Weekend Express
The quotes, stats and storylines to the sport around Australia this weekend.
FOOTBALL
A-League Finals
And then there were four.
Adelaide United and Central Coast Mariners made it through a couple of tough Elimination Finals last week to take their places in this week’s first leg of the semi finals against Melbourne City and Melbourne Victory - two teams who between them have not lost a single game in 2025.
First up on Saturday the Mariners welcome the minor premiers City to Gosford. How Em Husband tinkers with her lineup this week will be fascinating, given her side will be playing less than five days after their last game, due to the postponed Elimination Final was only played on Monday evening. Returning captain Taren King played around an hour on Monday before being replaced by cross-code star Sarah Rowe, while Peta Trimis replaced fellow teen forward Tiana Fuller after a similar period.
Midfielder Taylor Ray was seen leaving the stadium on Monday night on crutches with ice on an ankle, but has been named in the 19 player squad, so coach Husband is obviously hopeful she can recover in time.
Melbourne City will come into the clash well rested after the week off and don’t appear to have any real injury concerns. Will they be a little slow out of the blocks having not played for two weeks, and can the Mariners use the adrenaline of Monday’s win and hopefully another noisy home crowd to spring an upset? Sarah Rowe (pictured below) told HER WAY that being the outsiders suits the Mariners perfectly:
“Well I think that’s the best place to be in, because we’re underdogs obviously going into that game, and I think there’s no better place to be in, and what better motivation than to beat the league premiers, so we can’t wait.”
The sides have drawn in both of their two previous meetings this season, so City will know they’re up for a tough clash.
In the other semi final series, Adelaide host Melbourne Victory in the first leg of the series between 2nd and 3rd on the ladder.
Matilda McNamara’s goal was the difference between the Reds and 6th placed Western United last Sunday, handing Adelaide their first ever win in an A-League Women’s finals game. Western had 23 shots on goal compared to just 8 by Adelaide, so they’ll need a much improved performance if they’re any chance to take another step in the finals.
Adelaide have a strong attacking group available this weekend, with import striker Erin Healy, former Dolan medalist Fiona Worts, Emily Condon and Chelsie Dawber all named in the squad. It’s a good problem to have for Reds manager Adrian Stenta, with Healy (7 goals this season) coming off the bench last week. The American missed the last clash between the two sides in round 21.
Melbourne Victory have shown they can win in different ways this season, from a defensive one goal shutout, to high scoring thrillers. They also have no major injury concerns, and are boosted by the return of championship winner Lia Privitelli from a long term injury.
For all the big names in their squad, winger Nicki Flannery is perhaps the form player in the Victory lineup, scoring three goals in the club’s past three outings. Matilda Emily Gielnik, who was runner up for the Golden Boot, hasn’t hit the scoreboard in almost two months, which means she’s probably due to connect with one sooner rather than later.
After this weekend’s matches, a second leg will be played next week, with both of the Melbourne teams to host.
When: Saturday, Sunday
Where: Gosford, Adelaide
HOCKEY
Practice Match Series, Perth
The Australians haven’t played for several weeks, and with the next leg of the FIH Pro League coming up next month in Europe, the Hockeyroos will look to strengthen their combinations and welcome back some players returning from injury when they play some Practice Matches against India in Perth.
Last week an Australia A team defeated the same oppostion in two clashes. A number of fringe and younger players were in action during those matches, plus the welcome return of young Hockeyroos star Tatum Stewart, who has been missing since surgery after the Paris Olympics.
The Aussies won Thursday night’s opening game, with a strong Hockeyroos side recording a 2-0 win. Courtney Schonell continued her goal scoring form from February, while Grace Stewart added another.
Entry to these games is free, so get along and see rising stars and those looking to return to the national team in action. The Hockeyroos will play as part of the series next week.
When: Saturday - Sunday
Where: Perth Hockey Stadium
BASKETBALL
NBL1
This week the North conference, which involves teams from the Gold Coast to Townsville, and even Darwin, finally gets underway, meaning all five tournaments across the country will finally be in action.
Here’s some of the games available to watch on Kayo across the weekend.
On Friday evening, fans across the country can see Southern District Spartans take on Logan, and in the squad for Spartans will be former Sydney Flames player Tiana Mangakahia, who is returning to the court despite battling progressive cancer.
One of the standouts of the East conference so far in 2025 has been 17 year old Jessie-May Hall, and fans from everywhere have a chance to see her in action for Hornsby-Kuringai when they travel to Canberra.
Then on Sunday afternoon in Melbourne a couple of WNBL Sydney Flames teammates clash when Isa Brancatisano’s Pioneers play Bonnie Deas’ Frankston.
There are a stack of other games across all five countries available to stream on NBL1.com, which is also where you can find the fixture.
When: Friday - Sunday
Where: Various locations
NETBALL
Super Netball, Round 4
After three rounds we have just one undefeated team, the Swifts, and only one team without a win, their NSW rivals Giants.
Looking at this weekend’s list of matches, despite both playing at home at Ken Rosewall Arena, it would seem likely that both would continue with those records.
The Giants welcome the two time champion Adelaide Thunderbirds to town, and while the T’birds are coming off a loss in their previous game, they defeated the Giants in both of last season’s games by an average of 17.5 goals. The Giants will be looking to play their best netball and cause an upset.
Meanwhile the Swifts were responsible for that recent defeat of Adelaide, and will take plenty of confidence into their clash with the 2-1 Queensland Firebirds.
Elsewhere, West Coast Fever looked a completely different team last week with the return of Jhaniele Fowler-Gembhard, and this weekend the Perth fans will have their chance to welcome her back as Fever host Sunshine Coast Lightning. Ash Ervin was huge for Lightning last week in defence, but she and former Fever skipper Courtney Bruce will need to be at their best to shut down the Jamaican star.
And on Sunday, it’s a Melbourne Derby when the Mavericks have the home dressing rooms against the Vixens. Both sides have recorded just one win so far, but a 2-2 record for the winner will look a lot better than 1-3, so there’s plenty to play for aside from local bragging rights. Look for besties Kiera Austin and Amy Parmenter to put their friendship aside for 90 minutes during the clash.
When: Saturday, Sunday
Where: Sydney, Perth, Melbourne
SURFING
Gold Coast Pro
The damage done by ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred to the beaches of the Gold Coast has seen this event relocated from Snapper Rocks to Burleigh Heads.
Despite a change of location, the event still boasts a huge lineup of current tour surfers, including Bells Beach winner Isabella Nicholls and other Aussie favourites such as Sally Fitzgibbons, Tyler Wright and Molly Picklum.
One other Aussie name which makes this a must-see event is the return of eight time World Champion Steph Gilmore. The superstar hasn’t surfed on the WSL Championship Tour for a couple of seasons after choosing to take a break. It won’t be an easy return, with Gilmore set to face current World Champion Caity Simmers and junior World Champ, and Bells Beach runner up, Brazilian Luana Silva.
The Gold Coast Pro will provide the surfers with another opportunity to collect Championship points before the Tour heads to WA in a couple of weeks for the Margaret River Pro.
When: Starts Saturday
Where: Burleigh Heads, Gold Coast
BODYSURFING
World Tour Finals, Coolum
A few hours north of the Gold Coast, the best body surfers in the world have assembled for the second ever IBSA World Tour Finals.
Four days of elite competition take place over the ten day window at Coolum Wedge, the home of bodysurfing in Australia. Forecast conditions suggest good conditions across Friday and the weekend, and even into Monday.
In Tuesday’s trials, it was Australian Olympic legend Susie O’Neill who dominated, recording the two best individual wave scores and overall totals in the Open Women’s category. Other members of the Aussie team include 15 year old local Pipi Cathcart (who HER WAY interviewed last week as seen on socials and Substack), Belinda Baggs, Sherie Tracey and Lyla Crouch.