Netball
12 September, 2025
Edenhope-Apsley locals ready for Saturday morning convoy of support
Witnessing the path to the Netball A-Grade Grand Final for Edenhope-Apsley has been president Lizzie Kealy, and she was keen to talk not just about the senior girls but also about the challenges the Kaniva-Leeor-combined Under-17 footy players have faced to be present on the final day of the 2025 season.
She also talked up what it means for the locals.
“It’s great – it really brings a hype to our town,” Kealy said.
“This year, we kind of battled away in our senior football, and sometimes that can take the limelight a little bit off how successful our netball is going, but into the finals, we had three senior teams and one junior team, so it was a strong finals campaign.
“Now, obviously, we've got one in the big dance, which is still excellent to have, but the hype around town and being your senior netball team (it’s) just phenomenal at the moment.”
Kealy said it was terrific to see how many people in and around the towns were putting up the Saints’ red, black, and white colours and lending support to the two teams, starting with her own accounting business window on the main street.
“We do, and the supermarket usually does, and the Dine Inn does,” she said.
“On the Wimmera Highway, there is just on some fences, red, black and white banners.
“And then we tend to do a bit of a jumper thing along (the side of the road) from Edenhope, roughly 50 K's, spread out some jumpers and some dresses with names on them leading into the Grand Final.”
She said she expected a trail of cars and utes to travel at about 9am up to Natimuk to watch the 10am Under-17 footy before the A-grade netball at midday.
“A lot of them will come for both because they they run consecutively, which is great,” Kealy said.
“It works perfectly for us.
“(With) our Under-17 boys, we've battled a little bit with numbers ... and for these boys to have a full team and make a Grand Final, is absolutely phenomenal.”
She stressed the importance of sports, encouraging “the connections and the skills that kids develop,” many of which are transferable to other areas of life.
The broad demographics and community relationships aspect was also something Kealy said she had been reflecting on in recent weeks.
“Sometimes you can get a little bit bogged down with the day-to-day operations of it,” she said.
“We just had a Country and Western function (after) Round 17, because we had a bye at 18, and I was just watching everyone then and there, and it was everyone from all different ages.
“I think that's what it's all about. For me, it's getting teams on the park and enjoying sport ... but it's just about having fun. I suppose a club like this – and why it's so pivotal to our community – is when you go down the street, no matter who you are, no matter what age you are, you know each other because of the club.
"It could be someone's grandparent or Under-14s player, but they always ask, ‘how's the footy going?’, and ‘I saw you play on the weekend’, and it sparks that conversation.
“So I think, from my point of view, and the club entirely, and the committee, it's all about the inclusiveness and keeping that community spirit together.
“We really need to keep these sporting clubs going, to take keep our towns chatting to each other. It gives them a reason to come out Tuesday nights, Thursday nights, Saturdays, and converse with each other.”
At the end of the day, Kealy hoped this weekend’s matches would build great memories for all involved.
“My husband, who still plays senior football, was saying, ‘Grand Finals are hard to come by, so you've got to make the most of every moment in this week leading up and on Saturday'.
“So that's what we'll do.”