The stage is set. This Saturday, September 6, at 3:00pm, ServiceFM Stadium will host one of the most anticipated WNPL Grand Finals in South Australian women’s football history. Adelaide Comets, seasoned contenders with years of steady progress, face off against Campbelltown City, a debutant side whose fairytale run has captured the imagination of fans across the state.
A Fairytale Run for Campbelltown
Campbelltown City’s rise is a story that already feels destined for the history books. The newly promoted side has defied every expectation.
Their campaign began in turmoil, after nine rounds, they were bottom of the ladder with just four points to their name. For many, relegation seemed a certainty. But the squad refused to crumble. By round 14, after a string of gritty performances, they climbed out of the danger zone. By round 18, they had surged to fifth place, snatching a finals spot at the death.
What followed was even more incredible. Facing West Adelaide, who had gone unbeaten during the regular season, Campbelltown embraced their underdog status. After a tense 1–1 deadlock deep into stoppage time, Marina Asada’s 93rd-minute winner sent the side into the Grand Final.
For captain Josephine, the achievement carries both personal and collective meaning:
“A fairytale to be newly promoted and then making a grand final… it didn’t come by fluke. We worked really hard to get as far away from relegation zone as possible. Honestly, I don’t think anyone would believe we’d land in a grand final, but here we are.”
Campbelltown now stands just 1 game away from completing one of the most extraordinary debut seasons in South Australian football.
Comets Ready to Strike
While Campbelltown’s run has been defined by resilience, Adelaide Comets arrive at the final through consistency and calculated growth. Finishing second on the ladder, the Comets proved to be one of the competition’s most reliable sides, balancing defensive stability with attacking flair.
Their finals run was equally memorable, securing a thrilling 3–1 victory over West Adelaide after extra time. That result secured them a direct passage to the Grand Final and an extra week of rest, recovery, and preparation. The squad enters Saturday’s decider refreshed, focused, and hungry.
For the Comets, this moment is the culmination of a long journey of building and improvement. Elena summed up the team’s evolution:
“The last three years, it was always about setting goals and taking steps forward. Each season we got closer, and this year making the Grand Final was the ultimate goal. Now we just have to put our words into action.”
Beyond tactics and talent, Comets’ cohesion off the pitch has been a driving force. Players describe the 2024–25 squad as one with a “different aura”, a group bound by both footballing ambition and genuine camaraderie.
Why It Matters
This year’s Grand Final is about more than crowning a champion, it’s about making history. For the first time since the inaugural WNPL decider in 2016, both Adelaide Comets and Campbelltown City are stepping onto this stage for the very first time. As Football SA commentator Paul Marcuccitti put it:
“The 10th WNPL Grand Final caps off a season which has seen the league reach new levels of quality and professionalism. And for the first time since 2016, both clubs will be making their first appearance in this fixture; the winner will be the newest name added to the list of WNPL champions.”
For Campbelltown, it’s the fairytale of a season. Only a few months ago they were battling to escape the relegation zone, yet now they stand one victory away from etching their names into history as the league’s newest champions. Their story has been defined by resilience and belief, a team that never stopped daring to dream even when the odds were stacked against them.
For Adelaide Comets, the Grand Final represents the payoff for years of consistent growth. Each season has been about setting goals, improving step by step, and building a squad that could compete at the highest level. Reaching the decider is proof of that progress, but lifting the trophy would mark the moment they finally convert ambition into legacy.
Football fans attending ServiceFM Stadium can expect more than just one showcase match. The day will deliver a festival atmosphere, with Community and WNPL fixtures across all three pitches:
12:00pm – Community and WNPL Reserves Finals
- Pitch 1: WNPL Reserves Final – Football SA vs Adelaide Comets
- Pitch 2: Division 1/2/3 – F.C. Summit vs Pembroke OS
- Pitch 3: Division 4/5/6 – Southern Breakers vs Parafield Gardens
3:00pm – WNPL Seniors Grand Final
Pitch 1: Adelaide Comets vs Campbelltown City
Don’t miss out! Come down to ServiceFM and secure your tickets here!