Sport
29 May, 2026
2026 MCDFNL Netball Round 8 Preview — Carisbrook vs Talbot
Just over a month removed from their instant classic in round three, Carisbrook and Talbot will meet in an anticipated rematch filled with excitement and potentially pivotal ramifications.
Since the Redbacks vanquished the Hawks in that aforementioned one-goal thriller, both teams have gone on completely different paths. In the four games since that memorable triumph, Carisbrook has won by an average margin of 47.25 goals, a dominant stretch that culminated in a 70-goal win over Campbells Creek last weekend.
Alongside their star-studded midcourt and emerging shooter Abbey Nalder’s best performance of the season, the Redbacks suffocated the Magpies on defence, with Finley Wagstaff and Elise Mottram both excellent.
While Carisbrook has breezed through a relatively soft schedule, Talbot has been at constant war with fellow premiership contenders Lexton, Avoca and Navarre, losing each of those skirmishes.
There is still plenty of time for the Hawks to sharpen themselves. Still, they would love nothing more than to snap their losing funk by redeeming their defeat to Carisbrook.
For that aspiration to become reality, Talbot will need to improve its service to attacking spearhead Elenoa Costello, who was limited to 37 shots last weekend in their defeat to the Grasshoppers.
With Wagstaff, Mottram and Charlotte Cain all capable of making an impact in Carisbrook’s defence, Talbot will call upon midcourters Tina Wardlaw and Loren Aquilina to remain patient and provide pinpoint entry passes to Costello.