South Grand Final | Frankston break through for NBL1 crown

Featured image: Ian Knight Photography

The Frankston Blues made a flying start but then had to come from behind in the last four minutes to secure a first NBL1 South championship in thrilling fashion to beat the Eltham Wildcats 78-75 and the celebrations will now be something.

Frankston have been banging on the door since the inception of the NBL1 and prior to missing the finals last year, had fallen short in the preliminary final to this same Eltham team on the way to a championship in 2024.

That was after back-to-back semi-final exits the previous two seasons while also losing the Championship Game of the National Finals to the Rockingham Flames in 2022.

But the Frankston team of 2026 had broken through to reach the Grand Final on the back of a fourth-place finish in the regular season and then knocking out the Knox Raiders and regular season champion Melbourne Tigers to reach the decider.

They were coming up against an Eltham team attempting to win a second NBL1 South championship in three years but Frankston shot out of the blocks with the first five points of the Grand Final, and to soon be leading 11-3.

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Eltham responded to cut the Frankston advantage to just 20-17 by quarter-time with Dibaji Walker and Jack Stanwix both having six points for the Blues while they had forced the Wildcats into six turnovers.

Harrison Hornery was standing up for Eltham who had lost Leonardo Colimerio having ruptured his ACL for nine points and five rebounds.

Frankston took back control in the second term opening up a 13-point advantage to the delight of their vocal fanbase and they were still on top 41-33 by half-time despite Eltham still in touch with a couple of important late scores.

Stanwix was up to 11 points and five rebounds, and Jeremy Combs nine points and eight boards by half-time for the Blues. They were then able to push back out to a 14-point lead early in the third term.

But Eltham fired back into the contest and after a scoreless first half, TJ Weeks came to life. The Wildcats were able to go on a 13-0 scoring run and even found themselves briefly in front for the first time in the game just before three quarter-time.

Frankston were clinging to the 63-62 heading into the fourth and no more than five points would separate the two teams the rest of the way with a championship at stake.

The Blues did go back up five after a Combs layup with six minutes to go before Zak Cunningham responded with a dunk for the Wildcats and Sam Short hit a jumper to make it a one-point game.

Weeks then landed a triple for the 'Cats to be up two with 3:45 to play only for Combs to level scores once more a minute later.

Things were getting tense and it was a massive offensive rebound and putback from Kynan Philippe that had Frankston up two with a minute left before Hornery was fouled taking a three. He knocked down two at the line for scores to again be square.

Walker made two at the stripe with Short only managing one from there with Frankston up one before the biggest play of the Grand Final was Walker getting the offensive rebound on his missed second free-throw.

He made the second on the next go around with Eltham having one last chance on the final possession to force overtime. Hornery's contested rushed three was perfectly defended by Walker and Frankston secured the championship.

Not only is it a first NBL1 championship for the Blues, but a first men's title of any sort since a SEABL conference win back in 2009.

Jeremy Combs proved to be the ultimate mid-season addition for Frankston and he was named Grand Final MVP on the back of 21 points, 12 rebounds, five assists and three steals.

Nobody will enjoy the celebrations more than inspirational captain Lucas Barker who had nine points and four rebounds with Jack Stanwix adding 16 points, seven boards and two assists, and Dibaji Walker 12 points and three steals.

Aussie Shelley didn’t appear quite 100 per cent but still had 10 points, two rebounds, two assists and two blocks.

Harrison Hornery finished with 17 points and seven rebounds in the tough Grand Final loss for Eltham with Sam Short adding 13 points, three boards and two assists, Mitch McCarron 12 points and seven rebounds, and TJ Weeks 11 points and three assists.

Then there was Zak Cunningham who had a Grand Final triple-double with 10 points, 14 rebounds and 11 assists.

NBL1 SOUTH 2026 SEASON | GRAND FINAL

FRANKSTON BLUES 78 (Combs 21, Stanwix 16, Walker 15)

ELTHAM WILDCATS 75 (Hornery 17, Short 14, McCarron 12)

Grand Final MVP: Jeremy Combs (Frankston Blues)