Dropping just one match before the 2021 season was cut short, the Purples have had to battle hard in the first fortnight of 2022, grinding out tight wins against Mulwala (34-27) and Moama (37-22).
“We have done really well (in the first two games), but I still don’t think we have played close to our best netball yet,” McDonald said of her team’s start to the season.
“Our defensive end has carried us so far, they have been faultless and are a real powerhouse that works so beautifully together.
“Having new players in the team we are still finding each other’s limits, so I feel we still have another gear to find which is exciting.”
Next on the agenda is fellow undefeated side Tongala, who after recording dominant wins against Echuca United and Barooga comes into this clash brimming with confidence.
McDonald said she could not wait to get out on the court against one of the Purples’ traditional rivals.
“We are really looking forward to it, it is always a tough match against Tongala and they always come out firing against us,” she said.
“Milly Brock is always hard to beat, but I think we match up against her very well with our defensive set-up, the real focus for us is shutting her down really.
“I think we have the class and experience elsewhere on the court to give ourselves a great chance to win.”
For the Blues, coach Paige Wade sees the clash with Nathalia as a great opportunity to test her squad after a hot start to the season.
“Nathalia will be our big challenge; they have had a pretty good start as well,” Wade told the Riverine Herald after the win at Barooga last week.
“It will be our first big challenge for the season. I’m really looking forward to seeing where we’re at.
“This is exactly the start we had hoped for.”
Elsewhere, Moama will be looking to register its first win of the season in a Good Friday showdown with Echuca United.
Having faced arguably the competition’s two best teams in Rumbalara and Nathalia to begin the season, Lisa Drysdale said she was not overly concerned by the 0-2 start.
“We’ve clearly played the top two teams, I don’t know if anyone can get any stronger than these two teams,” Drysdale told the Riverine Herald after last week’s loss.
“Our record is not indicative of where we will be. If we don’t have wins in our next few games, then I will be disappointed.
“We have still kept strong and as a team and we have been so supportive of each other, which is very pleasing.”
The task is a little bit easier for the Magpies this week as they face an Echuca United side also sitting in the bottom reaches of the ladder, after heavy defeats to Tongala and Deniliquin.
Congupna will have its sights set on a 3-0 start to the season as it makes the trip to Mulwala.
Ladder-leader Finley will face its toughest test of the season as it travels to Deniliquin to face the undefeated Rams.
Fierce rivals Cobram and Barooga do battle at Scott Oval on Easter Saturday, with the Hawks desperate to register their first win.
Meanwhile the Rumbalara juggernaut rolls into Numurkah Showgrounds for a clash with the young Blues.
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