Ouyen United v Wentworth
TALK about an early season blockbuster!
They sure don’t get any bigger than a grand final rematch in round one of the SFNL A Grade netball season.
Ouyen United came from the clouds last season to stun undefeated Wentworth in the grand final on a warm day at the Mildura Sporting Precinct courts before a large mainly pro-Kangas crowd.
Now they meet again at Blackburn Park with no title on the line but a hell of a lot of pride at stake.
Both sides recorded warm-up opening round victories last weekend.
The Roos trounced last year’s bottom side Red Cliffs by 45 goals at home while the Kangas were pushed hard by Imperials before coming away with a 46-38 away win.
Newcomer Melissa Dyda, Kiarna Marshman and Tsharni Burns were the prime movers for Ouyen United and much will be expected of them today on their home court while shooter extraordinaire and coach Amanda Edwards, mid-court general Ashlee Cameron and goal keeper Nat Vercher led the way in a dominant Wenty display.
Revenge game? Not until finals. Grudge match? Maybe. Blockbuster? For sure.
PREDICTION: Roos by 11 goals
Merbein v Robinvale Euston
Compound Accounting Park, 12pm
MERBEIN and Robinvale Euston are ready to rebound from ordinary 2024 A Grade campaigns.
The Magpies finished sixth but well outside the top five with a 6-10 record while the Eagles landed in eighth.
Gun defender Johannah Gray has stepped up to the senior coaching role at Merbein and leads a team that has the basic core of last year’s side with her sisters Emily and Sophie and fellow defender Sophie Kroen leading the way.
The Eagles were more proactive in the off-season, netting top line recruits Sarah Hepburn, a Central Murray Team of the Year selection, athletic Jorja Delcastegne from Irymple, Corrine Best and young talent Gabby Marrone from Merbein.
Playing coach Georgia Giofrelle is also looking to the club’s deep youth ranks to provide extra spark and drive during the coming campaign.
Robinvale Euston will most certainly improve on last year’s two wins and could be sneaky good while Merbein’s best can match it with most teams in the league.
Consistency will be the key to any move up the ladder for both sides.
PREDICTION: Eagles by four goals
Mildura v Red Cliffs
Brian Weightman Oval, 12pm
RED Cliffs had a tough initiation into the 2025 A Grade season last week and it’s not likely to get too much better today at the Brian Weightman Oval courts.
The Tigers, who finished last in ’24, ventured to Wentworth for the opening round knowing they faced a near impossible task against a team which went undefeated all last season until falling at the ultimate hurdle to Ouyen United.
And so it came to pass as the Roos romped to a massive 70-25 victory.
Undersized and overmatched, Red Cliffs battled hard and coach Romany Bowen shuffled her line-ups trying to find something that clicked but it was all in vain.
Now, they face another team in Mildura, who also have grand ambitions this year.
The Demons finished third last season; ousted by red-hot Ouyen United in the preliminary final. Under the new coaching duo of Ava Zadow and Jess McNamara that’s all in the past now.
The team lost stars Ellie Vincent and Ally Leng but picked up a wealth of experience in Demelza Henry (South Mildura) to couple with their own defensive stalwart Sharon Watson.
A bright start is expected in Dee-land.
PREDICTION: Demons by 25
South Mildura v Imperials
Mildura Sporting Precinct, 12pm
WE won’t have a reasonable idea of how things are shaping in the A Grade netball competition for about a month and a half but today’s clash between South Mildura and Imperials could provide an early snippet of their trajectories.
Imps started their campaign last week at home with an impressive, albeit losing, effort against reigning champions Ouyen United.
The Kangas had a five-goal lead at the first break, but Imperials pretty much matched them over the final three quarters in the 46-38 loss with Kia Scott being outstanding at both ends of the court and Tracey Sherlock also impressing coach Ali Walker, who made numerous positional changes.
The Bulldogs hit the court for the first time in 2025 with basically the same lineup as last season when the team finished with a 9-7 record and, to the surprise of many pundits, made the five.
Coach Tara Bate is happy with the way her squad is shaping up but concedes depth could be a problem and is looking for a youth boost to complement the older crew.
Then there’s also the fact South won’t be sneaking up on anyone this season.
PREDICTION: Imperials by three goals
