The Northern Football Netball League has conducted a review into the 2026 Premier Division 3 winter netball grand final between Hurstbridge and South Morang on September 4th.
The league’s video review found a goal scored by South Morang was missed in the third quarter and scores were in fact level at the end of the final quarter. This meant that the official score sheet, which recorded Hurstbridge winning by a goal, was incorrect. Had the scores been correct, overtime would have been required to determine the winner.
The NFNL acknowledges and apologises for the error by its appointed scorers and the impact this has had on both clubs, particularly in the context of deciding a grand final and which side wins a premiership.
Given the NFNL bylaws governing the process for score reviews and protests had lapsed by a number of weeks before this scoring error was brought to the NFNL’s attention, finding appropriate resolutions was challenging.
After discussing the review findings and possible outcomes with both clubs, the league was unable to reach a consensus as to how to proceed.
Given this, Hurstbridge will remain the outright Premier Division 3 premier and be promoted to Premier Division 2 next year.
The NFNL’s Netball Operations department will now undertake a separate review of league-appointed scorers’ procedures and processes to ensure that an error like this does not occur again.
