Sport
14 August, 2026
2026 MCDFNL Round 18 Netball Preview — Harcourt vs Navarre
As they hope to culminate their outstanding regular season into premiership success, Navarre will travel to Harcourt Recreation Reserve for a finals tune-up match against the Lions.
In a season filled with memorable moments and landmark victories, the Grasshoppers’ performance against the Maryborough Giants was their most dominant.
Even with sharpshooter Zanaiya Bergen unavailable, Navarre turned everything they touched into goals, with fill-in shooter Jess Parry and captain Aliza Lockhart combining for a staggering 104 goals, the highest tally in A grade this season.
While Parry was torching the bottom of the net with a throwback performance to her 2015 and 2016 Nalder Tracey trophy campaigns as the attacking spearhead of Navarre’s historic four-peat squad, Jade Allen and Grace Long showcased the Grasshoppers’ defensive depth with brilliant interceptions that limited the Giants to 21 goals.
The defensive duo will look to build upon that exceptional display against Harcourt, who were officially eliminated from finals contention with a 40-goal loss to reigning premiers Avoca.
While it hasn’t resulted in a top eight finish, the Lions have noticeably improved from their three-win campaign in 2025, with new additions Jarrenhy Webb and Laura Suckling supporting an established core led by Morgan Howorth, Carly Chaplin and Jordan Bagley.
For Harcourt to restrict the competition’s top-scoring offence, midcourters Howorth, Ella Rule and Ursula van Dyk will need to slow their Navarre counterparts Brooke Currie, Sidney Dyer and Amber Perry from rapidly transitioning the netball down the court.