WNC wins dual back-to-back netball premierships
For most people, December and Christmas are the busiest times of the year but at Warrandyte Netball Club (WNC) our events and excitement levels hit their peak a little earlier.
The last two weeks of November included the final round of games for 9U and 11U players, Tuesday and Saturday competition grand finals, our end of season presentation day, as well as our grading trials for 2026 teams.
To add to the excitement, grand final day had two teams competing for back-to-back premierships after being undefeated all season, and our presentation day saw WNC award just its ninth life membership in its 50-year history.
13U/1 WNC Kangaroos
The first grand final on Saturday, November 22 had the 13U S1 WNC Kangaroos playing the Doncaster Kool Kats at 11:00am.
The Kangaroos went into the game as huge favourites, having won the autumn premiership earlier in the year and been undefeated in 2025, winning 26 consecutive games along the way.
They had beaten the Kool Kats in the autumn grand final, and the game was never in doubt, with the Kangaroos winning back-to-back premierships 29:7 and WNC’s Emily G being awarded Best on Court.
15U/1 WNC Kangaroos and 15U/1 Reserve Lyrebirds
Midday saw two WNC 15U S1 teams competing – the Emus in the grand final and the Lyrebirds in the reserve grand final.
The Emus had won the autumn premiership, losing two games along the way, and their team goal for spring was to go undefeated for the season and win back-to-back premierships.
They had gone through the season without losing a game but standing in their way was a strong East Doncaster Netball Club (EDNC) team that they had beaten by only two goals in their previous encounter and by three goals in the autumn grand final.
A good start by the Emus saw them leading 8:5 at quarter time and while the margin was still three goals at three-quarter time, a strong final quarter saw the Emus win 27:22 over the EDNC Jets with WNC’s Florence W named Best on Court.
While the Emus played on court one, on court two next door the Lyrebirds played the Donvale Dalmationz in the reserve grand final.
The Lyrebirds were motivated by a grand final loss last season and although only leading by one goal at half-time, they conceded only two goals in the second half while scoring ten, going on to win 21:12 with WNC’s Mieke C being awarded Best on Court.
21U/1 WNC Herons
So far WNC was three premierships from three grand finals, but things were about to get a lot tougher with the 21U S1 Herons playing the undefeated EDNC Lightning who had finished the season with a percentage of over 900.
Although victory was always unlikely, the Herons played their best game of their year, losing 13:36 but in the closest result than any team had achieved against the Lightning this season.
17U/2 WNC Kookaburras
Next up were the 17U S2 Kookaburras who had finished fourth in the autumn season but fought their way through to the grand final before losing to the Donvale Driverz 27:22.
This season they had finished top of the ladder and went into the grand final hoping to go one better than runners-up.
They were able to do so – leading right from the start and cruising to a 22:7 win over the Deep Creek Jets with WNC’s Piper B named Best on Court.
Open B WNC Herons
The final game of the day was the Open B WNC Kites playing the EDNC Astros with the Astros taking the lead right from the start and going on to win convincingly 42:23.
Although the spring season one was a very successful one with our 9U and 11U players developing enormously and 10 of our 14 eligible teams making the finals, on court results are an important measure of how a sporting club is travelling, but they are not the only thing to consider.
Pleasingly we increased our player and team numbers over the year and ended with 196 players and 20 teams in the spring Saturday competition and continued with three teams on Tuesday nights.
This was despite several of our teams being graded in very difficult sections and playing teams much stronger than them – a situation that can either make or break the spirit and connections within those teams.
These players deserve enormous credit for coming together and bonding as teams despite the challenges they faced each week on court.
Warrandyte Diary, December 2025
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