The 2026 GDFNL Interleague netball clash is quickly approaching as the Raiders prepare for another successful year representing the league.
Following a seven goal victory over the CDFNL open age netball squad in 2025, the two sides will face off yet again on Saturday, June 6 in one of the most anticipated events of the season.
2025 netball coach of the year, Shannyn Leach, has been selected as the official interleague coach for the open age GDFNL netball team this season.
With almost ten years of coaching experience at Thomson, Shannyn is looking forward to coaching at Interleague level for the first time.
“I’m really excited to step into the shoes of this coaching role and see how I go,” Shannyn said.
“We’d love to be able to carry last year’s success into this year.”
Shannyn was nominated as coach of the year after guiding Thomson’s A Grade side to a minor premiership last season.
“That was really humbling to be voted,” she reflected.
“I think as a coach across all clubs, it goes a little unnoticed at times but everyone puts in so much hard work.”
11 players have been selected in the squad, each hoping to showcase their talent and represent their home clubs in East Geelong, Thomson, Winchelsea, Belmont and Inverleigh.
Shannyn was closely involved in the selection process, ensuring that the final squad consisted of the top performing players within the GDFNL.
“We sort of take the first four or five rounds to really assess where our gaps are and see who has performed well over the course of this year,” she explained.
“We found players that were obviously performing well in their teams, but I also knew would combine with the players we had.”
Whilst the 2026 interleague team will see some past players returning, many of the girls will be attending interleague for the first time.
Captain of the squad, Molly Gribble, will make her return this year after winning the league’s best and fairest award for the last two seasons.
“She’s an awesome leader for Belmont and she deserves to lead this side,” she continued.
“From our goalers to our defence, I think they’re at the top of their game.”
As senior coach at Thomson since 2018, Shannyn will have the opportunity to coach three of her own Thomson players in Bree Caldwell, Amelia Jarvis and Cheyenne Philpott.
“Bree and Amelia were chosen in team of the year last year and Cheyenne’s been added there for a bit of height as well,” she added.
“She’s started in defence last year for the first time and has really cemented her place there for us at Thomson."
"I think she deserved that opportunity and is really excited about playing.”
Interleague provides players with an opportunity to showcase their abilities and collaborate with other skilled netball players from across the region.
As a coach, Shannyn acknowledges that it can be difficult to ensure that the players will work well together whilst learning to play alongside what would usually be their opposition.
“That is a challenge, to try and get everyone playing together and getting used to each other, but I think they’ll work through it, and I think that’s a sign of the strength of the side” she shared.
“When you go into something like this, each player respects the other for what they bring.”
As training begins in the coming weeks, Shannyn is excited to connect with the players and is hopeful that each of the girls will bring their own unique talent and skills to the side.
“It’s just a real sign of the times that all of the girls that we’ve spoken to about playing are positive and excited by the opportunity and are excited to play with girls from other teams that are like minded and passionate about netball,” Shannyn expressed.
Shannyn will be taking over from successful Interleague coach, Justine Radford, who won coach of the year in 2024 and guided the GDFNL to an interleague victory in 2017.
As 2025’s coach of the year, Shannyn has a lot of respect for Justine and the work she has done over the years to make interleague such a special event for the netball community.
“I think we all learn a lot from each other as coaches and she’s obviously been very successful at East Geelong,” Shannyn shared.
“Big shoes to fill, but I’ll give it a go.”
Shannyn will also receive support from star Belmont player, Angelique Ross, who could not make the team due to injury.
Angelique’s sister, Yianna Ross, will also be making her interleague debut as a player on the team.
“Angelique did her ACL last year in the finals, and she’s coming on as a team manager and assistant to myself, so I’m really excited about that for her,” she concluded.
With just three weeks to go until gameday, excitement is building throughout the GDFNL community for what will be one of the season’s most competitive netball events.
Make sure you get down and show your support for the GDFNL at Interleague on Saturday the 6th of June at Winchelsea’s Eastern Reserve.
2026 GDFNL Interleague Netball Squad
Belmont Lions
- Molly Gribble (captain)
- Ella Wasik
- Yianna Ross
- Angelique Ross (team manager)
East Geelong
- Claudia Cook
- Molly Neeson
Inverleigh
- Teagan Madden
Thomson
- Bree Caldwell
- Amelia Jarvis
- Chey Philpott
Winchelsea
- Grace Pullen
- Meg Royal
