Bellarine netball grand final 2025: Ocean Grove secure three-peat with one-goal thriller over Geelong Amateur
Despite losing a star player to a cruel injury blow, Ocean Grove has cemented its netball dynasty, holding off a gallant Geelong Amateur to bring home a third consecutive premiership.
A backs-against-the-wall performance has delivered Ocean Grove an emotional three-peat, a flag-winning goal from Zanna Woods seconds before the buzzer sinking the hearts of Geelong Amateur in a 53-52 thriller.
It was bitter ending for the Ammos, Saturday’s decider marking the minor premier’s third-straight grand final loss to the Grubbers, and closest yet.
As the Grubbers’ quick and dynamic attack controlled the opening term, the Ammos clicked into gear in the second before the match was turned on its head when Ocean Grove’s premiership captain Emily Moroney went down in visible agony with a right knee injury.
It had the potential to kill the Grubbers’ flag dreams, Moroney a driving force in centre up until that point and the “heart and soul” of her team.
But the Grubbers found a way through to stay abreast with the Ammos when they edged ahead in both the third and fourth quarters, before getting the ball into the safe hands of Woods, who rarely missed all day for 42 goals at 95 per cent, in the dying seconds to sink the winning shot.
“I honestly didn’t know, I block out everything when I play, I don’t hear anything,” Woods elaborated post-match.
“When the buzzer went off after the shot, I just got shivers all down my body because I just couldn’t believe it.
“I knew people were yelling, when Georgia Berry got that last intercept, I could have kissed her.”
As the Ammos opted for three changes through the GA position, in support of crafty sharpshooter Kim Hammond (41 goals), the Grubbers’ defence – including a relentless Georgia Berry in GK – did enough to disrupt, Australian Kelpie defender Alastair Punshon also courtside in his role as a defensive specialist coach this season.
“Kim is absolutely amazing in goals, and I thought Georgia did an amazing job monstering over the top of that, just could not be prouder,” Woods said.
Missed chances on goal hurt the Ammos’ cause, as they failed to capitalise on gains further up the court, including from midcourters Kaitlyn Sheringham – judged best on court – and Georgia Duncan, who ran all day.
Ocean Grove coach Mel Holmes, who helped the Grubbers’ C-grade to a three-peat of their own as a player earlier in the day, hailed her side’s “grit and determination” to close out the win.
“Oh my gosh, I’m still in shock, but it’s an amazing feeling,” Holmes said.
“We had to dig deep, we had three B-graders (in).
“We’ve had our adversities, but that’s just worth it.”
“It (three-peat) means so much to the club … it’s hard to do and we’ve done it so I’m extremely proud.”
‘Heart and soul’ player galvanises Grubbers
The words were simple as Moroney was carried off late in the second quarter in visible pain.
“Lets do this for Em,” Holmes told her players.
On court and Woods – co-captain alongside Moroney – had a similar message.
“Em is such a huge part of our club and team and community … when she went down, we all felt it so hard, we love her to bits, she’s the heart and soul to our team,” Woods said.
“I think it would be silly to ignore that in the moment, but I just said to the girls, ‘game changes now, we just do it for Em because she’d do it for us’.
“We needed to come together as a group and that’s exactly how we won in the end.”
For Moroney, the day was an emotional rollercoaster, the high of a three-peat wedded with the possibility of doing a second ACL injury – this time to her opposite knee after a previous left reconstruction.
“I did feel it go in and out, but we’ll see how it goes, I’ll get some scans later in the week,” Moroney said.
Forced to watch on with her knee raised and wrapped in ice in the dugout, Moroney put her trust in her teammates to get the job done in her absence.
“It was absolutely incredible, I couldn’t really watch the last few minutes, but that last 30 seconds, the way they controlled the ball to get the goal – they knew exactly what they needed to do and succeeded,” she said.
“It was bloody awesome.”
Dual send-offs shift momentum
If Moroney’s injury wasn’t enough, it seemed the gods were against the Grubbers when wing defender Gemma Bell was sent off late in the third quarter.
Despite playing a woman down for a handful of minutes, the Grubbers were able to keep steady, an after the siren goal from Arlee Bennett keeping her side up by two heading into the final term.
But a second send-0ff in the fourth, this time to Ammos goalkeeper Keisha Guilmartin for late contact, changed the game a third time, the Grubbers able to capitalise on their rivals going a circle defender down to summon a five-goal blitz.
“We maintained our composure, it was a shame Gemma got (sent off), she had a crack, it’s all you ask, but when Keish went off I felt the girls really lifted and got the job done,” Holmes said.
Guilmartin quickly worked to make amends once back on court and pulled in some big turnovers, as the Ammos hit the front again, 52-51 with a minute left.
But it wasn’t enough in the end, as Woods and her team summoned a magic final minute with two final goals.
Grubbers’ versatility sees them through
It was a positional move which immediately paid off, a young Bennett taking the GA bib and Woods, also a playing assistant, stepping into GS.
The Ammos had little answers for the Grubbers’ early ball movement spearheaded by Moroney and wing attack Georgia Ryan, as Bennett and Woods worked in sync in goals to race out to a 7-2, and then 15-8 lead, before the Ammos brought the margin back to six by the first-quarter siren.
“I love goaling with Arlee, she’s an absolute jet, I feel like she’s a little mini me, she just wants to learn, absorb, she listens so hard to everything, and adapts so quickly to things that happen on court,” Woods said.
“And to be honest, we haven’t started with that line-up all year but between Mel and I, we just thought that was going to be the right move.
“I think it was the exact start we needed.”
Star defensive recruit Amanda O’Malley played a half in goal defence, but wasn’t at full-strength after managing a series of rolled ankles, as B-grader Emma Jones stepped into the role while Courtney Leith took the centre bib for Moroney immediately after her exit and had to battle with an in-form Duncan.
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Originally published as Bellarine netball grand final 2025: Ocean Grove secure three-peat with one-goal thriller over Geelong Amateur
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