LVFNL netball finals guide

After completing only 13 of the normal 18 scheduled rounds, the start of finals arrives this weekend, featuring plenty of perennial powerhouses and one team making its first appearance in many seasons.

For the five teams still alive, they will be hoping the best is still to come.

Here's a look at how each team is shaping ahead of this weekend's first round of finals.

Position: 1st

Win-loss record: 11-1

Record against finalists: 5-1 (d Calivil United 66-50; d Marong 57-48; d MGYCW 73-54; d Bridgewater 60-53; lost to Calivil United 60-56; d Bridgewater 79-52).

Last five games: WWLWW

Last premiership: 2019

A model of consistency for more than a decade, it's been steady as she goes for the Superoos as they look to defend their 2019 premiership title. Mitiamo is the only team to have beaten all four other finalists this season - and by some impressive margins. In an ominous sign for their rivals, coach Glenda Thomas believes her team produced arguably its best netball of the season in last week's 27-goal win over Bridgewater. The Superoos have contested three of the last four A-grade finals and following a home and away season during which they lost just one game, you can be guaranteed they will not be letting go of their hold on the premiership cup without the biggest of fights. They have a bye in week one of finals.

Position: 2nd

Win-loss record: 10-1

Record against finalists: 4-1 (d Calivil United 45-42; d Marong 61-54; lost to Mitiamo 73-54; d Bridgewater 76-48; d Bridgewater 73-45).

Last five games: WWWWW

Last premiership: 2013

The Eagles, with their smooth and exciting blend of experienced and promising young talent, will have every right to feel confident about their chances after producing a near-perfect home and away season. Their only blemish was a 73-54 loss to top-side Mitiamo in round six, while still experimenting with their line-up. Maiden Gully YCW has since posted five-straight wins, rounding out the home and away season with convincing victories against Bridgewater and Inglewood. Most impressively for the Eagles, who won several close contests early in the season against Calivil United (three-goals), Marong (seven) and Pyramid Hill (four), their winning margins have got bigger as the season has progressed, pointing towards a team that is peaking at the right time.

Position: 3rd

Win-loss record: 8-3

Record against finalists: 2-3 (lost to Marong 69-50; lost to MGYCW 45-42; lost to Mitiamo 66-55; d Bridgewater 69-48; d Mitiamo 60-56).

Last five games: WWWWW

Last premiership: 2014

The Demons recovered from a shaky start to seal the double chance on the back of six consecutive wins and stamp themselves as one of the real form teams of the competition. Calivil United's win-loss ratio and record against other finals teams are more than slightly deceptive, as all three of the team's losses came in the first four weeks of the season when they were still working out their best line-up. An impressive round five onwards included the scalps of Bridgewater and Mitiamo in what was the Superoos' only loss during the home and away season. After toppling the reigning premiers, the Demons followed up with a big win over Inglewood before having a bye to end the season. This weekend's qualifying final against Maiden Gully YCW will be the Demons' first game since July 31. Boasting plenty of experience, led by their playing coach and three-time league best and fairest Christie Rogers, the Demons will be a tough proposition for all rivals.

Position: 4th

Win-loss record: 7-5

Record against finalists:1-4 (defeated Calivil United 69-50; lost to MGYCW 61-54; lost to Mitiamo 57-48; lost to Bridgewater 57-53; lost to MGYCW 42-56).

Last five games: WWLWW

Last premiership: 1992

The Panthers have done well to get this far, breaking a 10-year finals drought to book themselves an elimination final date with Bridgewater. The two teams met only once during the home and away season with the Mean Machine prevailing by four goals in round six, pointing to an epic showdown at Marong this Sunday. Marong will enter the clash with confidence after scoring wins in four of their last five games, including a 45-18 victory over Newbridge to end the home and away season last weekend, albeit none of those wins came against finals opponents. The Panthers, however, can take plenty of heart in having beaten Calivil United and the fact that three of their four losses to finals opponents were by under 10-goals, while their late-season win over Pyramid Hill (30-28) came in a finals-like environment, with both sides fighting for a top-five spot.

Position: 5th

Win-loss record: 7-5

Record against finalists: 1-5 (lost to Calivil United 69-48; d Marong 57-53; lost to MGYCW 76-48; lost to Mitiamo 60-53; lost to MGYCW 73-45; lost to Mitiamo 79-52).

Last five games: LWWLL

Last premiership: 2018

A stop-start season due to COVID-19 has been a frustration for all teams, but plain unkind to the Mean Machine. No team endured a tougher draw than Bridgewater, which had to wait until round three to play its first game of the season in late April and ended up playing a league-high six matches against this year's finalists, including two each against top two Mitiamo and Maiden Gully YCW. The Mean Machine lost five of the six, by an average of 22.5 points. Encouragingly, their sole win over another finalist came against this weekend's elimination final opponent Marong in round six. The Mean Machine head into the finals with three losses from their last five games, including back-to-back defeats against Maiden Gully YCW by 28 goals and Mitiamo by 27, not the most convincing form for a finals campaign.

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