Sport
10 July, 2026
MCDFNL Round 13 Netball Preview Trentham v Navarre
The more things seem to change, the more they stay the same.
After earning their biggest victory of 2025 with a 41-34 home triumph over Carisbrook, Navarre headed to Trentham Reserve the following weekend keen to harness that momentum into a big win against a tricky Saints side.
What transpired was arguably the Grasshoppers’ worst-case scenario. A 27-goal defeat that inaugurated a late-season tailspin and contributed to a promising campaign ending in an elimination final exit.
One year on, Navarre finds itself following the ghosts of their recent past, preparing for a tough away visit to Trentham after an extraordinary win over the Redbacks.
Despite having their top four spot virtually secured, the Grasshoppers will be determined not to fall into familiar pitfalls as they are poised to challenge for a premiership.
Trentham would love to join Navarre for finals netball this September, but unlike their upcoming opponents, their top eight position is under serious threat. A delightful dose of déjà vu of last season’s upset would be a seismic boost to Trentham’s finals aspirations. Yet for that to be a possibility, they’ll have to slow Zanaiya Bergen and Aliza Lockhart, who currently rank second and sixth in the competition’s leading goal scorers.
Saints player-coach Jessica Walker remains one of the league’s premier defenders, but she’ll need assistance from her teammates. Midcourters Madelyne Brennan, Stevie Courtney and Amy Vandenham will be especially vital in stopping Navarre’s potentially destructive transition orchestrated by Sidney Dyer, Brooke Currie and Amber Perry.