KNA 2025: Katanning hosts back-to-back NAIDOC rounds, junior and senior teams fight for finals spots

Katanning Netball Association hosted its NAIDOC rounds on July 26 and August 2, with teams from all age categories pausing to acknowledge the occasion with opening ceremonies before games.

Seniors played the first NAIDOC Round on July 26, with an opening ceremony held at the leisure centre, and a similar ceremony was held for the other divisions the following weekend.

Teams in the starting games of both weekend game days stood together for an acknowledgement and welcome to country.

Little Maci started both events off with a heart-capturing acknowledgement of country, followed up by Leanne Eades and Lita Collard who carried out a heartfelt welcome to country.

The best players of each match, chosen by their umpires, were awarded gorgeously designed NAIDOC netballs and tote bags to remember this round’s games by.

Net-Set-Go teams played their second last round of the season, and it will be interesting to see how the young players give everything they have learned over the season one last go in their final games.

There is still feisty competition in the junior division, with Kojonup Sapphires soaring to the top of the ladder with just one loss.

The top team had their work cut out for them in Saturday’s round however, with second-placed team NAB Lightning giving them a tough game.

The top-of-the-table clash made for a great game, a fight through each quarter with the teams going blow for blow to end in a draw on the final whistle, with the score 40-all.

Nutrien Firebirds and QFH Vixens are caught in a mid-ladder battle and were up against each other, both trying to lock in a finals position.

Vixens had the extra goals to get them across the line ahead of the Firebirds with a small but comfortable five-goal buffer, with final scores 39-34.

Even though ANZ Swifts and McIntosh Magpies are keeping the bottom of the ladder warm, Swifts were determined to try to push themselves up one more notch to clinch a finals spot.

They put their foot down from the first whistle, putting in the work every quarter to run home with a crushing win, 40-14.

Seniors are almost at the end of their season too, and with one regular round to go it’s a tight race to the finals.

Kojonup and Allstars sit atop the junior and senior ladders, respectively, while third and fourth spots on the ladder in both divisions remain wide open and the last round will be crucial in deciding who makes it.