Ocean Grove are the 2025 BFNL A Grade Netball premiers after a thrilling one-goal victory over Geelong Amateur at Grinter Reserve on Saturday.

In a gripping contest, the reigning premiers were pushed to the limit in the final term but held their nerve in the dying seconds. Zanna Woods scored the match-winning goal moments before the final buzzer, securing a 53–52 win and Ocean Grove’s third consecutive A Grade premiership.

Midcourter Courtney Leith described the dramatic finish as an “amazing feeling.”

“It was always going to come down to who was better on the day, and the game really showed that,” Leith told aflbarwon.com.au after the match.

“To be able to score just before the buzzer and take the win was incredible. But commiserations to Ammos — it’s always tough to lose by just a goal.”

The win was a special moment for the entire Ocean Grove community.

“We had footballers there, everyone's families — it really means a lot,” Leith said. “Not just to the team, but to the whole club. It shows, because everyone got around us and helped us get over the line.”

Kaitlyn Sheringham (Geelong Amateur) was awarded best on court.

Other Grand Final Results

13&U Div 5 - Bell Park Dragons (9) defeated by South Barwon White (10)

Best On: Emily Healy (South Barwon) 

15&U Div 5 Barwon Heads (16) defeated St Mary’s Navy (14)

Best On: Olivia Kettner (St Mary’s) 

17&U Div 4 Ocean Grove Cooinda (20) defeated by Torquay Wakefiled (21)

Best On: Cara Henderson (Torquay) 

15&U Div 3 Newtown Wirth (12) defeated by Ocean Grove Bunji (14)

Best On: Harriet Noonan (Newtown) 

Ammos Blue (12) defeated by Ocean Grove Bunji (14)

Best On: Hannah McCaffory (Ocean Grove)  

13&U Div 6 Bell Park Black (18) defeated Lara Blue (15)

Best On: Harvey Basselot-Hall (Lara) 

15&U Div 6 Suns Cosy (24) defeated by Newtown Price (29)

Best on: Nina Ross (Newtown) 

17&U Div 3 Bannockburn Black (22) defeated by South Barwon Swans (24)

Best On: Indianna Tait (Bannockburn) 

13&U Div 7: St Mary’s greig (14) defeated by Ammos Gold (24)

Best On: Frankie Barry (Ammos) 

13&U Div 3 South Barwon Swans (26) defeated by Suns Birdrock (20)

Best on: Hana Coles (South Barwon) 

15&U Div 7 Bannockburn Gold (21) defeated Bell Park White (9)

Best On: Elsie Lewis (Bannockburn) 

15&U Div 4 Joey’s Black (20) defeated Ocean Grove Cooinda (18)

Best On: Allegra Aquillina (Ocean Grove) 

13&U Div 8 Bell Park White (18) defeated Inverleigh Gower (17)

Best On: Namrit Kaur Jassal (Bell Park) 

13&U Div 2 Ocean Grove (13) defeated by Geelong Amateur (21)

Best On: Alice Harmon (Geelong Amateur) 

15&U Div 2 Torquay (26) defeated Ocean Grove (22)

Best On: Millie Binnion- Torquay  

13&U Div 1 Torquay (28) defeated Geelong Amateur (24)

Best On: Harriet O’Dwyer (Torquay) 

17&U Div 1 Ocean Grove (31) defeated Geelong Amateur (21)

Best On: Ella Brown (Ocean Grove) 

19&U Drysdale (45) defeated Portarlington (34)

Best On: Jade Wilson  

D Grade Barwon Heads (28) defeated Geelong Amateur (24)

Best On: Darcy Smith (Barwon Heads) 

15&U Div 1 Geelong Amateur (31) defeated Torquay (12)  

Best On: Macey Dow (Geelong Amateur) 

C Grade Torquay (29) defeated by Ocean Grove  (39)

Best On: Sofia Dickinson (Ocean Grove) 

17&U Div 2 Geelong Amateur (15) defeated by Torquay (19)
Best On: Mackinley Bragge (Torquay) 

B Grade Geelong Amateur (51) Defeated Anglesea (30)

Best On: Jess Kelly (Geelong Amateur) 

E Grade Geelong Amateur (38) defeated Ocean Grove (24)

Best On: Lauren McAuley (Geelong Amateur) 

Anglesea are the 2025 BFNL Dow Senior Football premiers, ending a 26-year wait with a thrilling 13-point win over Geelong Amateur at Grinter Reserve on Saturday.

Trailing by seven points at the final break, the Roos surged home in front of a sea of blue and white, kicking four of the last five goals to secure their first senior premiership since 1999, winning 14.10 (94) to 12.9 (81).

“Right now, it’s pretty amazing to see all the people that’ve come,” co-captain James Carr told aflbarwon.com.au after the match.

“It was 1999 when we won our last flag, so it means a lot to a lot of people—and we’re going to celebrate this one pretty hard.”

Anglesea started strongly, booting five first-quarter goals to open up a 17-point lead at the first break. The second term was evenly contested, with both sides trading goals.

Geelong Amateur then mounted a strong challenge in the third quarter, slamming through six goals to two and turning the deficit into a seven-point lead heading into the final term.

With 10 minutes remaining, the game was on a knife’s edge before Anglesea’s Will Batson and Declan Everett kicked back-to-back goals to wrestle back a 10-point advantage.

Ammos responded through Archer Hanegraaf to close the gap to four, but a clutch late goal from Max Virgona sealed the historic win for the Roos.

“Ammos have been the benchmark all year and we knew they’d come at us,” Carr said.

“In that third quarter they got on top, but to our credit we reset at three-quarter time, got the game back on our terms, and managed to get away with the result—which is pretty exciting.”

Harry Ling was awarded the inaugural Josh Finch Medal for best on ground, delivering a complete performance with 28 disposals, 13 tackles, nine one-percenters, and three goals.

Earlier in the day, Geelong Amateur defeated Torquay by nine-points to claim the Buckley’s Reserve Cup premiership.

Barwon Heads were victorious in the Rookie Me U18 Division Two Grand Final, with a dominant 52-point win over Colac.

BFNL Senior Football Dow Cup Grand Final

GEELONG AMATEUR 2.3, 5.5, 11.6, 12.9 (81)
ANGLESEA 5.2, 8.4, 10.6, 14.10 (94)
GOALS: Geelong Amateur: S. Lloyd 3, M. Day, L. Reilly, J. Maishman, H. Kershaw, L. Hillier, T. Gribble, C. Green, B. Sutterby, A. Hanegraaf
GOALS: Anglesea: W. Batson 3, H. Ling 3, A. Gras, J. Walters, D. Kerr, S. Umbers, J. King, D. Everett, M. Virgona, N. Collins
BEST: Geelong Amateur: D. Weigl, J. Maishman, R. Ferguson, D. Grose, A. Hanegraaf, H. Shepheard
BEST: Anglesea: H. Ling, C. Hutchinson, W. Batson, J. Keras, T. Nofi, S. Leeds

Buckley’s Reserves Cup Grand Final

GEELONG AMATEUR 1.2, 2.6, 5.9, 6.12 (48)
TORQUAY 3.0, 5.2, 5.2, 6.3 (39)
GOALS: Geelong Amateur: T. Gorrell 2, R. Mattner 2, C. Diana 1, D. Edwards 1
GOALS: Torquay: S. Hooper 2, H. Goode 1, L. Renfrey 1, J. Ward 1, J. Windus 1

Rookie Me U18 Division Two Grand Final

BARWON HEADS 2.2, 5.4, 9.5, 12.8 (80)
COLAC 0.2, 2.3, 3.3, 4.4 (28)
GOALS: Barwon Heads: T. Mcencroe 4, C. Bompass 2, C. Shier 2, J. Bartley 1, T. Bishop 1, G. Burgess 1, H. Happell 1
GOALS: Colac: H. Barber 1, K. Fraser 1, J. Hay 1, A. Makuey 1

Find out everything you need to know about the 2025 Dow Bellarine Football Netball League Grand Finals at Grinter Reserve.

A big crowd is expected to descend on Grinter Reserve and We’ve got you covered for all the event details and how to get to the Grand Final.

Venue & Date

• Venue: Grinter Reserve, Coppards Road, Newcomb

• Date: Saturday, 13 September 2025 – Grand Final Day for the Dow Bellarine Football Netball League.

Tickets & Conditions of Entry

Avoid the queues, save on ticket prices and pre-purchase your Grand Final tickets through INTIX.

Tickets are also available at the gate.

TWO gates will be in operation at Grinter Reserve.

Gate 1 – Splashdown Entrance
Gate 2 – Coppards Rd (Disability Entrance) 

• Everyone must pay the admission fee to enter the venue. 
• Local council by–laws forbid taking alcohol into public reserves.
• It is a condition of Entry that vehicles be inspected for illegal entry of alcohol.  
• Failure to comply with this request will result in the vehicle not being permitted to enter the reserve.
• Alcohol is not to be consumed before 12pm in line with liquor licensing requirements. 
• No glass is permitted at the venue.
• Any alcohol detected entering any venue will be confiscated and will not be returned to the patron.
• Utilities or trucks with couches or lounge chairs on the back will not be permitted entry.
• No Pets are allowed to enter the venue. Assistance or guide dogs are permitted.
• Re-entry via pass-out stamp only.

Getting to Grinter Reserve

By Car and Ride Share

There is no parking inside the ground. Free parking is available around the Grinter Reserve precinct.

There will be limited disability car parks available and patrons must enter via the Coppards Rd Entrance.

If you’re not driving, ride share is the best option. DiDi is the official ride share partner of AFL Barwon — use the app to be dropped off and collected at Coppards Road, just a short walk from the main entry.

By Public Transport

Several bus routes service Newcomb and stop within walking distance of Grinter Reserve.

• Route 30 (Geelong Station – Whittington via Newcomb) stops at Coppards Road / Townsend Road, about a 5-minute walk to the ground.

• Route 31 (Geelong Station – St Albans Park – Whittington) also travels via Newcomb.

• Other routes including the 56, 60 and 61 provide connections from surrounding suburbs.

Remember to use a MyKi card and check Public Transport Victoria (PTV) timetables in advance. Services may run less frequently on weekends.

Traffic Update

We have been advised that the current roadworks on Townsend Road, for the installation of the raised pedestrian crossing east of the Boundary Road roundabout, are not expected to impact traffic and the road will remain open on Saturday, 13 September.

At the Ground

Spectators will have access to a range of facilities and activations throughout the day, including:

• Official Match Day Function inside the Social Rooms from 11:45am – 1:00pm (Invite Only).
• Big Screen showing the Senior Football game.
• Bars open from 12:00pm.
• Canteen located at the Pavilion.
• Food stalls, Bars and coffee van positioned around the ground.
• Sherrin mascot in attendance for photos.
• Toilets located in the Pavilion and around the ground.
• First Aid available.
• Free Record and Team Lists thanks to the Times News Group. Printed team lists will also be available at the ground.

Schedule

7:00am – Gates Open

8:00am

15&U Kempe Cup: Torquay vs Ocean Grove – Court 1

13&U Kempe Cup: Ocean Grove vs Geelong Amateur – Court 2

9:15am

17&U Grill’d Cup: Ocean Grove vs Geelong Amateur – Court 1

13&U Kempe Cup: Torquay vs Geelong Amateur – Court 2

U18 Rookie Me Cup: Barwon Heads vs Colac Tigers – PlasterCom Oval

10:30am

D Grade Holiday Inn & Suites Geelong Cup: Barwon Heads vs Geelong Amateur – Court 1

19&U gforce Cup: Drysdale vs Portarlington – Court 2

11:30am

Football Reserves Buckleys Cup: Geelong Amateur vs Torquay – PlasterCom Oval

11:45am

C Grade Town and Country Pizza Cup: Torquay vs Ocean Grove – Court 1

15&U Kempe Cup: Geelong Amateur vs Torquay – Court 2

1:05pm

B Grade Buckleys Cup: Geelong Amateur vs Anglesea – Court 1

17&U LBW Business & Wealth Advisors Cup: Geelong Amateur vs Torquay – Court 2

2:05pm

E Grade Epworth Cup: Geelong Amateur vs Ocean Grove – Court 2

2:10pm

Football Seniors Dow Cup: Geelong Amateur vs Anglesea – PlasterCom Oval

3:15pm

A Grade Dow Cup: Geelong Amateur vs Ocean Grove – Court 1

Live Coverage

Not at the game? You can live stream the game via aflbarwon.tv, and keep updated via the AFLB Social Media Channels.

AFL Barwon is proud to acknowledge Commissioner Ethan Vines, who was recognised with the Innovation Award at the 2025 Geelong Youth Awards held at Norlane ARC.

The prestigious event celebrated the outstanding contributions of young people aged 12–25 across Greater Geelong, with winners selected from more than 140 nominations spanning leadership, innovation, cultural awareness, community work, sport, arts, music and youth development.

Ethan, 23, received the Innovation Award for his creativity, leadership and commitment to making a positive impact in the community. In his professional role as the first social impact employee at his company, he played a key role in launching the world-class Benchwarmers campaign alongside A-League legend Archie Thompson, raising awareness of the critical need for diversity in Australia’s stem cell registry.

Beyond his career achievements, Ethan has consistently combined innovation with purpose, volunteering his time with organisations such as Read the Play and Clean Up Australia, while also mentoring and supporting not-for-profits. His work reflects a strong belief that innovation and empathy go hand in hand when driving meaningful change.

AFL Barwon congratulates Ethan on this well-deserved recognition and thanks him for the leadership, passion and vision he continues to bring to both our Commission and the wider community.

The full list of award winners can be found here - https://www.geelongaustralia.com.au/news/item/8ddeebff6f2f139.aspx