SANFL Juniors is gearing up for a mega Grand Final weekend

4 September, 2025

By ALEXANDRA BULL

SANFL Juniors is gearing up for a huge grand final weekend of grand finals, with the deciders being played across multiple grades, including the prestigious U17.5 Boys Division One, and U18 Girls Division One Grand Finals.

Henley Sharks Blue will take on the undefeated Port District Black in the Division One U17.5 Boys Grand Final at Maughan Thiem Kia Oval from 3.30pm, whilst the Plympton Bulldogs will face off against Tea Tree Gully in the Division One U18 Girls Grand Final at Hisense Stadium at 3.30pm.

The four finals will feature underage talent from both the SANFL and SANFLW Leagues.

U17.5 Henley Sharks Blue coach Karl Martin said Port Districts play a similar style of football to his side, so he expects Sunday afternoon to be “a great spectacle”.

“Each player who will play on Sunday in our Best 22 carries their own unique flair and is capable of doing that one significant and memorable moment in the big event.

“It will be a great game to watch, and I strongly encourage people to get off the lounge and get down to Maughan Thiem Kia Oval this coming Sunday.”

In the Under 18 Girls Division One, Plympton has gone undefeated in season 2025, with coach Billy Campbell saying, “internally we feel no extra pressure (to win)”.

“Theres are always ups and downs within every season which we have ridden to get into the position we are in now. We have created a family, team orientated culture within our squad and are all focused on enjoying the moment and chasing success,” Campbell said.

“We have from day one, been a team-first football team. If we stick to the pillars we set at the beginning of the year and everyone playing their role, it will put us in the best possible position to win.

“We have a number of girls on our list who have been fortunate enough to experience SANFLW at the league level this season. Each girl on our list has the capacity to have a standout game.

“Look out for the likes of Molly Petersen, Charlotte O’Sullivan, Matilda Wilmore, Lani Cocks and Lucy Reddaway to drive our standards early.”

Last year’s runners up Tea Tree Gully, aren’t on the hunt for redemption in this year’s decider, according to coach Timothy Almond.

“(Redemption) would possibly be the case if were playing the same side as last year. We are quite a different side this year, with some girls coming through from the U16s as well,” Almond said.

“After having massive interruptions during the year with teams forfeiting on the back of the byes really took the wind out of our sales.

“We’ve now strung together a heap of games together as well as three finals, and I feel last week’s game showed me that we’re peaking at the right time.”

Almond mentioned a number of players who bring X-Factor to the side, including Kyah Jaffer, Taylah and Riley Pearson, and Lailani Raikiwasa.

“Going into the last two grand finals undefeated, the pressure just builds to the point that you’d actually prefer to have dropped a game in the minor round,” he said.

“I feel both myself and the girls are much more relaxed going into the game having finished third in the minor round season and there is no real expectation.

“We’re really just enjoying the week and being around each other.”

*The Port District U17.5 Coach was contacted for comment but did not respond in time for publication.