Final seedings up in the air for GNL Round 18

FINALS action is just around the corner with plenty at stake in the Geelong Netball League’s (GNL) final round of 2023.

Both Colac (60 points, 231.84 per cent) and Newtown & Chilwell (60 points, 144.48 per cent) will need to earn their way to top spot and a week off in the first week of finals.

Colac is looking to extend its premiership tenure with a chance to round up the minor premiership this weekend. Photo: MICHAEL CHAMBERS

The Eagles, with the more favourable matchup out of the two ladder leaders, head to Memorial Park to take on 8th-seeded Leopold (24 points, 83.84 per cent) and will likely attain its 15th win of the season.

Colac, under new coach Courtney Cuolahan, has remained the dominant outfit in 2023, dropping just two matches and building an extraordinary percentage in the process with the same squad that won the 2022 flag.

One more win for Colac secures the minor premiership.

Newtown & Chilwell is firmly in the premiership picture once again.

To do that, the Tigers head to South Barwon (52 points, 153.97 per cent) where the Swans will hope to snare an unlikely double-chance spot in the finals.

Jordee Nichols and her Swans will need to inflate its percentage if a top-three finish is to become a reality, coupled with Geelong West defeating St Joseph’s.

South Barwon is likely to finish fifth this season. Photo: MICHAEL CHAMBERS

St Joseph’s (54 points, 159.02 per cent) missed out on finals in 2022 due to an extra bye but will make finals in 2023.

Kirsten Hood’s Joeys are also fresh off an upset win over Colac and can announce themselves as genuine flag contenders with a victory over Geelong West (52 points, 177.88 per cent) later today – the winner of this clash is probably to finish the season in third.

Bell Park (38 points, 122.17 per cent) will finish the season in sixth place currently 10 points clear of seventh-seeded St Mary’s (28 points, 74.44 per cent).

Both sides will be eager to finish the season on a good note when the two meet at Hamlyn Park this weekend.

Grovedale (zero points, 24.80 per cent) is still searching for its first win of the season and has its best chance to find it, facing St Albans (18 points, 51.97 per cent) at home.

Lara (18 points, 71.08 per cent) will enjoy the final bye of 2023 and is already looking ahead to 2024.

Likely finals week one matchups:
Bye – Colac
Qualifying Final – Newtown & Chilwell v St Joseph’s
Elimination Final – Geelong West v South Barwon