An enthralling first week of A Grade finals raised eyebrows across the courts. From heavy-weight battles, dominant wins and upset victories, the weekend's action had it all.
North Ballarat
def.
Bacchus Marsh
North Ballarat have reminded the BFNL’s premier netball competition that they’re here to go all the way.
Annie McCartin’s Roosters produced a commanding win over the Cobras, extending their lead at every break and proving once again their ability to perform in finals.
With Poppy Douglas returning from overseas on Saturday, youngster Georgia Bodey earned the starting GA bib and more than rose to the occasion.
With goal shooter Maddy Selmon the main target under the post this season, Bodey added a new look to North’s goal ring — shooting 13 from 14 in the first half alongside Selmon’s 14 from 16.
Nichole Gleeson kept her side unchanged through the first half, letting them settle into their first finals appearance in six years.
But trailing by 12 at the main break, she made a series of changes heading into the third and throughout the second half.
Lauren Shankland, part of the winless Cobras line-up last season, was injected into wing attack, while Eliza Moodie shifted from goal defence to goal attack to take some pressure off youngster Jasmine Paama.
McCartin made changes of her own, showing the depth of the Roosters’ line-up.
Douglas slotted into goal attack, feeding Selmon as she has for much of the season, while Stacey Matthews brought fresh legs and plenty of finals experience at wing attack.
By three-quarter time, the margin had stretched to 20.
All Bacchus Marsh could do in the last was fight it out, and to their credit they did.
Kimberley Phillips became a target under the post, opened up by Paama’s movement, and the Cobras managed to take the final term 13–12.
While the season ends here for Bacchus Marsh, making finals probably feels like a win in itself — a sign of what hard work and club culture can build.
North Ballarat, meanwhile, turn their focus to Sunbury as they look to lock in a spot in the 2025 A Grade Grand Final.
Redan
def. by
Lake Wendouree
If there was a team capable of writing the fairy tale of sixth beating third, we said it would be Lake Wendouree. And on Saturday at Maddingley Park, they did exactly that.
A commanding start from the Lakers was all it took to book their spot in this weekend’s Semi Final 1.
Led by defenders Kate Drew (GK) and Remi Hooper (GD), the Lakers capitalised early, feeding young shooters Ade Funcke (GS) and Ebony Porter (GA), who converted 11 of 16 attempts to Redan’s 6 from 9.
The Lions looked to shift momentum in the second quarter with the injection of recruit Tahlia Thompson into GA.
She made an immediate impact, shooting 6 from 8.
But Courtney McLean’s Lakers had a response of their own, calling on the experience of Mel Allen at GS, who steadied with 4 from 5.
Trailing by four at half-time, Redan threw everything at the contest through the midcourt.
Lily Francis and Sadie Cheeseman fought hard through the centre position, while defenders Erin Riley (GK) and coach Ash Smith (GD) started to generate turnovers in the Lakers’ attack.
The Lions dominated possession, producing 15 scoring shots to the Lakers’ 9, but Allen and Porter were clinical, finishing the quarter at a flawless 100%.
With just two goals in it heading into the last, the game was there for the taking.
Redan clawed back the lead late and looked set to spoil the fairy tale.
But the composure and relentless defence of Lake Wendouree came to the fore, just as it had in the first quarter, sealing the win by a single goal.
The Lakers now continue their dream run as they prepare to face Darley in Semi Final 1 on Sunday.
Sunbury
def.
Darley
The qualifying final between Sunbury and Darley could well have been a Grand Final preview.
With the two sides boasting more players than any other team with high-level netball experience, the scoreline reflected the class of netball on display.
Sunbury wasted no time on their journey to back-to-back flags, finding competition leading goal scorer Becca Hicks under the ring, missing not a single shot in the opening term.
Down the other end, Sunbury’s Elly Randall (GK) and Eliza Gollant (GD) were able to double team Darley’s Liv Cawthray (GS) and limit the feeds to the dominate shooter.
However, captain Mon Nagle (GA) lead from the front, providing another scoring option in the goaling ring for her side.
Whilst Shannon Blackman’s side remined unchanged heading into the second term trailing by one, Kim Bailey experimented with the wing defence position across the opening half, seeing who out of Georgia Hellyer, Sarah Croft and Abigail Inglis could provide a shutdown of the speedy Lucy Taylor (WA) and provide connection in transition.
Darley’s reliable duo Anna Lawley (GD) and Matilda Elliott (GK) were able to limit the Sunbury’s feeds to Hicks in the second quarter, covering the high ball beautifully.
Similar to the Devils, it was goal attack Caitlin Hill who then provided the go to option, contributing 7 goals from 9 attempts.
With both Blackman and Bailey having done their homework on how one another’s sides play, changes at the main break were made by both teams.
For the Lions, Croft came into the centre to limit Blackman’s influence and Tayla Honey was moved to wing defence. For the Devils, Ailish McCormack entered the game into wing attack and Lucy Taylor was given the task of combating reigning dual Sally McLean medallist Simona Di Fillipo.
The game started to drift in the hands of Sunbury, extending their lead throughout the third term.
Darley responded though, bringing McCormack into the goal ring, and Jaime Smith back into wing defence.
They clawed the game back to trail by three heading into the last.
As the final quarter progressed, Sunbury extended their lead out to as much as six goals.
But the relentless pressure from the Devils and perhaps complacency from the Lions saw back-to-back turnover through attack.
The Devils capitalised and brought the score back within one.
However, it took one turnover for the Lions to find their rhythm again and remain composed and in control to take a three-goal win.
Darley will now face Lake Wendouree to keep their finals hopes alive, with Sunbury set to take on North Ballarat after Redan’s shock exit.
