Sport
9 April, 2026
NETBALL: In youth, will be season of faith for the Saints
ST ARNAUD has had a rocky off-season, with player numbers so short the club applied to the North Central Netball Association for permission not to field an A Grade team in 2026.
ST ARNAUD has had a rocky off-season, with player numbers so short the club applied to the North Central Netball Association for permission not to field an A Grade team in 2026.
That request was denied, and instead the Saints will not be represented in C Grade.
Last season’s wooden-spooners will rely on juniors doubling up to play senior netball in A and B Grade in order to field teams.
St Arnaud travels to Charlton in round one knowing it faces a very difficult season under new coach Chris Amos.
The Navy Blues finished seventh last year and will also look to emerging young talent for improvement.
Charlton will be without 2025 best and fairest winner Remi Jeffery due to injury, with the star set to miss the entire season.
AFTER an unbeaten season in 2025 and two A Grade premierships in a row, Wedderburn provides a challenge like no other in North Central netball.
With a new coach Meg Lowry in charge, the Redbacks begin their flag defence against Calder United, which finished an impressive fourth last year in the merged club’s first season.
The shock departure of Aliza Lockhart to Navarre is a big loss for Wedderburn, but as reigning B Grade champions as well, if any club has the depth to cover such a critical player it is the Redbacks.
Kelsey Pallpratt joined Wedderburn last season and promptly won the league’s best and fairest award, while Maddi Postle is back in search of a 12th A Grade premiership.
Calder United’s biggest star is Meg Hogan, who was runner up to Pallpratt in the North Central count last season and is also co-coach with Lauren Thompson.
The Redbacks are red-hot favourites to win the premiership again in 2026, while the Lions are looking to advance on last season’s impressive debut.
BOORT was the hard-luck story of last year, losing the second semi-final to Wedderburn by a goal and then going down to Sea Lake Nandaly by the same margin in the preliminary final.
The Magpies have been there or thereabouts for several seasons, and under running queen Carly Isaac as A Grade coach, you know they will be extremely fit.
A number of juniors are expected to push for regular senior selection this year, including Indie Gooding.
The team travels to Donald, which finished sixth last season, and has one of the young stars of the competition in Milla Adams, who at only 15 has represented North Central in both netball and basketball at junior level.
The Royal Blues have Kayla Donnellon back after seven successful years in the Bellarine league and she will co-coach the A Grade team with Xanthi Rice.
Sea Lake Nandaly made the grand final last season before running into the Wedderburn steamroller, a strong result for a team that was not expected to challenge for the premiership.
It opens its season at home to Birchip Watchem, which narrowly missed the finals in 2025.
The Tigers have retained the core of last year’s squad, including best and fairest winner Gabby Munari.
Birchip Watchem has a new coach in Romi Miller, and the Bulls are open about pushing for a finals berth this season.
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