With only two games remaining in the 2026 GDFNL A Grade netball season, Winchelsea and Inverleigh will meet in a highly anticipated preliminary final this Saturday.
The winner will advance to next weekend’s grand final against East Geelong, while the loser’s season will come to an end.
Winchelsea have performed strongly under pressure throughout the finals series, defeating Thomson in the elimination final before overcoming Bannockburn in the first semi-final.
Minor premiers Inverleigh have played only once during the finals, suffering an 18-goal loss to East Geelong in the second semi-final.
The last meeting between Winchelsea and Inverleigh produced a thrilling draw in Round 16, with the teams scoring the same number of goals in the first, third and fourth quarters.
Earlier in the season, Inverleigh defeated Winchelsea by 13 goals in Round 5 after controlling the contest from the opening quarter.
Saturday’s preliminary final will feature plenty of talent. Winchelsea’s Maddison McKiernan and Meg Royal were both selected in the GDFNL Team of the Year, while Inverleigh’s Lisa Milne was named its coach.
With a place in the grand final on the line, the stage is set for another fiercely contested encounter between two evenly matched sides.
Player to watch: Winchelsea coach Maddison McKiernan is the player to watch following an impressive finals campaign and a brilliant first season in the league.
McKiernan finished runner-up in the Margaret Webb Medal count and was selected at goal defence in the Team of the Year.
Renowned for her leadership on and off the court, McKiernan will look to deliver another strong performance as Winchelsea pursue their first A Grade premiership.
Feel-good story: Winchelsea have an opportunity to secure the club’s senior football and A Grade netball premierships in the same season.
If both teams win their preliminary finals on Saturday, they will advance to their respective grand finals and move one step closer to creating club history.
Inverleigh are also chasing history. Victory on Saturday would send the Hawks into the grand final and keep alive their pursuit of a maiden A Grade premiership.
Final prediction: Winchelsea by eight goals.
