With finals being just around the corner, Round 17 of the A Grade netball competition will be one of the most electrifying rounds of the season.
To start off the second last round of netball, the 2025 grand finalists will go head-to-head again as Thomson looks for redemption against the Belmont Lions as reigning premiers.
If this rematch wasn’t already thrilling enough, the winner of this game will solidify their place in finals and knock their opponent out of the race with just one round remaining.
The Belmont Lions and Thomson have an identical win to loss record for this season with 11 wins and 5 losses and only a ten percent difference in each of their total percentages.
Thomson had a strong 53-goal win over the Geelong West Giants last round whilst the Belmont Lions will be shaken up from their unexpected four goal loss to Werribee Centrals.
The last time these two teams met was in Round 3 which resulted in a two-goal win for the Belmont Lions, an exact replica of the 2025 grand final margin.
Two potential grand finalists for this season will also meet in Round 17 as Bannockburn plays host to Inverleigh who have just taken their position in first place after the results of last round.
Bannockburn suffered a 10-goal loss again East Geelong last weekend which knocked them down into second place allowing Inverleigh to sit in first despite their draw to Winchelsea.
Both Bannockburn and Inverleigh have been in red hot form recently which has secured their place in finals regardless of the results of the next two rounds of netball.
The last time Bannockburn was the A grade netball premiers was in 2019 whilst Inverleigh have never taken home the trophy, so this game could very well determine whether 2026 will be the year for Inverleigh.
Another team fighting to maintain their top five position ahead of finals is Winchelsea who will line up against Corio who currently hold a three-game winning streak.
Winchelsea currently sits in fourth place on the ladder and has solidified their place in finals for this season despite being tied with both Thomson and the Belmont Lions for games won.
Although a finals berth is out of reach for Corio, this game against Winchelsea is a chance for them to build as a team and head into the 2027 season with a competitive edge.
Round 17 will also see Werribee Centrals take on Bell Post Hill, two teams that have shown some great displays of netball this season despite missing out on finals.
Werribee Centrals had an incredible four-goal win against the Belmont Lions last round, leading for the entire four quarters against the reigning premiers.
Bell Post Hill has managed to work their way up into seventh place and defeated the Werribee Centrals by just two goals during their last meeting in Round 3.
To close out Round 17, Anakie who sit in tenth place will verse the Geelong West Giants who are still searching for their first win of the season.
North Geelong, who have had a challenging season and are looking for a new coach for 2027, will face East Geelong who sit in third place and have secured their spot in finals.
