Every Bloods team plays finals, and A Reserve brings home the flag
2026 will live in South Bendigo FNC history as the Bloods scored only their third BFNL Netball Premiership with their A-Reserve winning a thrilling Grand Final over minor premiers, Kangaroo Flat, 42-40.
After finishing the home & away season in 2nd position the bloods lost a qualifying final to Gisborne before going the long way round to the 2026 Grand Final. Best on Court for the Bloods in the Grand Final was Olivia Treloar.
The Bloods also created history with all nine teams making Finals for the first time in the clubs history.
The 2026 season started very promisingly for the South Bendigo Football department with their seniors a one-time Premiership favourite in May after winning seven games in a row from round 2. Injuries and unavailability would eventually derail their season and after finishing in 5th position they would lose to eventual premiers Gisborne in an Elimination Final.
The Bloods’ Reserves were minor premiers, losing just once in the home-and-away season and their eyes set on Premiership glory.
They would go on to lose to Sandhurst in the second semi-final and to eventual premiers Eaglehawk by 10 points in the preliminary final resulting in a straight set exit from the 2026 finals series.
The Under 18s show plenty of promise finishing the home & away season in 3rd position and then defeating Sandhurst in a qualifying final. The young Bloods team would eventually lose to Strathfieldsaye by 2 points in the second semi-final before falling to Sandhurst in the preliminary final.
The inaugural Bloods 15 & Under team reached the 2026 Grand Final after a string of clutch wins showing their promise for the future. The squad went down to the undefeated Sandhurst team in the Grand Final.
Their 17 & Under team also showed promise winning an Elimination final before losing by a single goal in the 1st Semi-Final.
After finishing in 2nd position after the regular season, their B Grade exited finals in straight sets while their B-Reserve made the preliminary final.
With additional talent and another year under coach, Lauren Bowles, the Bloods’ A Grade squad won its elimination final against Eaglehawk but couldn’t match the mighty Sandhurst in a 1st Semi-Final.
Individual accolades for South Bendigo included a B-Grade Bingham Medal runner-up finish for tough defender, Paige Campbell.
While social media wiz, Laura Power was crowned as the BFNL’s Volunteer of the Year thanks to Keiser Bendigo.
On the representative stage, the Bloods were represented by Anthony Gray (Captain), Campbell Wood, Lachlan Magee, Logan Howell (Vice-Captain) and Louise Eddy in the BFNL’s Under 18 Interleague team.
At Senior level, Jack Fallon, Brody Haddow and Josh Nitschke all donned the Blue & Gold in a famous BFNL victory over the Ovens & Murray.
Gabe Richards represented South Bendigo in the BFNL’s Open netball Squad while Mia Smith was named in the 15 & Under Rep Squad.
With lots of player turnover, 2027 is going to be a different journey for South Bendigo as they continue to search for that elusive Senior Football Premiership.
2026 results snapshot
|
Team
|
W–L–D
|
Finish
|
Finals / best result
|
|
Seniors (football)
|
11–5–0
|
5th
|
Lost elimination final v Gisborne by 52
|
|
Reserves (football)
|
14–1–0 (1 abandoned)
|
1st
|
Lost 2nd semi v Sandhurst; lost PF v Eaglehawk by 10
|
|
Under 18s (football)
|
13–3–0
|
3rd
|
Won QF v Sandhurst by 15; lost 2nd semi v Strathfieldsaye by 2; lost PF v Sandhurst by 14
|
|
A Grade (netball)
|
9–7–0
|
4th
|
Won EF 67–54 v Eaglehawk; lost 1st semi v Sandhurst
|
|
A Reserve (netball)
|
12–2–0
|
2nd
|
PREMIERS: d Kangaroo Flat 42–40
|
|
B Grade (netball)
|
12–4–0
|
2nd
|
Lost QF v Strathfieldsaye; lost 1st semi 26–29 v Kangaroo Flat
|
|
B Reserve (netball)
|
11–3–2
|
3rd
|
Lost QF; won 1st semi v Strathfieldsaye; lost PF v Kangaroo Flat
|
|
17 & Under (netball)
|
8–8–0
|
5th
|
Won EF 47–44 v Eaglehawk; lost 1st semi 40–41 v Golden Square
|
|
15 & Under (netball)
|
8–4–0
|
3rd
|
Lost QF; won 1st semi and PF 40–39 v Golden Square; lost GF v Sandhurst
|
