Katrina Fanning Shield: Grand Final Preview

It's an all Belconnen affair in the Blumers Lawyers Katrina Fanning Shield Grand Final as the Belconnen United Sharks and West Belconnen Warriors do battle for premiership glory. 

The Belconnen United Sharks qualified for the 2025 decider after a strong win in the first week of finals with it providing the side with much needed confidence before this weekend. 

"It was a really good win for us and fuelled us with a bit of confidence going into the Grand Final," Captain Ella Kelly said. 

In the Major Semi Final, the Warriors were missing multiple players, with Kelly aware the side from West Belconnen will poses threats all across the park. 

"Across the board, they are an extremely strong team, so we have our eye on every player."

History beckons for the Sharks in the KFS as after two years in the competition, they have the opportunity to secure their maiden title with this creating an exciting atmosphere around the club. 

"We have had a KFS team now for two years, so it would be very exciting for the club."

"We are such a young bunch, so it's really good for the future of the club."

Meanwhile, for the Warriors they qualified in a thrilling Preliminary Final last Sunday against the Woden Valley Rams, with lock forward Aaliyah Lomas admitting the side made the game a little difficult for themselves.

"Sometimes we do make the game a bit hard for ourselves when we aren’t completing our sets, but we still found ourselves digging deeper in the second half, which allowed us to get that win," Lomas said. 

Saturday presents an interesting contrast in styles, with the speed of the Sharks and the physical nature of the Warriors, with this holding the key for West Belconnen in their quest for a second title in three years. 

"Our physicality is one of our strengths; we do take advantage of that, but also backing and trusting everyone, and we get around each other, which is another big strength of ours."

The Warriors KFS side is the only West Belconnen outfit competing on Grand Final day, with this providing motivation to the squad to bring a premiership to the club in their 50th year. 

"It would mean a lot for the club, but especially for us girls, and we would love to celebrate the club's 50th year with a win on Saturday."

The Warriors and Sharks will be out for bragging rights in the 2025 KFS Grand Final with this being the biggest edition of the Belconnen derby in the history of the KFS.