Pure pass: Monash University Central will need big efforts from players such as Lauren Tscharke when it faces Ballarat Pride on Wednesday night at the State Netball Centre in Parkville. Picture: Michael Copp
MONASH University Central will call on its depth leading into its Victorian Netball League clash with Ballarat Pride on Wednesday night.
The third-placed Central will be without defenders Kate Yensch and Helen Barclay along with shooters Stacey Northey and Lauren Bennett when they meet the Pride at the State Netball and Hockey Centre in Parkville.
Central coach Leesa Maxfield said her younger squad members would need to step up in place of four regular starting players.
"The good thing this year is that we've got 10 players who can come on court and help us," she said.
Central firmed in third position with a 63-50 win over second-placed Peninsula Waves at the State Netball and Hockey Centre last Wednesday night.
Maxfield said her players were switched on from the warm-up and used persistent pressure defence to force turnovers from the Waves players.
"Even from when girls came in for our pre-game chat and warm up there was a very good vibe," Maxfield said.
"From the word go we got on top, we were moving the ball well and our defensive pressure was good even though the scores were close.
"We thought our pressure would start to tell in second half and even though we were forced to make a few changes we still kept pressure on and managed to capitalise on the errors we forced in the second half by shooting at a high percentage."
Maxfield commended her shooters for all shooting above 92 per cent along with division 1 player Maggie Taumaoe, who replaced injured defender Yensch in the second half and stood tall alongside experienced defender Helen Barclay.
Central's shooting numbers made impressive reading with Karyn Howarth (26-27, 96 per cent), Bennett (14-15, 93 per cent) and Northey (23-25, 92 per cent).
"It makes a big difference when our shooters are shooting well. It lets our defence have an attacking frame of mind," Maxfield said.
Yensch will miss the Waves game to rest her injured ankle ahead of representing Victoria at the national 21 and under championships in Perth next month.
VNL ladder: City West 48 points, 137.39 per cent; Peninsula 44, 110.50; Monash University Central 40, 115.38; Southern 38, 115.56; Western 36, 104.87; Yarra Valley Grammar 34, 107.81; North East 26, 106.91; Geelong 22, 94.48; Boroondara 8, 74.26; Ballarat 0, 60.45.