Lions hunting fourth flag in five years as three-peat beckons

While each team that takes to the court week in, week out has impressed in that period, none match the accomplishments of the B Reserve side.

On Sunday at Deakin Reserve, the B Reserve Lions will play Shepparton United for a chance at a three-peat, having won in both 2024 and 2025, while a further triumph in 2022 means victory this weekend will be a fourth flag in five years.

A playing part of all three of those premierships, Sarah Waite will once again be instrumental in the Lions’ charge on Sunday, though this time in an off court capacity, having put her hand up to coach after being ruled out this season.

“It's been quite a different year this year,” she said.

“There’s a few new faces and also the few returning, but I’m very excited for the girls.

“I think they've got a strong chance to get over the line and win this weekend.”

To even qualify for the grand final this weekend, though, the Lions had to pull a Harry Houdini-esque escape in the preliminary final at the weekend.

Down by four in the final term, Seymour sunk five of the final six goals of the game - all from the hot hand of Chloe Locke - to tie the scores at 34 apiece by the final buzzer and force extra time, where they prevailed by two.

Not accustomed to being a spectator, Waite admitted it was a nervy final quarter, but conversations with a former coach have helped soothe her sideline anxiety, while also helping her grow her trust that the girls will get the job done.

“It’s very hard to watch on,” she laughed

“I had to speak to Courtney Aldous, my previous coach and also my brother's partner, just about, how do you deal with this kind of stress, like, what do you do?"

“She said, "Well, you've done everything you can throughout the year, it's up to the girls now,’ and it's hard as a coach because everything's completely out of your control.

“I just really have to have trust in the girls, which I definitely do have, and I knew that they were capable of it and just said to them, ‘if you really want it, then it's yours, you've just got to fight for it,’ and that's what they did.”

But as the last Seymour side standing in 2026, if they are to get over the line again this weekend and bring even more silverware back to Kings Park, they are going to have to defy the odds.

The Lions and Demons - who finished the year as minor premier - have clashed twice this season, both wins going the way of United, though the second semi-final a fortnight ago saw the pair separated by only two goals.

Seymour knows another tough clash awaits on Sunday, and Waite expects the prospect of stopping a three-peat will add to the Demons’ motivation, but knows her side will give 100 per cent.

“I’m expecting that they will not want us to get that three-peat,” she said.

“But the girls are very eager to prove to everyone that they've got what it takes, and just make each other proud and give all that they've got out there on the court, and hopefully come away with the medals.”

The two-goal semi-final loss has also helped provide a bit of clarity to the Lions and what they need to focus on, mainly keeping composure and adapting to changing conditions within a game.

But there will be no major changes to the game plan ahead of the decider, with Waite and her charges sticking to what has served them so well over the past five years.

“Don't do anything too fancy, just keep it simple,” she said of the relatively simple message she will deliver ahead of Saturday.

“I won't introduce anything new, we’ll just go over what we know we're good at, and also (I’ll remind them) just to have fun out there.

“The girls know that they do play their best netball when they have a bit of fun, and they also take it seriously, but don't forget to have fun while they're out there because it's not often, even though we have managed to get there a fair bit in the past five years, it's not often you can get into a grand final.

“So we need to remember that we are very lucky to make it again, and to have some fun too.”