Austral Phoenix will compete in three Grand Finals and one Preliminary Final this weekend following an outstanding opening round of the SAVL Finals Series.
A club-record eight teams qualified for finals this season, with the Division 1 Men, Division 1 Women and Reserve Men winning through to Saturday’s Grand Finals. Our Premier Women have also secured their place in the season decider, while the Premier Men remain in contention for a third consecutive Grand Final appearance.
Saturday: Three Phoenix Teams Reach Grand Finals
The Division 1 Men and Women both survived gruelling five-set semi-finals against Central Adelaide. Momentum shifted throughout both matches, but the Phoenix lifted when it mattered most, producing strong fifth sets to secure two hard-fought victories and places in the gold-medal matches.
The Reserve Men also booked their place in the Grand Final with a 3-1 victory over South Adelaide. After a slow start, the team found its rhythm and took control of the match. Darcy Champion produced arguably his best performance for the club, finishing an extraordinary +30 for the match.
While their seasons came to an end, we congratulate the Division 2 Men, Division 5 Men and Division 3 Women on qualifying for the finals and representing the club with distinction. All three teams fought hard in their semi-finals and should be proud of their seasons.
Saturday’s Grand Finals
Reynella East College
- 9:00am: Division 1 Men vs Adelaide University
- 11:30am: Division 1 Women vs Norwood Bears
- 2:00pm: Reserve Men vs Norwood Bears
Spectators attending Saturday’s Grand Finals are required to purchase a ticket in advance.
Purchase your ticket here
With three Austral teams competing at the same venue, we would love to see plenty of purple in the stands throughout the day.
Sunday: Premier Teams Make Their Mark
Our Premier Women defeated USC Lions 3-1 at Adelaide Arena to secure their place in the Grand Final. The result sends the team through to Austral’s first Premier Women’s Grand Final since 2015. They will now have a weekend away from competition before returning to The Lights for the decider.
The Premier Men also defeated USC Lions, delivering a clinical performance from start to finish to record a straight-sets victory and keep their season alive. They will now face Mount Lofty in Sunday’s preliminary final, with the winner advancing to the Grand Final. A victory would see the Premier Men qualify for their third consecutive decider as they continue their pursuit of a third straight premiership.
Sunday’s Preliminary Final
Adelaide Arena
- 2:00pm: Premier Men vs Mount Lofty
With three premierships on the line on Saturday and the opportunity to qualify for another Grand Final on Sunday, it promises to be a significant weekend for the club.
