Deakin Uni 2025 Season Review | The Basin

By Josh Ward.

A return to finals for the Bears senior men’s side whilst its senior women’s and netball programs showed some promise throughout 2025.

Senior Men’s

Ladder Position: 4th (11-7, 97.38%)

Leading Goalkicker: Matthew Smit (29 goals in 19 matches)

Season Summary:

A return to finals in a new competition for the Bears who were one of the most improved sides in the EFNL this past season.

After snapping a 19-game losing streak in Round 2, The Basin would then win four of their next seven games to enter the midway point of the season with a 5-4 record.

They’d then proceed to win six games and lose three to eventual grand finalists Donvale and Scoresby plus Silvan away from home, securing a first finals berth since 2022 in the process.

Finishing in fourth, the Bears were unable to proceed past the first week of finals, falling by the barest of margins to Upper Ferntree Gully in the Division 3 Elimination Final.

Best Win: Round 17 - The Basin 8.9 (57) defeated Knox 7.7 (49) @ Knox Gardens Reserve

Honourable mentions to the Bears drought-breaking win against Coldstream and against Scoresby in Round 5, but this one just edges those wins out given who it was against and how crucial it was in the context of The Basin’s season.

The match started off very evenly, with Knox holding a five point lead at quarter time before the Bears kicked the only two goals of the second term to hit the front by four points at the main break.

After conceding that lead heading into the final term the Bears kicked three goals to one to finish off the game, securing not only the four points but also their finals ticket.

Matthew and Ryan Smit both had excellent games for Joel Perry’s men who were led in attack by Liam West who ended up kicking three goals for the day.

Key Players

Matthew Smit put together an excellent season in attack, finishing the year with 29 goals, including two in their elimination final.

Kyle Delaney was a standout in defence for the Bears and was the only member of their squad to make the Division 3 Team of the Year.

Bailey Syswerda and Aiden Butler were both consistent performers across the 2025 season, with both named in the best on more than 10 occasions this year.

What’s Next?

Plenty to build on for the Bears in season 2026 after what was a promising season with a young group this past year.

They’ll be without their leading goalkicker in Matthew Smit who’s departed for Division 3 premiers and now Division 2 side Scoresby. Outside of his departure it’s been a quiet start to the offseason for the Bears.

Plans are already in motion to bring back an Under 19s side next year, which will improve their already solid depth after their reserves also made and won a final.

If they keep their current core group and its entire list together, plus add a touch of experience, then The Basin could be a side to keep a very close eye on in season 2026.

Senior Women’s (Premier)

Ladder Position: 8th (0-12)

Leading Goalkicker: Rhiannon Ockwell (4 goals in 10 games)

Season Summary

It was a tough 2025 for the Bears Premier Division Women’s side, going through the season winless, resulting in a bottom-placed finish in the top flight.

There were some promising signs shown throughout the season, particularly against the Whitehorse Pioneers at home in Round 9 and Vermont in Round 12.

However with the side having significant losses throughout the 2024-25 offseason, as well as injury and unavailability throughout 2025, they were unable to probably hit their straps.

Key Players

Leah Talbot was a shining light for the Bears all season. Named in the best in eight of her 12 games this past season, Talbot was the only Basin player to make the Premier Division Team of the Year.

Caitlin Grimmett was also a solid contributor for the Bears this past season, finishing in the best on seven occasions for them.

Crystal Van, Brianna Donnelly and Jessica Hubber all had solid seasons alongside Rhiannon Ockwell, who was the Bears leading goalkicker.

What’s Next?

A return to Division 1 is most likely the case for the Bears who, much like their men’s side this year, have a chance to hit the reset button next year.

So far it’s been a quiet start to the offseason too for the Bears women’s side, with no re-signings or signings announced as of yet.

They’ll need to add to their list as well as retain their core group if they are to once again challenge in a new division next season.

Senior Women’s (Division 5)

Ladder Position: 5th (2-9, 45.26%)

Leading Goalkicker: Michaela Hoflord-Moss (6 goals in 2 games)

Summary

So close yet so far for the Bears reserves women’s side who fell only one game short of playing finals in the newly-formed Division 5.

The side started off the year in Division 4 where they lost all three games. They then dropped down to Division 5 where they started off with a bang, winning their first game by 67 points over Templestowe.

From there on they would show some promise but only claimed one more win, which came against Upper Ferntree Gully in Round 9 at home.

Best Win: Round 4 - The Basin 9.14 (68) defeated Templestowe 0.1 (1) @ Batterham Reserve

A statement win in their first Division 5 game for the Bears, convincingly knocking off Templestowe at home.

They set the tempo in the first quarter with a three goal to no score opening period before extending their advantage from 23 points to 37 at the main break.

The Bears then kicked another four goals to one behind in the second half, which included three goals in the third term, to secure the convincing win over the Dockers.

Stephanie Gottliebsen had an excellent game for the Bears alongside Hayley Samargis and Chloe Goring, with Goring kicking two goals alongside Jacinta Morganella.

Key Players -

Samargis was an excellent player for the Bears Division 5 side, named in the best in seven of the 11 games she played with the side.

Bethany Allen was also a consistent performer, being named in the best in all six games she played with the Division 5 side which saw her rewarded with a spot in the Bears Premier Division side in the final fortnight of 2025.

Goring also had a solid season alongside Lynlee Saysombath and Emma Nixon while leading goalkicker Michaela Halford-Moss had an impact in her two games this past season.

What’s Next? 

Same as the Premier Division Women’s side, if the Bears keep majority of their list as well as add to it, then they’ll start to reap the rewards in due course.

Netball

Team by Team:

The Basin Cubs (Division 3)

After falling short of a premiership last year, the Bears Division 3 side were yet again prominent but fell just short of a finals appearance this time around.

They started off well with four wins from the opening four games of the season before dropping their next three games to sit at 4-3 midway through the season.

Following a convincing Round 8 triumph over Blackburn Black they then went on to lose three of their next four games.

Despite winning their next and final two games against finalist East Ringwood Teal and Montrose Flames. It wasn’t enough though as they fell a game short of East Ringwood in fifth place, finishing the season with a 9-5 record.

The Basin Kodiaks (Division 4)

The Bears second highest side in the New Balance Netball Competition had a tough season overall, finishing in second last on the Division 4 table.

They started off the season with a win, a draw and a loss in the opening three rounds before dropping their next two games.

After defeating Fentree Gully Gold in Round 6 the Bears Kodiak would lose their final eight games of 2025 to finish near the bottom end of the table, two and a half games clear of last-placed Ferntree Gully.

Melissa Beardsworth was stellar in attack, finishing the season as the Division’s leading goalshooter with 302 goals.

The Basin Pandas (Division 7)

Much like the Bears Division 3 side, The Basin Pandas outfit fell just short of making a finals appearance in season 2025.

Starting the season with two wins, they’d then stabilise between rounds four and seven to sit with four wins and three losses in the opening half of the season.

They then started to drop off towards the end of the season, winning only two games in the second half of the season to finish with six wins, eight losses and two games short of fourth-placed East Ringwood White.

Cassie Hughson was stellar in attack for the Bears, finishing inside the top four leading goalshooters of the Division with 233 goals in 13 games.

Veterans

Veteran Men’s: 7th (3-5)

A solid season in the BJS Veteran Men’s competition for the Bears, finishing with the same amounts of wins as their 2024 campaign, but with one more loss

The Bears split wins and losses in the opening six rounds of the season, with their victories coming against South Belgrave, Chirnside Park and Croydon North MLOC, two of which away from home.

They then lost their last three games of the year to finish with their 3-5 record, with both losses coming against the top two sides in Mooroolbark and Scoresby.

Senior men’s coach Joel Perry had a massive impact in his four games with the Veteran Men’s side, kicking 17 goals and being named in the best in three of his four appearances with the side.

Michael Oxley and Dean Makin were also solid contributors, with both named in the best on five occasions.