Season Preview - Eastern Women
The gist: Coming off a fairytale 2012, the Eastern Mavericks have retained the services of star Tess Madgen, and are well-positioned to make a second successive playoff run.
The stat:The Mavericks made the finals in 2012 despite being outside the five throughout the first seventeen rounds of the season. It was only after Southern’s Round 18 loss to Centrals that the Mavericks entered the top five, having swept their season series with the Tigers.
The star: Tess Madgen did it all for the Mavericks last season, averaging 30.1 ppg, 14.6 rpg and 5.2 apg. The Mavericks lost all three games that she did not feature in.
The x-factor: Amanda MacDermot will play for the Mavericks for the first time since 2010. Her scoring declined each season from 2005-10, but with handy career averages of 12.6 ppg, 4.8 rpg and 3.4 apg, she could be a great second option on offence and take some of the pressure off Madgen.
The glass half-full: With Madgen in the line-up, the Mavericks will always have a chance to win. They have also retained some improving youngsters in Tenille Searl, Shannon Tarran and Jemma Thacker.
The glass half-empty:Was 2012 a fluke?
The verdict: The Mavericks should finish somewhere between third and sixth, so long as Madgen is fit and firing.
Predicted finish: 4th
2012
Final placing: 5th
Record: 10-8
Home record:4-5
Road Record: 6-3
Longest win streak: 5
Longest losing streak: 3
Best result: 76-71 W @ Southern
Worst result: 45-90 L @ North
2013
By James Woite
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