AFTER an unexpected road bump last week, Mitiamo is hot favourite to head into the Loddon Valley A Grade netball grand final when it meets Bridgewater on Saturday. 
Previously unbeaten Mitiamo tumbled to a shock 17-goal defeat against Pyramid Hill, repeating the result from 2024.
The Superoos now must beat Bridgey to have another crack at the Bulldogs, whom they beat last season in the grand final after losing the second semi.
Having lost to Mitiamo by 29 goals in the last round of the season, Bridgewater knows it is up against it, facing a talented side on the rebound. However, coach Caz Wood said the first clash this year, which Mitiamo won by eight goals, proved Bridgey could match it with the Superoos.
Mitiamo’s Helen Ward medallist Amelia Ludeman will have a huge say in the result, with her consistent constructive play in the centre having been rewarded by the umpires.
Goaler Laura Hicks has had another fine season, taking fourth place in voting, and will provide a strong presence up forward.
Bridgewater’s speedy wing attack Olivia Hoiles finished fifth in the league award, and she offers a real conduit between defence and attack. An uncertain element is the weather. Calivil, which will host the preliminary final, can be a challenging place to play netball if it’s windy, so both teams will need to adapt to the conditions, which can tend to even out any skill imbalance.
Miti has a similarly open-to-the-elements netball complex, so the Superoos are less likely to be impacted if gales are roaring across the plains.
But Bridgey has nothing to lose and will throw everything at the reigning premiers in what shapes as a fascinating contest.