SFNL A1 Netball 2025 Grand Final Preview

The stage is set for one of the most anticipated netball clashes of the season as Dingley and Cheltenham prepare to lock horns in the SFNL A1 Netball Grand Final this weekend. It’s a rivalry that has defined the competition in recent years, and with the premiership on the line once again, both clubs are determined to etch their names in history.

Cheltenham enters the decider as the reigning powerhouse, having claimed the past two Grand Finals at the expense of Dingley. Yet, the Dingoes come into this year’s showdown with renewed belief, having won seven of the last nine meetings between the two sides. The only blemishes? The 2024 Finals Series – when Cheltenham once again proved their big-game pedigree.

For Dingley, the hunger is undeniable. The players know the heartbreak of recent years all too well, and with a formidable 2025 campaign behind them, the belief within the group is stronger than ever.

“The girls are really excited,” said Dingley’s Alexandra Lincoln. “Definitely walking in with some confidence and form but as you know, grand final days are a completely different ballgame. Unfortunately, they’ve got the water over us the last few years, but we’re both coming in with some new talent this season. I think it’s going to be a hard one for the coaches to place everybody and see how they go.

Hopefully, we’ve done enough this season against them that we can come away with the silverware, but we definitely know it’s not going to be an easy game.”

Lincoln highlighted the importance of Kate O’Dwyer, who has built a dynamic connection with Brooke McCartney, while inspirational captain Monique Lenehan-Moustafa will once again be pivotal in steering the side on court.

Dingley coach AJ Ballantyne knows all too well the challenges Cheltenham present on the big stage, but he’s backing his side to rise when the moment matters most.

“Obviously the last couple of years have been awesome grand finals and unfortunately we’ve come out on the wrong end of a couple of them,” Ballantyne admitted. “It’s been an interesting year – we’ve had the wood over Cheltenham this season but I don’t think they’ve had their full team in for any of the games against us. Both teams will be full strength this weekend and we know it’s going to be a very tight game as they always are.

“The message to our girls will just be to keep doing what we’ve been doing and to weather that storm late in the game when Cheltenham start pushing really hard. It’s really about who holds their nerve in that last quarter.”

Ballantyne was also quick to highlight the influence of Lorna Clark, the 2024 League Best and Fairest winner and a top-three finisher in this year’s count. Her composure and skill in big moments could prove decisive in determining which side lifts the trophy.

For much of the 2025 SFNL A1 Netball season, Cheltenham’s chances of making another Grand Final seemed to hang by a thread.

Player unavailability, a reshaped competition, and a patchy run of results left the Rosellas on the back foot. But as the season wore on, timing became their greatest ally. With key stars returning to the line-up, Cheltenham have roared into the finals series – and now stand just one win away from an extraordinary third consecutive premiership.

Coach Darren Stafrace pointed to one factor above all else in Cheltenham’s turnaround: player availability.

“Honestly, availability with some girls playing higher and also some girls away – the timing of when they all became available was just lucky,” Stafrace explained. “In previous years we’ve gotten away with some unavailability, but this year the competition’s a lot stronger.

Edithvale-Aspendale picked up some strong players, and Narre Warren joined the competition, so you just can’t afford games without a full or near-full side. That’s why we finished where we were – but we’re hoping the momentum now reflects having everyone available with no restrictions on court time.”

That momentum has well and truly arrived at the perfect moment. The Rosellas’ surge has taken them to yet another Grand Final, where they’ll face their fiercest rivals, Dingley.

While the Dingoes boast the recent head-to-head dominance across the regular season, Cheltenham’s belief stems from something no statistic can measure – their ability to rise when the lights are brightest.

“I think it’s exactly that,” said Stafrace. “It’s not only the season that they’ve had the wood over us. Off the top of my head, in the four or five seasons I’ve been coaching, in the rounds we’ve probably only beaten them two out of ten or twelve times. But we’ve been able to find something when it comes to finals. That’ll be the message – it’s finals time. You grind and fight your way through the year just to get a chance at it, and now we’ve got another shot at gold.”

It’s a psychological edge the Rosellas have proven before. Twice in as many seasons they’ve toppled Dingley when it mattered most, and they’re determined to prove once again that premiership day is Cheltenham’s domain.

While the likes of Chloe Duke have been central to Cheltenham’s recent success, Stafrace was quick to highlight another star who has taken her game to another level this season – Lauren Hucker.

“Look, the last few years there’s no doubt that’s been Chloe Duke,” he said. “But this year Lauren Hucker has been sensational at both ends. Don’t be surprised if there’s a new leader on the court this year.”

With Duke’s consistency and Hucker’s versatility, Cheltenham have a one-two punch capable of breaking open any contest.

As the Rosellas prepare for the A1 Netball Grand Final, the stakes couldn’t be higher. A win would not only complete a stunning late-season resurgence but also secure a historic three-peat of premierships – cementing Cheltenham as the SFNL’s modern-day powerhouse.

For Stafrace and his side, it all comes down to belief, resilience, and the mental edge that has defined their finals legacy.

“We know how to fight our way through finals – and we’ve done it before,” Stafrace said. “It’s about doing it one more time.”

The Rosellas are circling.

This Grand Final has all the makings of a classic. Dingley’s season dominance versus Cheltenham’s finals resilience. The Dingoes desperate to end their streak of heartbreaks, and the Rosellas chasing history with a third consecutive crown.

Both sides will bring fire, flair, and determination, but when the pressure cooker explodes in the final minutes, it will come down to one question: Can Dingley hold their nerve and seize the moment and win that elusive premiership that they’ve been chasing? Or will Cheltenham go back-to-back-to-back and win their third premiership in a row!