to play or not. She's probably less likely than Caity."

The Kestrels have beaten the Swifts only twice in a decade - most recently in 2000 - but Searle was heartened by the fact her team got closer to the eventual premiers in last year's closing round than either Melbourne Phoenix or Adelaide Thunderbirds managed in the finals.

Nor was the coach downbeat about the two opening losses - the first by five against the Phoenix after scores were level at the last change - or the fact the Kestrels have been scheduled to play a home game on a neutral court in Tasmania.

"Without our two probably best players, we nearly beat the Phoenix, so that was really good for us," Searle said. "And last week, we really missed Caity; our shooters just didn't put the ball through, but everywhere else we were quite good.

"I'm pretty confident that we're going to make the four, and once we're in the four, I think we can go all the way."

Phoenix will have to cover for national trio Sharelle McMahon, Bianca Chatfield and Natasha Chokljat when they meet the Hunter Jaegers tonight in Newcastle.

Perth hosts the AIS Canberra Darters, while the Thunderbirds - without the von Bertouch sisters and Kristen Hughes - are at home to Queensland.

© 2007 The Age

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