Sport
5 September, 2025
MCDFNL Netball Preliminary Final Preview: Carisbrook vs Talbot
Either Carisbrook or Talbot will put themselves on the precipice of ending their premiership droughts on Sunday when they square off with a place in the grand final at stake.
While neither team has achieved ultimate glory for over a quarter of a century, they have experienced their droughts in very different ways.
After winning the final premiership of the 20th century, the Redbacks have mostly remained a finals contender since 1999 and have been a powerhouse over the past decade, making three of the last five grand finals.
Despite their impressive sustained success, a converted flag has alluded them, and they hope they can shake the moniker of bridesmaids in 2025.
Their finals campaign couldn’t have gotten off to a better start, earning themselves a week off with a seven-goal victory in their qualifying final over Natte Bealiba.
What was most impressive about the Redbacks’ performance was their ability to limit the Swans’ high-powered offence to 48 goals, their lowest score all season.
“The defensive pressure was incredible, they kept hustling for balls, and I think probably that was the main difference,” Carisbrook player-coach Jordan McClure said.
“The main things we spoke about before the game were making sure we could run out the four quarters, which is something that we worked really strongly at.
“We will just continue at it, the same as what we have every week and just making sure that we are getting around each other.”
Meanwhile, the Hawks hadn’t achieved a finals victory since their premiership back in 1994 until last season, but they have certainly made up for lost time, earning back-to-back preliminary final berths after finishing outside the top four.
After vanquishing Newstead in the elimination final, Talbot delivered a double dose of finals heartbreak on the Maryborough Giants with a gripping three-goal triumph on Saturday.
It was not an easy feat. After the Hawks led by four goals at three-quarter time, the Giants were on the verge of tying the game with limited time to spare before some clutch interventions from Jess White and Loren Aquilina got Talbot over the line.
After clearing the Giant hurdle once again, Talbot player-coach Eleisha Phelps said the team is pumped up to try and go at least one step further in 2025.
“It’s pretty exciting and it’s rewarding for all the hard work throughout pre-season, regular season and now come finals, all the girls are stepping up and that’s what we train for,” she said.
“It was pretty much just back each other up, give it a crack and enjoy it. That’s what finals are all about, enjoying your netball and we play as a team really well, I think that’s what gets us over the line.”
A lot has changed since these teams last met back in early May in round four of the home and away season, an encounter which saw the Redbacks balloon a one-goal half time lead into a 20-goal victory.
The key difference is that the Hawks will have Elenoa and Jane Costello for the rematch, who have brought a valuable reliability with their shooting and defensive prowess respectively.