GRAND FINAL PREVIEW
DIVISION 1
Mordialloc V Caulfield
V 
Meetings This Season:
Round 12: Mordialloc 41-37
Round 5: Mordialloc 46-38
Form Line
Mordialloc: WWWWW
Caulfield: WWWWW
Mordialloc and Caulfield come to the grand final having slayed the dragons that are Heatherton and Dingley, and proved themselves to be in irresistible form. Both sides are on long unbeaten runs; Mordialloc being unbeaten since Round 3, and Caulfield having recovered from a mid-season lull where injury and unavailability bit hard. Now each side arrives at the decider at full strength, with no excuses and nothing to lose.
Caulfield will look to use their fitness and running ability in the mid-court to provide opportunities to their crack shooters. To that end, Makayla Bulte is in her best form of the season, Domica Wescombe is in peak condition after a mid-season hiatus, and Steph Clemons and Brodie Aumont never stop working. They will rely on nullifying the creativity of Sophie Durnan, Jema Matthews and the under-rated Jess de Garis. Mordialloc will be hoping that their shooting division is in form. Emily Morris and Nicole Delany create more opportunities than any other division one pairing, but their accuracy sometimes is not what they would hope. If the goals start to drop early, Caulfield may have their hands full.
I feel the key to this game could be around the Caulfield goal circle. Few can lift their team to victory by the force of sheer will like Caulfield captain Sophie O’Shea can, and in Beth Wilson she has an agile, hungry and dangerous foil who is capable of being a match winner in her own right. Conversely Caity de Garis and Amy Gledhill have been supreme in their frugality in the Mordialloc defence, capable of stopping the very best of attacks. Throw into the mix the versatile Lucy McKeown, who can also be used in attack or even wing defence should the need arise, and every ball into the Caulfield circle becomes a contest with the winners going a long way towards the hoisting of the trophy.
So who wins? I have wavered in my opinion on so many occasions since this match-up was created last weekend, and probably will up until match day. I lean ever so slightly towards Mordialloc, but with very little confidence. I feel that the combination between Sophie Durnan and Emily Morris may provide the impetus for a winning score. The opposite result is equally possible, but with fair weather predicted these two combatants should have ample opportunity to prove their mettle and give their club glory.
DIVISION 2
Cheltenham V Heatherton
V 
Meetings This Season
Second Semi-Final: Cheltenham 37-36
Round 11: Heatherton 49-45
Round 2: Cheltenham 45-34
Form Line
Cheltenham: WWWWL
Heatherton: WLWWW
Cheltenham have shown that they are truly worthy of their grand final berth, stamping their mark on the second semi-final and withstanding a spirited Heatherton finish. Their only blemishes all season came in consecutive weeks in the late mid-season, and by no more than four points on each occasion. Heatherton on the other hand started the season slowly. The season was indeed half over before Heatherton entered the top four, and it took an eight-match unbeaten run leading into the finals to secure their position.
Heatherton recovered from their second semi-final reverse to convincingly end Murrumbeena’s season. They did this on the back of brilliant defensive work by Erin Naismith and Courtney Weiske, the dominance of Sienna Kelly and Jaime Regnier in the middle, and 30 goals from Mia McMillan up front. Cheltenham are a well rounded side with few obvious weaknesses. Much will depend on the likes of Anna Donnelly and Lauren Hucker being able to not only stop the Heatherton goalers, but to set up rebound attacks for their side. The major weapon in Cheltenham’s armoury is Alex Seidle, who finished 81 goals clear as the division’s leading goal shooter. She is a smart positional player with a deadly accurate shot. Such ladies are very dangerous in big matches.
I’m tipping the experience in the Heatherton side to hold sway and win this match. Cheltenham will be right in this match right until the final siren, but this Heatherton side will not give Cheltenham a moment’s peace, and I don’t think they’ll let the opportunity to win their third straight Division 2 flag go begging.
DIVISION 3
St Kilda City V Dingley Gold
V 
Meetings This Season
Second Semi-Final: St Kilda City 33-27
Round 7: St Kilda City 36-32
Form Line
St Kilda City: WWWWW
Dingley Gold: WLWWL
Only two sides have beaten Dingley Gold, as they have amassed 770 goals for the season and cut a swathe through Division 3’s defences. One of those sides is St Kilda City, who were the only side to finish ahead of them and also won the second semi final to be first into the competition decider. Much of Dingley’s attacking success has come on the back of Bianca Waras-Carstensen, who with over 600 goals of her own has more than doubled the next most potent goaler. It was City defender Kate Hyland, however, who took the points when last these two sides met and who the Saints will rely upon to do the same again. St Kilda City will feel as though they have the edge in speed, fitness and athleticism, and will look to use their general creativity to manufacture enough chances for their shooters to post a winning total.
St Kilda City come to this match in peak form, and with the confidence of knowing that they’ve handled this opponent before. Their foes are in the unusual position of being the only Dingley side in commission on grand final day. My tip is for City to do what has long been thought unthinkable and send Dingley home empty handed.
DIVISION 4
Murrumbeena V Heatherton Black
V
Meetings This Season
Second Semi-Final: Murrumbeena 56-34
Round 5: Murrumbeena 41-39
Form Line
Murrumbeena: WWWWW
Heatherton Black: WLWWL
Murrumbeena have steamrolled over all that have crossed their path this season, not being beaten and rarely even being threatened. Indeed the side that has run them close is their opponents on the year’s biggest day, Heatherton Black. Coach Chris Dent has this side well drilled, with every player knowing their role and prepared to perform it for the good of the side. The two Thomsons at each end of the court provide genuine quality and superb leadership, and with few weaknesses in between them they lead a formidable unit. Where Heatherton do hold a significant edge is on the score of experience. In Nicki Arnold, Heidi Samason and Emma Daley they have players that have lifted premierships before in the top two divisions, and who retain the know-how and competitive edge to create great damage should Murrumbeena be even slightly off their game.
The Heatherton girls will have the sense that they can seize upon any vulnerability in a Murrumbeena side not used to being under pressure. Should they be able to start well, they will feel that the grand final is there for the taking. Still, sides do not go through a season unbeaten without being a serious netball team, and Murrumbeena did finish two games clear of Heatherton. I don’t think they’ll be beaten here.
DIVISION 5
Lyndhurst V East Brighton
V 
Meetings This Season
Round 13: Lyndhurst 60-34
Form Line
Lyndhurst: WWWWW
East Brighton: WWWWL
This year’s fairy tale story is East Brighton in Division 5. From fifth place in a tightly bunched pack right until the final competition round, East Brighton unseated Aspendale with a come-from-behind victory and haven’t looked back since. Now they face minor premiers Lyndhurst in the decider, both sides having lain waste to the challenge of Oakleigh District in the process. Lyndhurst are a tall, imposing side who rely upon dominating possession around the court and providing opportunities to twin towers Melissa Mair and Claire Waite, who have over 600 goals for the season between them. East Brighton on the other hand will look to move the ball slickly, using their mid-court speed to feed their taller attackers.
These sides met five weeks ago, the Lyndhurst unit giving the Vampires a fair old pasting by all but doubling East Brighton’s score. I wouldn’t be expecting a similar margin in this clash. However, Lyndhurst have only been trumped once this season, and that way back in Round 4 by subsequently promoted Murrumbeena, leading me to suggest that this may be a bridge too far for the Vampires. East Brighton have the momentum, and will be as game as they come, but I can’t see them finishing in front here.
DIVISION 6
Mordialloc Red V Doveton Eagles
V 
Meetings This Season
Second Semi-Final: Mordialloc Red 48-42
Round 15: Mordialloc Red 42-30
Form Line
Mordialloc Red: WWWWW
Doveton Eagles: WLLWW
Mordialloc Red have dominated Division 6 like no side has dominated any division in the SFNL division in 2018. Doveton Eagles may well have been similarly dominant if not for Mordialloc’s presence, their only reverses being against the Reds and an Aspendale side that then went up a division. These sides did not meet until the final competition round, Mordialloc steadily increasing their margin over the day to win by twelve. The Eagles halved that margin in the following week’s semi-final, and it would not surprise to see this match finish even closer. Mordialloc’s way is to move the ball quickly and precisely through the court to their circle where Touri Bowtell finished 190 clear at the top of the scoring charts. The Eagles are no less of a force however, and will look to release their main shooter, Sarah Schmedemann, who comes into the match in supreme form.
Grand finals bring their own type of pressure, and with that can come some unusual results as some sides handle the occasion better than others. While it’s difficult seeing anything other than a Mordialloc victory in this clash, Doveton’s best chance may be to make an early impression on the scoreboard and try to play on any insecurity that this may bring. I don’t think that will happen – Mordialloc Red for me.
DIVISION 7
Murrumbeena V Hampton
V 
Meetings This Season
Round 12: Murrumbeena 24-20
Round 1: Match abandoned due to weather
Form Line
Murrumbeena: WWWWW
Hampton: WWWWL
Hampton’s ascent to the Grand Final should not surprise many. They have been a fine side right throughout 2018, and while they have dropped the occasional match throughout the year they have been dominant whenever they have seized the initiative. Murrumbeena on the other hand have continued along their merry way through the competition, being ruthlessly efficient in disposing of the challenges placed in their path. Lyndhurst finished undefeated throughout the home and away season; injuries bit hard at the wrong end of the season and the Lightning have been beaten by both combatants here, leaving more questions than answers in this decider. The two sides have clashed but once in 2018, the Lionesses being successful in a low-scoring encounter by four goals. A similar defensive battle here would play more into the hands of Hampton, although the anticipated perfect conditions may make this unlikely.
I fancy that this may be one of the closer matches on grand final day. Both sides will be buoyant about their chances should they be able to get a break on their opponent, and both will feel that they have nothing to lose and will approach the match accordingly. I favour Murrumbeena, but the reverse would not surprise.
DIVISION 8
Hallam Red V Hallam Yellow
V
Meetings This Season
Round 11: Draw 10-10
Form Line
Hallam Red: WWLWD
Mordialloc: WWWWW
The preliminary final win by Hallam Yellow in a feisty clash against Lyndhurst has set up an all-Hallam clash for the ultimate prize in Division 8. The Yellow half of Hawkland come into this clash in the better form and with great confidence that they can complete their assault on the trophy. Hallam Red have been at the summit of the competition for much of the year, with all the pressure that being the hunted rather than the hunter brings, but will have been energised by the week off and will know that they only need to go to the well once more to taste triumph themselves. Yellow won the preliminary final through sheer energy – they came from behind and had too much in the tank for Lyndhurst to counter. Red seem the more physically imposing line-up; they have dominated their opposition on many occasions this season and will look to do the same against their stablemates on Sunday.
Clashes between two sides from the same club can be tricky affairs. They can be lacking intensity, but paradoxically they can engender an atmosphere of increased tension as neither side will give ground to the other. There will be no quarter given or asked in this one – neither side here will want to relinquish their hold on the trophy. In one of the more watchable games of the day, I’ll go with momentum to win the day and tip Hallam Yellow – just.
DIVISION 9
South Yarra V Lyndhurst
V
Meetings This Season
Round 6: South Yarra 40-28
Round 13: South Yarra 39-38
Form Line
South Yarra: WLWWW
Lyndhurst: WWWLL
Lyndhurst has been one of the more inconsistent sides at the top end of Division 9, but a lot of their output has had to do with the personnel they have had on the court, and their ability to gel as a cohesive unit. They have their stuff together just at the right time and are playing with the best level of teamwork that they have all year. South Yarra’s only recent defeat was in Round 15 against Heatherton, a match in which there was relatively little at stake as although the Yarras lost the minor premiership, they retained the double chance. Lyndhurst are a tall side and will look to exploit their physical attributes. The Yarras are a well rounded and versatile side that will look to get the ball quickly to dangerous shooter Julie Telfer, to look to post a total that Lyndhurst can’t catch.
South Yarra have won both clashes between these two sides in 2018, although their most recent clash was a tight affair that could easily have gone either way. This is a very different Lyndhurst unit than that which took the court earlier in the season and will provide a tough challenge. The Lightning started slowly in the preliminary final. I can’t see them getting away with that against South Yarra should they be similarly asleep at the wheel in this game. I think the Yarras may win a close one here.
@HughMaclean 
