Western Roar sweep WANL grand finals to complete dynasty

The Western Roar swept all three grand finals of the WA Netball League on Sunday, replicating a feat they achieved in 2022 and 2024.

The Roar were up against the Comets for the fifth consecutive year in the open division.

The two sides have traded victories for the past four seasons, but it was the Roar who were more composed with the game on the line at Gold Netball Centre.

The match was an arm wrestle in the opening term, Annabel Saggers sparking Roar early with a quick intercept off a Comets centre pass that was converted into a goal, while Caitlyn Brown made her presence felt early in defence.

Comets led early but the Roar fought back to level the scores 11-11 at quarter time.

Roar’s Teagan Begovic began to assert her authority in goal attack in the second term, while Asha Parsons made an immediate impact when entering the game with a goal.

Roar took the narrowest of leads into half-time, 22-21, but lifted their defensive pressure in the third and began converting key opportunities. Comets captain Georgia Morgan was steady in defence but Sophia Lamers (31 goals) helped give Roar a four-goal lead going into the last.

With the pressure rising across the final 15 minutes, Roar took control when it mattered most.

Parsons and Lamers combined strongly late before Roar captain Cleo Kenny sealed the result with an intercept, 44-37.

The Roar men snared their fifth consecutive title with a 56-52 win over Comets.

Comets took a 14-12 lead into the first change before the Roar made their move in the second, Griff Thomas and Marcus Cronan combining well through the court. Max Denholm and Tom Gorman were the beneficiaries with 37 and 19 goals respectively.

The Comets applied sustained pressure in the final term, reducing the margin, but an intercept from Ethan Creek halted what could have been an essential goal for Comets and the Roar held on. Denholm was named MVP.

In the 21/U division, the Roar completed a hat-trick of championships with a thrilling 67-64 win over the West Coast Warriors.

In a shootout between Roar’s Loyola Vaauli (58 goals) and Warriors’ Skyla Payne (60), just two goals separated the teams with two minutes to go before the Roar held on, with Amelie Markovic the MVP.