Netball Central at Sydney Olympic Park came alive on Sunday as the 2025 DOOLEYS Metro League Grand Finals delivered a showcase of netball talent, determination and community pride, with six champions crowned across the competitions.
Stacy Harding, Netball NSW General Manager of Competitions, praised the quality of netball and the breadth of stories across the Grand Final series.
“The DOOLEYS Metro League continues to highlight the incredible depth and talent we have in netball in New South Wales. We saw underdogs like Manly Warringah take the long road to a Division 1 title, powerhouse clubs like Randwick secure two trophies, and Hunter Netball show that regional teams can go all the way,” Harding said.
In the marquee Division 1 decider, Manly Warringah completed their fairytale run to the title, defeating minor premiers Eastwood Ryde 55–41. Entering the finals from third position, Manly battled their way through an Elimination Final thriller against Northern Suburbs (51–50) and overcame Hills District in the Preliminary Final (59–51), before toppling Eastwood Ryde – who had set the competition benchmark all season.
“Manly Warringah’s Division 1 win is a fantastic underdog story – they worked their way through the hardest possible finals path to defeat the season’s benchmark team. It’s a true testament to resilience, teamwork and belief,” Harding said.
In Division 2, Liverpool City broke a three-year Grand Final drought to edge out Sutherland Shire 34–32 in a tight contest, while Eastwood Ryde 2 secured the Division 3 crown with a strong 45–28 victory over Blacktown City. Randwick claimed a double celebration, lifting both the Division 4 (57–39 over Ku-Ring-Gai) and Development Series titles (50–41 over Illawarra District).
Regional pride was on full display in Division 5, with Hunter Netball stunning Eastwood Ryde 50–36 to secure the championship and underline the depth of talent beyond Sydney’s metropolitan base.
“Beyond the results, what makes Metro League so special is the community spirit. From players and coaches to umpires and administrators, everyone contributes to a competition that has been a launching pad for so many of our state’s top athletes.”
The DOOLEYS Metro League is one of New South Wales’ premier netball competitions, featuring 68 teams across six divisions. Played on Wangal Country at Sydney Olympic Park, it remains a crucial stepping stone in the Netball NSW pathway, with many athletes progressing to Premier League and ultimately Suncorp Super Netball with the NSW Swifts and GIANTS Netball.
DOOLEYS Catholic Club in Lidcombe has proudly supported the competition for the past 18 years – 10 years as Metro League and eight years previously as State League – reflecting their deep commitment to community, participation and excellence in netball.
RESULTS
Division 1: Manly Warringah defeated Eastwood Ryde 55 – 41
Division 2: Liverpool City defeated Sutherland Shire, 34 – 32
Division 3: Eastwood Ryde 2 defeated Blacktown City, 45 - 28
Division 4: Randwick defeated Ku-Ring-Gai 57 – 39
Division 5: Hunter Netball defeated Eastwood Ryde 50 – 36
Development Series: Randwick defeated Illawarra District 50 – 41
Netball NSW
