Sport
17 July, 2026
MCDFNL Round 14 Netball Preview — Navarre vs Natte Bealiba
When Navarre opened their 2026 season away to perennial contenders Natte Bealiba, very few could’ve foreseen the match becoming an early contender for game of the year.
What transpired was a gripping game of netball, with the Grasshoppers recovering from a nine-goal half time deficit to trail by four before an expertly managed fourth quarter secured Natte’s six-goal victory.
Now with 10 victories in their last 11 games, including last weekend’s demolition of finals contenders Trentham, Navarre’s expectations have skyrocketed to levels not seen since their historic four-peat from 2013-2016.
The star-shooter of those outstanding teams, Jess Parry, remains a key contributor in a rock-solid defensive unit that currently ranks first in goals allowed this season, conceding an average of 32.2 goals a game.
Navarre will strive for another lockdown performance against a Natte Bealiba team hoping to rebound from their first loss of 2026.
Considering they were without Naomi Medlyn, Ellie Martin or Ebony Raven, the Swans did a sensational job keeping pace with fellow league powerhouse Avoca for most of last Saturday’s blockbuster encounter.
However, a combination of untimely mistakes in possession and a clinical Bulldogs attack forced the Swans to reckon with that overfamiliar yet still sickening feeling of falling agonisingly short against their old foes.
As Natte attempts to restore their winning ways, the battle in the midcourt will be crucial as Ella Tranter, Chloe Ross and Darci Rodgers matches up against Navarre’s Sidney Dyer, Brooke Currie and Amber Perry.