Netball
19 September, 2025
Saints and Demons set for WFNL netball Grand Final blockbuster
The stage is set for a showdown of epic proportions with long-time cross-town rivals Horsham Saints taking on Horsham Demons in the WFNL A Grade final.
For the fourth consecutive year, the sides will contest the last game of the season.
The Saints enter the grand final looking to cap off their undefeated season.
However, coach Vernetta Taylor said there’s more to Saturday’s game than just another victory.
“We've had a wonderful season, and the level of netball that we've played and maintained across the season has been exceptional,” she said.
“[However], we are acutely aware of what happened last year.”
While the Saints won in 2022 and 2023, the Demons claimed the premiership in 2024 in a memorable grand final.
“We know that there are no guarantees on Saturday, and we know that you have to earn it,” Taylor said.
“We know it's going to be tough.”
Taylor added the bye in round 18, followed by two weeks off in the finals, which was a boon for the side.
“A Grade netball is a very physical game, especially finals,” she said.
“To have an extra week to recover and get over any niggles that may have come out of a game is really beneficial.
“We are staying focused. We're committed to what we have to do, but when we take the court on Saturday, we will be fresh, and we'll be ready.”
The Demons are no strangers to the ultimate WFNL decider, with Saturday’s grand final the side’s fifth in as many seasons.
The 2025 season proved difficult for Horsham, as injuries and the pressure of being the reigning premiers provided their opponents with added motivation each week.
Nevertheless, co-coach Georgie Carberry stated that a victory on Saturday would vindicate one of the squad's most challenging years in recent memory.
“A premiership is the driving force of what keeps us going in the tough times,” she said.
“It’s what we aim for as a team and a club, and it is hard to put into words what it means.
“We tasted premiership success last year, and we know how great that is.
“We are hungry for more of that this year.”
Carberry noted a positive atmosphere in the team's preparations, saying the players were "feeling fit and ready" and looking forward to the grand final.
"We've had a great vibe, different to last year," she said.
“Our games leading into the grand final haven’t been as consistent as we would have liked, but our belief is there.”
The Saints are fresh, focused, and driven by the desire for redemption, while the Demons are hungry, hardened, and fiercely determined to make history.
Both teams are at the peak of their preparation, ready to give their all on the court.
Netball doesn’t get any bigger than this.