Geelong netball signing tracker: All the arrivals and departures for season 2026

Netball clubs across Geelong have been quick to start working towards the 2026 season, with a number of coaching appointments confirmed and several players already on the move.

Elisa Hall (left) is one of a number of netballers to have joined new BFNL senior outfit Surf Coast Suns. Picture: Alan Barber

We’ve only just crowned the final A-grade premiers across the GFNL, BFNL and GDFNL competitions, but a number of netball sides across the Geelong region are already on the front foot with their plans for 2026.

Here’s a look at the moves announced so far.

GFNL

Geelong West

Re-signed: Rachel Palmer-Brennan, Eloise Ritchie, Alahria Smith, Aleisha McDonald.

Grovedale

Gracie Navarro

A dynamic, defensive midcourter, Navarro crosses from North Geelong in the GDFNL, having previously joined the Tigers’ women’s football program earlier this year.

Re-signed: Esther Kidmas, Taylar Borg, Skye Fulton, Morgan Byrne, Chloe Blunt, Olivia Makowski, Tarnee Orr, Mikaylah Hamilton.

Gracie Navarro has departed North Geelong for Grovedale. Picture: Mark Wilson

Lara

Coaching appointments: Chris Camilleri has re-signed as A-grade coach for the 2026 season, after the Cats rose to seventh on the ladder with a 6-9-1 record.

Leopold

Hollie Phillips

The goal shooter arrives from South Warrnambool, where she played and won a A-grade three-peat from 2022-24, lining up alongside the likes of Geelong VNL players Ally O’Connor and Emma Buwalda.

Hollie Phillips (right) has joined Leopold from South Warrnambool. Picture: Supplied

Re-signed: Maggie Lothian, Breanna Heagney, Millie Holland, Natalie Heagney, Charlotte Murray, Tessa Allen.

Coaching appointments: Kaela Leahy will remain as A-grade coach for a second season, while Josh Smith - who coaches City West Falcons’ 23&Us in the VNL - returns to the club as a specialist coach.

Newtown & Chilwell

Re-signed: Ruby Pekin-Schlicht, Julia Woolley, Vanessa Augustini, Charity Nasalio, Natalie Tommasini, Mia van Wyk, Holly Adams-Alcock, Olivia Powell.

South Barwon

Outs: Swans defender Maddison McKiernan has departed to take on the A-grade coaching position at GDFNL club Winchelsea.

Coaching appointments: Ex-Diamond Jane Searle joins as A-grade coach for the next two seasons, crossing from Queenscliff where she was A-grade coach the last two seasons.

Jane Searle has joined South Barwon as its new A-grade coach, after two years at the helm at Queenscliff. Picture: Alan Barber

Searle replaces Billy Mahoney, who departed the role mid-2025, while Jed Christian, who stepped up as coach for the second half of the season, will remain at the Swans in 2026 in his previous assistant coaching role.

St Albans

St Albans' new A-grade coach Taryn Laverty. Picture: St Albans FNC

Coaching appointments: Taryn Laverty has signed on as A-grade coach for last year’s wooden spooners, taking the reins for Bec Henriksen, who will instead lead B-grade. Laverty is currently involved in the Geelong Flyers program, coaching their U19s, while her previous coaching experience includes a number of junior club and representative teams across the region.

BFNL

Anglesea

Joss Bennetts

The midcourter arrives at the Roos after last playing for Newtown & Chilwell and the Hawks’ VNL side, before an ACL injury sidelined her mid-2024.

Out: A-grade captain and Team of the Year goaler Ariana Luamanu has crossed to BFNL rival Torquay.

Barwon Heads

Out: Midcourter Perri Esler (nee Jones) has crossed to BFNL rival Ocean Grove.

Coaching appointments: Ebony Evans and Jordan Ogle will lead the Seagulls’ A-and-B-grade sides for a second season. The Gulls’ A-grade finished with seventh with a 6-12 record in 2025, with their B-grade in eighth after a 7-11 campaign.

Drysdale

Madison Foot (right) will return to Drysdale in 2026, after two seasons with Queenscliff. Picture: Alan Barber

Madison Foot

A versatile midcourter who can play centre, wing attack and wing defence, Foot returns to her former club after two seasons at Queenscliff.

Played for Southern Saints’ 23-and-unders in the VNL in 2025.

Re-signed: Mia Fallon, Chloe Hobbs, Paige McGrath, Elise Ruggles, Alyce Delaney, Olivia Young, Maddison Connally.

Coaching appointment: Hawks’ A-grade coach Calsey Taylor has recommitted for a further two seasons, taking her through 2027, after leading the Hawks to an improved 5-13 record in her first year at the helm.

Modewarre

Abby Larkin

The key defender joins the Warriors from Moama, after relocating to Geelong for uni. Has lined up for the Bendigo Strikers’ VNL 23 & U team the past two seasons.

Hannah Richards

Joins Larkin at the Warriors from Moama, similarly moving to Geelong for study. A goal shooter who can also play defence, Richards is also part of Bendigo Strikers’ development squad.

Sarah Mulqueen

Joins from BFNL rival Newcomb, where she spent the past two seasons lining up both ends of the court.

Newcomb

Abbey Dingwall 

The Power have added experience in the form of a the three-time Team of the year and two-time premiership player from Pyramid Hill.

Described by the Power as “a dynamic, hardworking defender with genuine grit, leadership qualities, and a fierce competitive edge”.

Re-signed: Carly Sanders, Maddie McFarlane.
Outs: Sarah Mulqueen has joined BFNL rival Modewarre.

Coaching appointments: Lisa Robinson has re-signed as A-grade coach as the Power aim to advance further into finals after back-to-back elimination final exits.

Ocean Grove

Defender Julia Mitchell has crossed from Thomson to Ocean Grove. Picture: Mark Wilson

Julia Philbey

A former Barwon Heads and Thomson captain, Philbey (nee Mitchell) will bolster the Grubbers defence. Sat out the 2025 GDFNL season with the Tigers after suffering an ACL injury in pre-season.

Perri Esler

Esler (nee Jones) returns to her junior club, with the experienced midcourter previously lining up in the GFNL and most recently BFNL rival Barwon Heads as their captain.

Bridgette Voss

The goaler arrives after spending part of the 2025 season at South Bendigo, with Voss (nee Furphy) balancing VNL championship commitments with Bendigo Strikers.

Has previously played for Bell Park.

Re-signed: Zanna Punshon (nee Woods), Arlee Bennett, Georgia Ryan, Gemma Bell, Amanda O’Malley.

Outs: Premiership co-captain Emily Moroney will likely be sidelined for the year, after rupturing her ACL in the Grubbers’ grand final win last month, while Team of the Year defender Georgia Berry has joined rivals Queenscliff.

Coaching appointments: Premiership coach Mel Holmes will remain at the helm in 2026, with assistant and A-grade goaler Zanna Punshon also recommitting for another season.

Portarlington

Re-signed: Hannah Branson, Isabella Marsh, Tully Bethune, Mikayla Mevissen, Tylah McCleish, Laura Robinson, Lauren Wood, Morgan Van Leerdam, Jamison Camilleri.

Coaching appointments: Guy McLeish has extended his tenure as A-grade coach for a further two seasons, through to 2027, as has B-grade and club assistant coach Steve McCallum. The Demons’ A-graders finished sixth with a 7-10-1 record in McLeish’s first season at the helm.

Queenscliff

Georgia Berry, Bec O’Neill

The dual recruits join from Bellarine rival and powerhouse Ocean Grove.

Bec O'Neill and Georgia Berry have signed for Queenscliff. Picture: Queenscliff FNC

Berry, a standout defender, was named in the BFNL Team of the Year in 2025 before helping the Grubbers complete their A-grade premiership three-peat.

Meanwhile, O’Neill, a star goaler, was part of the Grubbers’ 2023 and 2024 flags, coming out of retirement mid-season for the latter. She didn’t play in 2025.

Outs: Midcourter Madison Foot returns to junior club Drysdale after two seasons with the Coutas.

Coaching appointments: The Coutas haveturned to its 2025 captains – Kaitlin Gladman and Laura Cayzer – to lead its A-grade squad as coaches next season.

Kaitlin Gladman and Laura Cayzer will coach Queenscliff's A-grade side in 2026. Picture: Queenscliff FNC

It follows Jane Searle’s departure for GFNL club South Barwon after two seasons at the helm.

In a social media statement, Queenscliff FNC said the pair would lead its A-grade side with “the perfect mix of strength, strategy and passion”, while also assisting in the club’s junior development.

Surf Coast Suns

Casey Carroll

Carroll joins the Suns as playing coach from Winchelsea, with the experienced boasting an extensive resume across the GFNL, BFNL and GDFNL, including league medals in both GFNL and GDFNL.

Gemma Stavenuiter

The former Margaret Webb medallist and star goal keeper joins Carroll from Winchelsea.

Winchelsea's Rhiannon Williams has joined new BFNL outfit Surf Coast Suns. Picture: Alan Barber

Rhiannon Williams

Another former Blue to cross the Suns, Williams will reunite with Stavenuiter in the Suns’ defensive end.

Kat Kasparian

Also joins from Winchelsea, Kasparian’s versatility sees her able to play at both ends of the court.

Elisa Hall

The goaler joins from cross-town rivals Torquay. Part of the Geelong Cougars’ championship side in 2025, injuries did limit her game time at the Tigers to 12 of a possible 21 appearances.

Georgia Howell

The defender joins the new club after she was part of Geelong Amateur’s B-grade three-peat from 2023-25.

Is also part of Geelong Cougars’ 23-and-under squad in the Victorian Netball League.

Coaching appointments: Former Winchelsea coaches Casey Carroll and Brendan White have signed on as inaugural A-and-B-grade coaches for the Surf Coast Suns. Anthony ‘Birdy’ Burton has also joined as club performance and development coach, after holding a similar role at Thomson in 2025.

Torquay

Ariana Luamanu

Luamanu joins from rival Anglesea after season, with the 23-year-old captaining their A-grade side in 2025.

A strong season saw her feature in the league’s Team of the Year in goals, though she can be used in the midcourt.

Ariana Luamanu (middle) in action for Anglesea in 2025. Picture: Phil Yeo

Re-signed: Kiralee Collings, Daisy O’Kane, Taylor Mitvalsky, Kate Schippers.

Departures: Goaler Elisa Hall has joined cross-town rivals and inaugural BFNL competitors Surf Coast Suns after four years at the Tigers.

Coaching appointments: Ex-Australian Diamond Madi Browne has signed on as head coach for the next three years, taking her through to 2028. Browne stepped up to the top job mid-2025 season for Sonia Harris, who departed for trip around Australia, after initially joining the Tigers as a specialist coach.

GDFNL

Bannockburn

Coaching appointments: Julia Ladgrove has re-signed for a second year in charge of the Tigers’ A-grade, after steering a young side to 6-11 record.

Bell Post Hill

Re-signings: Jorja Caruso, Sarah Cushing.

Coaching appointments: Daniel Black will remain at the helm of the Panthers’ A-grade side for another year, after an improved 6-11 record in 2025.

Belmont Lions

Re-signed: Molly Gribble, Angelique Ross, Yianna Ross, Ella Wasik, Sophie Allison, Zoe Saunders.

Outs: Angelique Ross will likely be sidelined for part of 2026 season, after tearing her ACL in finals earlier this month.

Corio goal attack Nikita Butcher has joined Ballan. Picture: Mark Wilson

Corio

Steph Cockerell

The former Devil returns as a playing-coach, after making just two early season appearances in 2025.

Mckensie Wade

The goaler arrives from GFNL outfit North Shore, where she lined up in their highest ranked team in C-grade.

Sunk 420 goals at 81.55 per cent in 2025 to take out her club’s best and fairest.

Hannah Welsh

Described as a strong, smart and versatile defender with a strong jump, Welsh joins the Devils in her return to the court after welcoming a child in 2025.

Bridie Shanahan

The youngster joins the Geelong and District league club from Ballan and Caroline Springs.

Shanahan, who can play right across the court, returned to the netball court in 2025 after competing in athletics at a state and national level in the triple jump.

Outs: Goaler Nikita Butcher has crossed to Ballan for the 2026 season, while playing coach Zoe Donne has moved to Red Cliffs.

Coaching announcement: Cockerell has taken on the A-B-grade coaching role alongside the club’s reigning A-grade best-and-fairest winner and defender Erin Dillon, who enters her second year at the club. They assume the role for Donne, who held the position for one season.

East Geelong

Re-signed: Steph Boyce, Claudia Cook, Maddie Solly, Sylvie Jarvis, Georgie Willson, Casey McFayden, Shannon Pietsch, Jenelle Baker.

Coaching appointments: Eagles premiership coach Justine Radford has re-signed for the 2026 season.

North Geelong

Outs: Midcourter Gracie Navarro has crossed to Grovedale in the GFNL, with the midcourter having previously joined the Tigers’ footy program in 2025.

Thomson

Outs: Defender and former captain Julia Philbey (nee Mitchell) has joined BFNL reigning premiers Ocean Grove.

Werribee Centrals

Lauren Winter

The defender returns to the Centurions after two years playing footy in the Victorian Amateur Football Association with Williamstown CYMS.

Re-signed: Steph Kearney, Mia Bruce, Alual Garang, Ashlee Brunato, Julia Nash.

Winchelsea

Maddison McKiernan

The GFNL and VNL defender joins the Blues as its new A-grade coach, having spent 2025 with South Barwon’s A-grade side and City West Falcons’ 23 & Us.

Maddison McKiernan (right), pictured during South Barwon’s recent finals series, has joined Winchelsea as its new A-grade coach. Picture: Alan Barber

Layla Pretorius

The emerging goaler joins the Blues after coming up through Altona’s representative pathway, while she lined up for City West Falcons’ 19/Us in 2025.

Re-signed: Meg Royal, Grace Pullen, Ebony Berg.

Outs: Coaches Casey Carroll and Brendan White – the former a playing coach – have signed on at new BFNL outfit Surf Coast Sun as their inaugural coaches, with fellow Blues Gemma Stavenuiter, Rhiannon Williams and Kat Kasparian joining them to the club.

Coaching appointment: Defender Maddison McKiernan has joined the Blues as A-grade coach from South Barwon, withexperienced VNL talent Maggie Lind joining her as a specialist coach and mentor.

Originally published as Geelong netball signing tracker: All the arrivals and departures for season 2026