Sport
24 July, 2026
MCDFNL Round 15 Netball Preview — Newstead vs Navarre
Fresh off their statement victory against Natte Bealiba, Navarre aims to preserve its rampant speed on the road to finals when they stop at Newstead Recreation Reserve to take on the Steaders.
The Grasshoppers have showcased their destructive dominance on numerous occasions during their 2026 breakout campaign, including their 80-goal decimation of Newstead back in round two.
Yet as they returned from half time trailing the Swans by a goal, Navarre produced arguably their most impressive quarter of the season, completely changing the complexion of the contest with a phenomenal third term.
With Jade Allen and Jess Parry forcing numerous turnovers that allowed midcourters Sidney Dyer and Brooke Currie to punish their rivals in transition, Zanaiya Bergen and Aliza Lockhart outscored the Swans 20-8 in the third quarter, giving the Grasshoppers a commanding lead they never relinquished.
Since joining from Rapanyup and Wedderburn respectively, Bergen and Lockhart have been instrumental in Navarre evolving from dark horses to genuine contenders, averaging 69.5 goals per game after Navarre averaged 42 goals in 2025.
The Steaders are well aware of how devastating Navarre’s shooting tandem can be after they scored 96 goals in the last meeting, hoping to produce a more competitive showing after having promising patches last weekend against Avoca.
A prominent issue in Newstead’s round two defeat was their abundance of turnovers, a problem Jessica Currie and Caitlan Bird will look to rectify as they look to create consistent opportunities for leading scorer Brianna Jury.