Geelong Amateur and Ocean Grove have reigned supreme in BFNL A Grade netball for three years

Two BFNL A Grade netball powerhouses will face off in a grand final for the third year running. We take a deeper look into the rich, recent history between the proud outfits.

Geelong Amateur goal shooter Ruby Watson and Ocean Grove goal keeper Georgia Berry fight for the ball in the qualifying final. Picture: Mark Wilson

After adding the experience and knowledge of a Geelong Cougars and GFNL star to its premiership-winning squad, Ocean Grove would have been forgiven for feeling pretty confident about going back-to-back in 2024.

However, the Grubbers will have to get past their nemesis of the past three seasons, Geelong Amateur, who have gone through their most recent campaign without a single loss.

There’s something about Grubbers and Ammos top flight BFNL games since 2022.

In a similar vein to Torquay in men’s senior footy, the Ammos have dropped just five matches in the past three seasons, while winning the 2022 title.

However, four of those have been to one team: Saturday’s fellow grand finalist and defending champion, Ocean Grove.

They’ve usually been close encounters, too.

Barring a 26-point loss for the Grubbers last year, which seems like a strange outlier, all games have been decided by an average of just under seven points.

Zanna Woods returned to her junior club in Ocean Grove this season. Picture: Mark Wilson

Ocean Grove’s Emily Moroney said both sides were evenly mached with a range of “super close match ups”.

“We’re pretty similar across the board,” Moroney said.

“We both have our tall pillars in goal shooter and goal keeper, and then pretty skillful and fast through the middle.

“We all definitely get along with each other (off the court).

“It’s (usually) such a competitive and skilful game of netball. We always like coming up against each other, there’s no hard feelings off the court.

“(But) on the court we want to win.”

Ocean Grove’s Emily Moroney. Picture: Mark Wilson

The Grubbers bolstered their armoury in 2024, with Zanna Woods returning home where her junior career began, taking on a leadership role for the younger players.

“She’s been awesome,” Maroney said.

“She’s obviously got a wealth of experience and knowledge playing at a higher level with the Cougars and coming from the GFNL.

“Winning a premiership last year was a good incentive to come back down.”

However, it hasn’t been a smooth run to the big dance, with an ankle injury to Woods keeping her off the court for nearly two months.

Geelong Amateur’s Ruby Watson has led A Grade scoring by 283 goals. Picture: Mark Wilson

“We were ebbing and flowing with our consistency,” Moroney said.

“Just a mix of people being out with injury and work commitments.

“Time is the biggest thing to build those relationships on court.”

However, the return of Grubbers star Bec O’Neill in Round 11 after retiring was obviously a massive plus.

“I think it was a bit of itchy feet, realising how much she missed netball and the social side of things,” she said.

“For her to slot back into the side was awesome, we were definitely going to take her up on that offer.”

After breaking a 19-year premiership drought in 2023, Moroney said there was a bit of pressure to defend their title, but equally, it provided motivation.

Geelong Amateur captain Keisha Guilmartin and coach Riley Richardson with the 2022 BFNL A Grade premiership trophy. Picture: Alan Barber

“There’s definitely a bit of motivation to back-to-back and show Ammos that we have maintained our consistency and skills.

The Grubbers will need to find a way to limit the impact of Ruby Watson, who has led the competition this season by almost 300 goals.

“Her height is one of the things that makes her so valuable,” she said.

“Her ability to hold high, and have that space in the back to allow for the drop ball. It would be pretty good being a wing attack feeding to her.

“They were definitely the top team during the season, that’s for sure.”

Originally published as Geelong Amateur and Ocean Grove have reigned supreme in BFNL A Grade netball for three years