BELGRAVIA APPAREL NETBALL COMPETITION: DIVISION 1 & 2 GRAND FINALS

DIVISION 1 – GLEN ORDEN 1 v SUNSHINE SCHWARTZ
Friday 29 August  |  State Netball Centre  |  Court 1  |  8:00pm

The 2025 season in Division 1 in the Belgravia Apparel Netball Competition has delivered it all – upsets, dominant wins, and massive margins. But when the dust settles, it’s the two best teams standing, ready to battle it out for the ultimate prize: the Division 1 Premiership.

Last year, Glen Orden soared to premiership glory with a commanding win over Spotswood, capping off a near-perfect season. Coming into 2025, they looked unbeatable, carrying the momentum of a 21-game winning streak and shaping up once again as the team to beat.

But in Round 2, the landscape shifted. The Hawks were handed their first loss in over a year by Caroline Springs, clinching a thrilling one-goal win in the dying seconds. The streak was broken, and the race for the flag was officially wide open with the Lakers looking like being Glen Orden’s main challenger.

However, Sunshine was keen to crash the party and that’s exactly what they did. After some mixed form during the regular season they saved their best for finals, seeing off Spotswood by a single goal before recording a dominant upset over the Lakers to book a date with Glen Orden.

Now, as we count down to Friday night’s Grand Final, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Will Glen Orden go back-to-back and reclaim their crown? Or will a new champion rise, with Sunshine ready to write their own chapter in 2025 history.

We caught up with both head coaches in the lead-up to the big game to get their thoughts on the season, the match-up, and what it will mean to their club.

WHAT THE COACHES SAY

Glen Orden– Rebecca Hicks

“We’ve been focused on playing our brand of netball. We know what works for us and what we do really well, so making sure we execute those things has been a big focus leading into the Grand Final. I never doubted my team. I actually think losing those games (against Caroline Springs) during the season was a great test for us. The Lakers are a quality side, and that game showed me where we were at and what I needed to tweak going forward. It is surprising we’re not facing them in the Grand Final, but Sunshine has had a great season and will be tough opponent. If we win, I think we’ll all definitely celebrate with a few beverages no doubt about that.”

Sunshine – Mon Poliko

“At the start of the season, we focused primarily on player familiarity and building strong connections—especially between our in-circle defenders and the midcourt. We also spent time getting our shooters familiar with each other and their feeders, experimenting with different styles and combinations we can deploy. That early work really helped close the gap and got us on the same page quickly.” I’m really happy we’ve made it to the Grand Final, especially being our first ever in Division 1. Honestly, I knew we had the players and the experience to make finals. But with the rollercoaster we’ve had – injuries, inconsistent performances – it’s even more special. I’m just stoked that we dug deep when it counted. I’m really excited to be part of this whole Grand Final experience. We’ve had such amazing support from our club, Sunshine FNC. The club rooms will be open for post-game celebrations, so if we get the win we’ll be heading back there for a drink.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Glen Orden – Payton Simeki
At just 16 years of age, Simeki has been a dominant force in Division 1, scoring an incredible 325 goals this season. Her composure and accuracy under the post will be crucial to Glen Orden’s chances.

Sunshine – Monalisa Hakeagaiki
Known as Mona by her teammates, she was instrumental in Sunshine’s Preliminary Final win playing across GA and WA. Her speed, versatility, and flair make her a genuine playmaker and one to keep an eye on this Friday.

2025 HEAD-TO-HEAD

Round 1 – Glen Orden def Sunshine (68-44)
Round 6 – Sunshine def by Glen Orden (52-78)
Round 11 – Glen Orden def Sunshine (48-41)

DIVISION 2 – GLEN ORDEN 2 v ALTONA VALKRIES
Friday 29 August  |  State Netball Centre  |  Court 2  |  8:00pm

In 2025 Division 2 in the Belgravia Apparel Netball Competition has been home to some of the closest and most exciting matches across the competition. One of the standout stories has been the debut of Altona, an inaugural team led by the highly respected and accomplished coach Samantha Pruscino.

At the other end of the court, Glen Orden is led by premiership-winning coach Nathan Selvidge, who returned this year with a significantly different team. Despite the fresh faces, Selvidge has guided his new-look squad to 16 straight wins through the home-and-away season, and they carried that dominant form into finals with a strong Semi Final victory over Altona, to secure their place in the Grand Final.

While Glen Orden have been the standout all season, results between the two sides suggest this final could go either way. With Altona hungry to make history in their inaugural season, and the Hawks chasing the perfect finish to an undefeated run and with it back-to-back flags, fans are in for a thrilling Division 2 decider. Who will take the cup?

As we head into what promises to be an epic Friday night showdown, we caught up with both coaches to hear their thoughts.

WHAT THE COACHES SAY

Glen Orden – Nathan Selvidge

In training our focus has been on intensity, effort, and rewarding each other’s work rate. We will go into the Grand Final undefeated which some people might say can be a curse, but I don’t believe in that at all. The girls have done really well (to get here) – this is a new team this season and to come in this strong, get the job done, and get the chocolates every week, that’s a huge credit to them. As long as they stay grounded, I don’t think they’ve got anything to worry about. If we win we’ll celebrate back at the club on Friday night, but I’m sure they’ll be even more excited to celebrate with a few other teams the following week.

Altona Valkyries – Samantha Pruscino

At training, we’ve really focused on playing our game and not getting sucked into a different style. We’ve worked on our physicality and, most importantly, having fun. We were really excited and positive not just in February, but from the very beginning. The level of interest in our inaugural season has been both exciting and a little bit scary. We knew we had great talent, and everyone was so enthusiastic. For this group of women to come together in their first season, at a brand-new club, and achieve what they have, it’s such a credit to them. They’re not just champion netty players, they’re also great people. And that goes across all three of our teams. Win or lose, we’ll be celebrating an amazing achievement. We’ll come together as a whole club and recognise what a great season it’s been for Vikings netball.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Glen Orden – Jada Passi
Passi brings a brilliant netball brain to the court. She reads the play beautifully as it unfolds downcourt and communicates effectively with her teammates. Her leadership and composure in high-pressure games make her a standout for Glen Orden and she thrives in finals, always stepping up when it matters most.

Altona Valkyries – Avana Hobson
Known affectionately as “Tree” by her teammates, Avana has quickly made a name for herself in Division 2 this season. With her impressive reach and smart decision-making in the defensive circle, she’s a notorious interceptor who punishes any loose ball. As they say defence wins games and Avana has been a key factor in Altona’s run to the Grand Final.

2025 HEAD-TO-HEAD

Grading R1 – Altona Valkyries def by Glen Orden (27-31)
Round 5 – Altona Valkyries def by Glen Orden (27-31)
Semi Final 2 – Glen Orden def Altona Valkyries (36-20)