NOW the real work starts for the all-conquering Wentworth A Grade netball team.
The Roos completed another perfect SFNL A Grade regular season with a comfortable 53-33 mid-afternoon victory over South Mildura at the George Gordon Oval courts on Saturday.
But, that will mean next to nothing if the Roos can’t bring home the big prize on September 13.
Last season, Wenty also swept all before them on their way to the grand final but shockingly fell at the ultimate hurdle to Ouyen United.
Playing coach and key goler Amanda Edwards said she doesn’t need to be reminded of that horror day out at the Mildura Sporting Precinct courts; that’s just background noise now as her side marches forward to a different beat.
“We’re really happy to finish off the regular season with another win and also undefeated,” she said.
“But, now it’s a clean slate coming into the finals, so none of that matters,” she said.
“I don’t have to remind them (the players) of what happened last year, they know.
“We play it week-by-week, but now it’s a bit different with the top five; a week off and lots of planning of training and what we are going to do in the next few weeks to keep the momentum up.
“The break will give us a good reset and the chance to watch a bit of the netball as well.
“Our B Grade girls also get the week off, so we will be able to work together really hard.”
The Bulldogs ran with Wentworth for the first quarter but, like most opponents, could not hang with the prohibitive title favourites for the full game.
South were fifth heading into the clash – albeit for only a week – and had been in solid form and the previous round second-placed Mildura gave last year’s runner’s-up a torrid time at the BWO courts before going down by nine goals in a potential grand final preview.
“It’s good to play those teams coming into finals,” Edwards, who scored 35 goals on Saturday, said of the end of regular season challenges.
“From the start to the second time you play them there is a big change, but I’m just really keen to get back into finals action again,” she said. “We are all fit and healthy, just some old bodies, that’s all.”
Unsurprisingly, Edwards, who has scored 669 goals this season and is 159 ahead of her nearest challenger – Robinvale Euston’s Sarah Hepburn – was named best on court, again.
But the coach, who played no part in that selection process, singled out a player at the other end of the court for special praise.
“Nat Vercher has been incredible the last few weeks and today, again, she was just a ball magnet out there and getting hands and deflections to everything. She was a really big piece for us,” Edwards said.
The defeat bumped South Mildura out of the finals after a one-week stay in fifth spot as Red Cliffs moved back past them with a home win over Merbein.
But veteran defender Sharne Lane said spirits remained high in the Bulldogs’ camp after a tough, streaky 2025 campaign.
“We weren’t sure about the result of the Red Cliffs’ game when we took the court,” she said. “It wasn’t really discussed or a focus for us before the game as we had a big game to prepare for.
“After the game we accepted our season was over but proud what we had achieved.
“We got off to a great start with lots of pressure through the centre, but then Amanda (Edwards) moved back to goal shooter to help settle and direct her team.
“It was a great game and although the scoreline showed a 20-point margin, Wenty had to work hard to get the ball into the ring.
“It was tough in our goal end, but Amy Lutze stood out against such strong Wenty defenders and Tayla (Sellens) was effective with her centre pass pressure and made it hard for their wing attack to get out and she was also tough around the ring.”
Wentworth 53 def. South Mildura 33
Best:
Wentworth – Amanda Edwards, Natalie Vercher.
South Mildura – Tayla Sellens, Amy Lutze.
