Sport
10 June, 2025
2025 MCDFNL mid-season breakdown — Netball
Three teams remain undefeated at the top of the MCDFNL netball ladder, with Avoca, Carisbrook and Natte Bealiba the heavy favourites for the premiership. However, that isn’t to say there aren’t plenty of teams keen to knock those heavyweights off their perch, as the King’s Birthday Weekend break allows us to recap everything that’s happened on the netball court in 2025.
Avoca
Position: 1st Record: 7-0
The Avoca Bulldogs have not put a foot wrong in their quest for a three-peat, undefeated in their first seven games of 2025.
While the attacking threat of Maddy Egan and Gina Beavis is still as potent as ever thanks to the service of Stacey Blair and Lucy Howell, the Bulldogs have done most of their destructive damage on the other side of the court.
Their defence, headlined by the likes of Caitlin Drummond, Keisha Tonzing and recruit Faith McKenzie have suffocated their opponents, leading the league in points allowed by conceding on average just 32 goals a game.
The Bulldogs will be tested immediately after the week-long break, traveling to Carisbrook this weekend which is sure to be an enthralling encounter between two undefeated teams before travelling to Natte Bealiba in round 11.
Campbells Creek
Position: 11th Record: 1-6
While it hasn’t fully translated on the league ladder so far, Campbells Creek have taken massive strides this season.
The Magpies have consistently strung together strong quarters in most of their games, being very competitive in passages but not being able to always translate it for a whole 60 minutes.
Their offence in particular has shown noticeable signs of improve-ment, with recruit Elouise Jones and Jemma Finning making the most of increased opportunities created by the likes of Ella Cochrane, Eillish Cumming and Mikayla Gellatly.
Lizzy Clarke has been another standout in defence, while Taylah Sartori has been a Swiss army knife utility player every team would love to have.
With their schedule somewhat easing in the second half of the season, the Magpies have a great chance to tally multiple wins this season.
Carisbrook
Position: 2nd Record: 8-0
After being knocked out in the semi-final to Lexton last season, Carisbrook have regained their position as a league heavyweight alongside the talented Avoca and Natte Bealiba.
Already boasting a very talented squad including Nalder Tracey Trophy winner Laura Hurse, Finley Wagstaff and Abbey Nalder, the addition of player-coach Jordan McClure, Katie Bilton and Ella Patten has given the Redbacks riches in depth.
Their ability to rotate their squad has kept them fresh throughout games, allowing them to overrun teams with their high tempo in the midcourt late in games.
The duo of Nalder and McClure has brought an interesting dynamic to Carisbrook, as they are the only team to have two shooters score over 200 goals this season.
Critical contests versus fellow undefeated teams Avoca and Natte Bealiba will play a vital role in the Redbacks season, as they look to repeat their grand final appearance in 2023.
Dunolly
Position: 12th Record: 0-1-6
Dunolly has survived an arduous opening schedule relatively unscathed and looks poised to earn some deserved victories in the second half of the season.
New player-coach Lillie Wrigley has given the Eagles an offensive boost in 2025, working well with fellow shooter Zoe Aldridge and giving a different option for midcourters Melanie Schodde, and Ruby Lang to throw to.
Veteran Ashlee Lierich has been valuable marshalling the defence when she’s played, however, with her move to the shooter position in Dunolly’s last match against Lexton, it’ll be interesting to see if the Eagles keep her in defence or switch her to the other goal circle.
The Eagles will have multiple opportunities to break their losing run when play resumes this weekend, with Campbells Creek, Harcourt and Maldon in their next three matches.
Considering they are only six points away from eighth, three wins could put them back into the finals discussion.
Harcourt
Position: 9th Record: 2-5
While Harcourt have slightly slowed down from their 2-1 start to the season which saw them briefly in the top four, the Lions have excited in 2025.
Even as they currently hold a four-game losing streak, Harcourt showed glimpses of their potential in the final quarter against Navarre and Carisbrook and were unlucky to be on the losing end of a great game versus Trentham.
Captain Carly Chaplin, shooter Lauren Peeler and midcourter Stacey Mitchell continue to provide a strong spine for this team, while the likes of Gemma Papadimos, Tamara Farr and Ella Rule are assisting with some great performances in 2025.
With a relatively easier schedule to end their season compared to their matches in May, the Lions are well and truly in the hunt for a finals spot for the first time since 2022.
Lexton
Position: 7th Record: 4-4
Lexton haven’t been able to keep up with the remarkable pace set at the top of the table, but the Tigers’ win over Dunolly before the week break could be a sign they have turned a corner. After struggling to replace the goal contributions of Rachel Phelan early in the season, the Tigers poured on 84 goals at home, with Leesa Donhardt and Kristy Hadler having excellent performances under the ring.
That doesn’t even mention the efforts of Anna Parry, who’s also scored 131 goals this season.
The addition of Brodey McKay has been massive for a Lexton defence which is starting to find their footing, while Caitlin Howell, Ciane Van Dyken and Darci Berry continue to run things in the midcourt.
With Newstead, the Maryborough Giants and Talbot in their next three matches, the Tigers can generate some serious momentum as finals near, and if recent history tells us anything, Lexton is a difficult beast to slay in finals netball.
Maldon
Position: 13th Record: 0-7
2025 has so far been a difficult season for Maldon on the netball court, however, the Bombers still seem positive to end their season on some high notes.
The Bombers have already had to face the likes of Lexton, Talbot, Avoca, Navarre and Carisbrook this season.
With those games out of the way, Maldon can showcase what they are capable of in the second half of the season.
Emma Webb and Gabrielle Kelly have been valiant in defence for the Bombers, while the young midcourt trio of Alice McManus, Claire Kelly and Sophie Bennett have produced some great passages, proving to be a bright spot this season.
With the Bombers boasting some very talented youth teams as their under 13, under 15 and under 17 teams all currently sit in third after their under 17 won the 2024 grand final, the future is looking bright at Maldon.
Maryborough Giants
Position: 4th Record: 4-3
Despite only being in their second season as a club, the Maryborough Giants have fully cemented themselves as a force on the netball court.
While they are 12 points behind Avoca, Carisbrook and Natte Bealiba, the Giants are in the driver’s seat for the last double chance spot, holding fourth place by percentage.
Teenager Lacey Broad has been the standout for the Giants this season, seamlessly moving from defence to shooter and currently sitting in second on the goal-scoring charts with 371 goals.
The Giants have also showed a willingness to shift players around, with the position flexibility of Ruby Saunder and Riahni Egan sure to be a factor in big games late in the season.
After having the bye in round eight, the Giants will be well rested for their massive clashes against Talbot and Lexton in round nine and 10 as they look to keep both teams at bay from their double chance spot.
Natte Bealiba
Position: 3rd Record: 7-0
After being denied at the final hurdle against Avoca last year, Natte Bealiba is still craving the taste of premiership glory they received in 2022, going 7-0 to start 2025.
Their offence has been out of this world, averaging a league-best 78 goals a game with player-coach Emma Ryan leading the league with 486 goals, currently on pace to score well over 1000 goals this season.
No matter how good Ryan is, she can’t score without the ball, and Shannae Mills, Ebony Raven and Ella Tranter have done a fantastic job giving Ryan the service she needs to do her damage.
Even with star defender Naomi Medlyn out for all of 2025, the Swans have maintained a very stout defence, with recruit Bella Westbrook gelling almost immediately with Ellie Martin.
The Swans will surely have their clashes with Avoca and Carisbrook circled in their calendars, keen to impose a phycological advantage come finals.
Navarre
Position: 5th Record: 5-3
The Navarre Grasshoppers have been the surprise package in 2025, already surpassing their 2024 win total with a 5-3 record after eight rounds.
The pieces of a potential finals contender were already there last season, especially in defence, but the additions of Amber Perry and Chloe Frank as well as the returning Erin Jackson have taken the Grasshoppers’ offence from the bottom five to the middle of the pack.
Even with their improved attacking prowess, their defence continues to be their calling card, conceding on average just 37 goals a game thanks to the efforts of Jade Allen and Sophie Flood.
Player-coach Sidney Dyer has guided the Grasshoppers to finals contention, and if their hard-fought loss to Avoca in round eight is anything to go by, they won’t just be making up the numbers.
They will be keen to prove that statement right with matchups against Carisbrook, Natte Bealiba and Talbot still on their schedule.
Newstead
Position: 8th Record: 2-5
Newstead currently hold the same position they finished in last season in eighth, with teams like Harcourt and Trentham breathing down their necks.
However, with some winnable games against Lexton, Campbells Creek, Harcourt and Maldon in their next four games, the Steaders will be confident they can hop away to another finals berth.
Newstead have showcased their potential with wins against Trentham and Dunolly, but against the league’s best, they have struggled to compete, comfortably losing to Carisbrook, Natte Bealiba and the Maryborough Giants.
That’s something they’ll need to improve on to make it past the elimination final, with their close loss to Talbot hopefully a sign of things to come for Newstead.
Brianna Jury and Tayla Gale have been a very formidable shooting partnership, Castlemaine recruit Emily Cooper has slotted in seamlessly in the midcourt with Jessica Currie and Sophie Bond, and Chelsey Williams has had some outstanding performances in defence.
Talbot
Position: 6th Record: 5-3
While they don’t have the surprise factor they held during their magical preliminary final run last season, Talbot have solidified their position near the top, remaining in touching distance of the top four.
With the new look Hawks starting to build more team chemistry as the season wears on, Shianne Milera, Melissa Scott, and Jess White have truly settled, becoming key contributors.
Scott and White in particular have been huge additions, helping Talbot improve from having the third most points allowed last season to being above average in 2025.
On the other side of the court, player-coach Eleisha Phelps has been a constant threat with 165 goals at a 77 percent shooting percentage, but the Hawks haven’t stamped down a full-time partner for Phelps, something they will continue to experiment with in the second half of the season.
Talbot have one of the biggest games of their season this Saturday against the Maryborough Giants, with the winner controlling their destiny for the top four.
Trentham
Position: 10th Record: 2-1-5
Even after some strong performances, Trentham was winless in their first six matches and seemed destined to once again be on the outside looking in at the finals after finishing ninth last season.
However, back-to-back victories versus Campbells Creek and Harcourt has revived the ambition of the Saints, now sitting just two points behind Newstead without having a bye.
After ranking in the bottom four for goals scored last season, the addition Kasey Button has brought an offensive spark to the Saints, scoring 131 goals so far this season.
Sharna Ford has partnered well with Button, while fellow recruit Carly Elderfield has galvanised the midcourt, giving more chances for Brooke Healy and Hayley Bourke to make a difference.
Trentham has a tough run after their round nine match against Maldon, with Avoca, Navarre, Carisbrook and Natte Bealiba in their next four matches.