NORTH Warrnambool Eagles coach Jaime Barr knows her side will benefit from shorter training sessions as it prepares for its first finals series under her guidance.
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The reason behind the first-year mentor's decision is to enable her side to play at its best for longer, starting with this weekend's crunch match against two-time reigning premier Koroit.
"It's a long year and we had a great win against Cobden and then had a week off and lost momentum and we have been trying to get it back as a group and just trying to work hard for four," Barr said.
"We have got Port (Fairy) and South (Warrnambool) the next few weeks after Koroit and we know we have to work really hard for four quarters, with no lapses with our biggest focus being concentration.
"We have shortened our training sessions with the idea for that being we apply ourselves for the whole training session and for the same amount of time on the court as a way to lift our intensity."
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Barr's Saints counterpart Stacey O'Sullivan has a different approach to how her side will prepare for her first finals series in charge.
"We have done a lot of overall training the last few weeks with a bit of focus on the midcourt and this week we will be making sure everyone knows the game plan," the first-year mentor said.
"I wasn't at training last week and they just did some light training but this Thursday we plan to knuckle down, being four weeks out from finals."
Both coaches identified Nell Mitchell as a critical match-up to securing victory. Eagles defender Jordyn Billings is expected to get the task on the star Saints shooter.
O'Sullivan said her side was aiming to excel in other areas of the court as it looks to extend the gap on the third-placed Eagles to six points.
"Obviously Nell is a big one and she is a massive headache for a lot of people but we also have Bell (Baker) who is lighting quick can play mid and goals," she said.
"We've also got a solid defence in Zahli (Adams), Emily (Batt) and Kasey (Owen). I think everyone on our side can give them a headache."
The Saints defeated the Eagles by one goal the last time the two sides met in round six.
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Sean Hardeman
I'm a sports journalist for the Warrnambool Standard who covers a number of different sports across the south-west of Victoria. I enjoy watching cycling, surfing, football, soccer and Formula 1.
I'm a sports journalist for the Warrnambool Standard who covers a number of different sports across the south-west of Victoria. I enjoy watching cycling, surfing, football, soccer and Formula 1.
