Premiership stories across all grades

by Angela Banbury
The 2026 EDFNL netball season comes down to one final Saturday at Trafalgar, with six premierships to be decided and some fascinating match-ups set to bring the curtain down on another outstanding year of netball.
The headline act will see Neerim South and Ellinbank meet for the A grade premiership, with the Cats attempting to add another remarkable chapter to one of the most dominant eras the competition has seen.
Neerim South enters the grand final with an extraordinary run that began in 2022. A victory on Saturday would make it 97 wins from 98 matches, their only defeat coming in the 2024 grand final, having claimed the 2022, 2023 and 2025 premierships - each following undefeated seasons.
But if there is a team with the experience and belief to challenge that record, it's Ellinbank.
The Eagles finished third at the end of the home-and-away season with 13 wins and five losses, with none of those defeats greater than 11 goals. They also have shown this season they can push the Cats to the absolute limit.
Neerim won their first meeting in round five, 47-37, before the round 13 clash produced one of the games of the season. Ellinbank matched the reigning premiers throughout the contest before Neerim escaped with a 34-33 victory courtesy of a goal after the siren.
Their semi final meeting told a different story, with Neerim producing a commanding performance to win 50-32 and advance directly to the grand final. Ellinbank were forced to take the longer route, eventually booking their place with a 51-38 preliminary final victory over Buln Buln.
There are intriguing battles everywhere you look.
In Ellinbank's attacking circle, the experience of Abbey Gray will be vital. With more than 300 senior games behind her, Gray provides a strong target under the post but also has the confidence to shoot from range. Ebony Harper, who returned midway through the season after having a baby, adds movement and creativity, while Remy Ferguson provides another option if coach Jasmine Ferguson wants to change the look of the attacking end.
Standing in their way will be a Neerim defensive unit led by coach Christie Urie. Arguably the competition's best defender, with her ability to read play and create an intercept, she can change a game in an instant. Neerim also have plenty of options around her, with Kasey Tymkin and Tessa Fusinato bringing experience and an ability to transition the ball from defence, while Elly Radford and Rhianna Jinnette and youngster Rori Trimble provide Urie with different combinations depending on the match-up.
The midcourt could be where this grand final is won.
Neerim's midcourt boasts speed, defensive pressure and familiarity. Tarli Hillberg controls much of the Cats' play through the centre, while Mia McGarity brings speed and a dangerous pass into the goal circle. Mia Chandler and Peta Matthews give Neerim further options should changes be needed.
Ellinbank has enormous experience through Taylah Wallace, Georgia Durrand and Rhiannon Haines, while Lily Sheehan has added speed and energy in her first season at the club. Wallace's ability to control the tempo and read the play makes her one of the Eagles' most influential players, while Haines enters the grand final in outstanding form after earning another best on court performance in the preliminary final.
Neerim's long-standing combination of Kim Edwards and Nicole Alcock will be crucial. The pair know each other's movements almost instinctively, with Edwards able to change her style throughout a game and Alcock providing patience and reliability in the circle.
Ellinbank, however, has the defensive personnel to make life difficult.
Rhiannon Haines brings athleticism, elevation and relentless pressure, while the vastly experienced Abbey Cook reads the incoming ball exceptionally well. Rachel McDonald has been another important addition this season, bringing leadership, composure and an ability to create turnovers at crucial moments, while Leah Liddel provides another aggressive defensive option.
And then there are the coaches.
Urie has been at the centre of Neerim South's remarkable era, building a team and culture that has made winning an expectation. On the opposite sideline, Jaz Ferguson has helped guide an Ellinbank group that has dealt with player availability issues throughout the season, including hers, and will be the first time during the finals series she will be there due to her AFLW commitments.
Neerim South deserves to enter as favourite. Ninety-six wins from their past 97 games makes that impossible to argue. But a grand final has provided the one exception to Neerim's extraordinary record.
Ellinbank came within a single goal - and a shot after the siren - of matching them earlier this season. If the Eagles can reproduce that pressure for four quarters, the final A grade match of 2026 could provide a fitting finish to the EDFNL netball season.

B grade
Few clubs have a B grade record to rival Ellinbank, who will meet Bunyip in the decider. The Eagles have claimed premierships in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2016, 2017, 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025, while also finishing minor premiers in the COVID-shortened 2021 season.
Bunyip has wasted little time making an impact in just its second season back in the EDFNL.
The results between the two this season suggest anything is possible. Ellinbank won 47-36 in round six before Bunyip turned the tables emphatically in round 14, winning 42-30. The Eagles responded in the semi final with a 47-34 victory to progress directly to the grand final, while Bunyip earned another opportunity with its 45-36 preliminary final win over Neerim South. There is enough evidence for both sides to believe they can win the last one.

C grade
Lang Lang and Neerim South will meet for the C grade premiership, with the Cats producing one of the stories of the finals series after finishing the home-and-away season in fourth position.
Lang Lang enters with the stronger season record and the experience of winning the 2024 premiership. The Tigers defeated Neerim South 31-25 in Round 4 and 44-20 in Round 12, but the Cats have found their best netball when it has mattered most.
Their preliminary final victory over Ellinbank ended the Eagles' extraordinary run of grand final appearances stretching back to 2014, and Neerim now gets the chance to complete its climb from fourth with one more upset.

17 and under
If recent results are anything to go by, spectators may want to find a good position around the court early for Catani and Yarragon.
Just one goal separated them in round two when Yarragon won 35-34, before they couldn't be separated at all in Round 16, drawing 40-40. The Blues then edged the Panthers 40-38 in the qualifying final. Yarragon brings plenty of experience, with a number of its players exposed to senior netball throughout the season.
Catani, meanwhile, is chasing an extraordinary fourth consecutive premiership for this group, a run which began with the 13 and under flag in 2023 before successive 15 and under premierships in 2024 and an undefeated 2025. Another close thriller would surprise absolutely nobody.

15 and under
Minor premier Poowong will face third-placed Buln Buln in another contest where there has been very little between the sides.
Buln Buln handed Poowong an 18-17 defeat in round seven before the Pies responded with a 24-19 win in round 15. Their Semi Final was just as competitive, Poowong winning 25-22 to secure the direct passage into the Grand Final. There is unfinished business on both sides. Poowong returns to the 15 & Under Grand Final after falling short in the 2025 decider, while many of the Buln Buln players tasted premiership success as top-age 13 & Under players in 2024. Both know what Grand Final day feels like and now one gets to finish 2026 with the cup.

13 and under
The day begins with the competition's two standout 13 & Under sides, undefeated Buln Buln and Lang Lang.
Incredibly, Lang Lang's only two defeats during the home-and-away season came against the Lyrebirds.
Buln Buln won their round one meeting 20-14 and backed that up with a 25-18 victory in round 17, giving them plenty of confidence heading into the decider. There also is a great story to this match-up, with the two clubs the last two 13 and under premiers.
Buln Buln now has the opportunity to complete an undefeated season, while Lang Lang has a chance to turn the tables on the only opponent it has been unable to beat in 2026 and go back-to-back premiers.

With six premierships on the line, grand final day at Trafalgar brings together the competition's benchmark teams, emerging challengers and some remarkable premiership opportunity stories.
From an undefeated 13 and under side chasing the perfect season to an A grade powerhouse the same premier champions motto, there will be plenty at stake from the first centre pass to the last.