Netball
3 August, 2026
Tigers stun Dimboola as WFNL netball finals race tightens
An upset in round 15 of the WFNL A Grade netball has created a competitive logjam in the top five.
While Ararat and Stawell won their contests at home, Dimboola lost to rivals Nhill 54-46.
With three games left in the regular season, the Roos, Rats, and Warriors each have a chance to finish third.
The Tigers entered Dimboola Recreation Reserve with a 3-8 record but matched the 8-3 hosts goal for goal.
At the first break, nothing could separate the sides at 13-13.
Nhill doubled its score before the half and took a three-goal lead at the main break, ahead 26-23.
A 17-12 third quarter saw the visitors earn an eight-goal lead, which they maintained until the final whistle, following an 11-11 final quarter.
Ilze Van Zyl, filling in for Nhill, scored 29 goals at 72.5 per cent accuracy, while Ruby James added 25 (68%).
James, and goal defence Erin Ewer of Kybybolite Netball Club, were named best on court.
Nicole Polycarpou did the bulk of the scoring for Dimboola with 27 goals (73%), with Eloise Wills (eight goals at 67%), Olivia Beugelaar (six goals at 75%) and Giselle Clugston (five goals at 83%) providing front court support.
The win sees Nhill jump to sixth place on the ladder, 12 points behind fifth.
Mathematically, the Tigers could make finals if they won the last three games of the season and Stawell or Ararat fail to earn another premiership point.
Their opponent in round 16 is Ararat, who are buoyed by a 58-30 win against Southern Mallee Thunder.
Playing at Alexandra Oval, the Rats and Thunder traded goals during the first quarter; some late turnovers saw the hosts go into the first break ahead 17-12.
Rested in the first quarter having just played under 17s, netballer Bridie Price joined the action in the second quarter and made an immediate impact on the game.
Price played a key role in neutralising Phoebe Bigham's height, leading to several key turnovers for the Rats.
Ararat also welcomed another addition to its ranks in round 15 in Michayla McRae, who played just her third game of netball for 2026.
Replacing 2025 Hatcher Medal runner-up Maggie Astbury, McRae's speed and slick passing complemented Laney McLoughlan's attacking mindset.
The hosts took a 31-20 lead at the main break and maintained the one-goal-per-minute scoring rate in the second half with a 45-26 margin at the final break.
Ararat saved the best until last and held the Thunder to just four goals in the fourth quarter.
Meanwhile, McLoughlan and McRae shot freely, with the latter scoring the majority of her goals in the last quarter.
In the end, McLoughlan finished with 38 goals (83%), while McRae added 20 (74%).
Defenders Demi Bligh and Price were named best on court for Ararat.
Bigham led the Thunder with 18 goals (75%), supported by Luca Landrigan's 12 (52%).
Sydney Thorogood and Rylee Cocks were named best on court for the visitors.
Ararat coach Faith Biddle highlighted her team’s growth in 2026 as they secured their seventh victory for the season.
“The last few weeks we've had a bit of a rough shot,” she said.
“So it was good to get a nice win on the board.
“We're fully in the swing of getting ready for finals now, so we've just got to make sure we're staying controlled throughout the game.
“We get a little bit excited sometimes and especially when we get a bit of a lead… but now it's just focusing on being controlled and having that excitement while being able to rein it in a little bit when we need.”
Biddle praised Michayla McRae’s first game in the red and white.
“She’s definitely given the team a bit of life again,” she said.
“We lost Maggie about halfway through the season… but we were lucky enough that Michaela made herself available for us for the rest of the year, and it's pretty much just a straight swap for us.”
McRae’s inclusion also allowed Biddle to move from goal shooter to goal defence, and team up with Price.
“Bridie’s height at goal keeper is definitely comforting, especially when you're playing against a tall shooter,” the playing coach said.
The win puts Ararat just four points behind Dimboola with a superior percentage - 113.88% versus 111.33% - an important tiebreaker.
Hot on their heels are Stawell, who won a hard-fought contest against Minyip Murtoa 48-42.
Playing at Central Park, the Warriors took an early 6-2 lead before two late goals to the Burras saw the sides go into the first break 13-11.
Stawell scored five straight goals to open the second quarter and maintained a solid margin into the main break, ahead 26-18.
Inaccuracy hurt the hosts to begin the second half, which allowed Minyip Murtoa to claw back.
At the final break, Stawell were ahead 35-31.
The Burras came out firing in the fourth, and cut the margin to just two goals, before Ayva Mitchell and 250-gamer Jemma Clarkson scored the next nine goals.
Ahead by 11, Stawell held on to win by just six goals.
Mitchell scored a round high 41 goals (71%), while Clarkson added seven (55%).
In her milestone game, Clarkson was named best on court for the hosts, alongside captain Meg Walker.
Jenna Schneider did the bulk of the Burras' scoring with 22 goals (76), while captain Jessica Newell (71%) and Tamira Cullinan (63%) added 10 goals each.
Defenders Johanna Griffiths and Lauren Dodgshun were named in the best for the visitors.
A Stawell win locks up the top five spots in the A Grade competition, and the Warriors can still finish third.
However, their remaining three games (Horsham Saints, bye and Dimboola) could mean they finish as low as fifth.
Warracknabeal was eliminated from the finals race after they lost to Horsham 67-45.
Playing at Anzac Park, the Demons looked like the home side as they enjoyed a 19-8 start.
The Eagles clawed back in the second quarter by outscoring Horsham 15-11; however, they still went into halftime down by seven goals.
The high-paced scoring rate continued in the second half with 31 goals scored in the third quarter.
The Demons scored 18 goals in the quarter and took a 48-36 lead into the last break.
Looking to make a statement, Horsham added 19 goals in the last quarter and limited the hosts to nine to eventually win by 22 goals.
Imogen Worthy led the Demons with 37 goals (75%), while Zarli Knight added 22 (85%) and Georgie Carberry finished with eight goals (73%).
The young Knight was named best on court alongside starting centre Febey McClure.
For the Eagles, Isabella Orszulak top scored with 24 goals (75%), supported by Briodi McKenzie’s 18 goals (64%) and Nicola Clyne’s three goals (60%).
Defenders Ava Koschitzke and Jordan Heller were named best on court for the home side.