The stage is set for a massive day at Netball Central on Sunday 14 September, as 12 teams go head-to-head across six grand finals in the 10th year of the DOOLEYS Metro League.
Making it to the big dance is no small feat. After 18 weeks of match play and three weeks of finals, the deciding contenders are ready to fight for championship glory. Among the standouts, Eastwood Ryde will contest three divisions, Liverpool City returns to the big stage for the first time since 2022 while two regional teams – Hunter and Illawarra District – have also earned their spots, proving the competition’s reach across the state.
The action gets underway from 11am on Sunday 14 September at Netball Central. Tickets are $13.20 per person and available here. All matches will be streamed live at netballnsw.tv.
In the headline clash, reigning champions and ladder leaders Eastwood Ryde take on Manly Warringah in the Division One Grand Final.
Eastwood Ryde has been the benchmark all year, finishing on top of the ladder with 16 wins and just one loss. They powered past Hills District 51–45 in the Qualifying Final to book a direct path to the decider.
“We are under immense pressure. The underdogs always want to beat the champions. We need to step up, defend the title and deliver as everyone is expecting,” co-coach of Eastwood Ryde Pipiena Lomu said.
“For us, it is playing with maturity and being game smart. It is in the defensive, doing the little things, like the defensive hands, holding the ball on turnovers and completing our centre passes. At the end of the day it comes down to who shows up and wants to win the game.”
Manly Warringah, who finished third on the ladder, have taken the long road to the final. After edging Northern Suburbs 51–50 in the Elimination Final, they overcame Hills District 59–51 in the Preliminary Final to secure their shot at the title.
“We lost both our matches to Eastwood Ryde but not by many,” Manly coach Janene van Gogh said. “We are probably peaking at the right time. We lost to Hills by 20 in the round but beat them by nine in the Preliminary Final. There have been improvements across the court. A spectator said last week that it looks like everyone knows their job and are functioning at a high level.”
Van Gogh knows her side will need to be at their best to upset the reigning champions.
“They (Eastwood Ryde) are experienced and have been around for a long time. They won the tournament last year. It will be a grind. I told the girls they will just have to play the best they can and the match will take care of itself. We have to be consistent across the whole court.”
The excitement doesn’t stop at Division One. A full day of contests will showcase the depth of talent across the league:
Division 2: Sutherland Shire v Liverpool City
Division 3: Eastwood Ryde v Blacktown City
Division 4: Randwick v Ku-Ring-Gai
Division 5: Hunter Netball v Eastwood Ryde
Development Series: Illawarra District v Randwick
With regional pride and powerhouse clubs all in the mix, the 2025 Grand Finals promise non-stop action and high-quality netball.
The DOOLEYS Metro League is one of New South Wales’ best netball competitions, featuring 68 teams across six divisions and played on Wangal Country at Sydney Olympic Park. It has long been 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 been the proud naming rights partner of this competition for the past 18 years — 10 years as Metro League and eight years previously as State League. Their ongoing support reflects a strong commitment to community, participation and excellence, helping the competition provide a platform for metro-based athletes, coaches, umpires, and administrators to shine.
With one team chasing back-to-back titles and others making history, the 2025 DOOLEYS Metro League Grand Finals will be a celebration of the competition’s depth, talent, and community spirit.
Frances Cordaro, Netball NSW
