Eyes on the prize: premiership hopes for last undefeated side

NEWTOWN & Chilwell’s top netballers want another premiership.

The back-to-back reigning premiers have featured in the past four Geelong Netball League grand finals and are looking like strong contenders again in 2026.

Now the league’s last remaining undefeated team after handing South Barwon its first loss of the season, midcourter Danielle Mather has her eyes on another medal.

 

“We want to be amongst finals contention again. We want to win another premiership. It’s what we play for,” Mather said.

“As everyone says, we take each round as it comes, but there is no doubt in my mind, I’m thinking of another premiership.”

Five of the Eagles’ nine players in their round 8 71-46 win over the Swans featured in last year’s grand final side.

 

As for the new faces, Mather is pleased with how well they have gelled with the team.

After spending the past two seasons earning her spot in the club’s A-grade side, shooter Holly Adams-Alcock is one player Mather is particularly pleased to see thriving on the court.

The young shooter scored 56 goals against the Swans at better than 94 per cent accuracy.

 

After making her National Netball Championships debut in 2024, she returned to the Victorian team last year and has established herself as one of the region’s best shooters.

Working alongside stalwart Julia Woolley in the goal circle, Mather said their chemistry is continuing to flourish.

“Holly in goal shooter, she’s just meant to be an A-grade netballer,” Mather said.

“She plays amazing and it’s a great combination between her and Julia, and what a person for Holly to learn off, with Jules out in front of her and Vanessa [Augustini] feeding in.

 

“The mix between young ones and us older girls running round feels really good. We’re stoked.”

Despite the sizeable margin, Mather said the pressure on court was immense.

The Swans’ clinical style of play forced the Eagles to capitalise on every opportunity they created.

Both sides were required to match each other’s intensity throughout the four-quarter contest.

 

Competing after the annual Geelong Big Freeze event over the weekend, Mather was pleased to have a good win on what was a great club day.

“We’ve spoken about the Big Freeze for a few weeks now and what it means to be able to actually get our bodies out on a netball court and be able to do this when not everyone can,” Mather said.

“We wanted to just to make sure that we put in our 100 today and give back to the club and just get around an important cause.”

Across the courts, St Mary’s, Bell Park and St Joseph’s collected points while Grovedale and Leopold had the bye.