Sport
22 May, 2026
2026 MCDFNL Netball Round 7 Preview — Avoca vs Dunolly
A match originally perceived to be of minor consequence at the start of the season now has major intrigue as the in-form Dunolly Eagles head to the kennel of reigning premiers Avoca.
Despite being victorious in their opening three matches, expectations remained subdued for a relatively unchanged Dunolly team that finished 12th in 2025 and hadn’t defeated someone who made finals last season.
Now with a six-goal victory over consistent finals participants Lexton under their belts, optimism around the Eagles nest has sweltered to a fever pitch.
Upcoming fixtures against Avoca, Navarre and Carisbrook will shape where Dunolly stands among the competition’s elite, yet with Maldon, Harcourt and Campbells Creek in their last four rounds, top eight doesn’t seem like such a lofty goal.
While the Eagles have stunned with their ascent, Avoca has maintained its dominant status quo, issuing another commanding statement with a 29-goal victory over Talbot.
With the dependable quartet of Maddy Egan, Gina Steel, Stacey Blair and Lucy Howell providing a potent attack, the Bulldogs haven’t required a dominant defence. Still, Caitlin Drummond, Ella Patten and Kodie Greenwood have provided just that, conceding on average less than 30 goals a game.
The reigning premiers will centre their defensive game plan on containing Dunolly player-coach Lara Clements, who leads her team with 83 goals at a shooting percentage of 75 percent.
As for the Eagles, ball security will be paramount against the reigning premiers, as they can ill afford to rack up countless turnovers or rush possessions to match Avoca’s lightning tempo in attack.