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The Major League Pickleball Australia (MLPA) Geelong event powered by JOOLA delivered high-stakes action and indoor intensity at DInx Pickleball, as the league’s first fully indoor venue proved essential amid wild, wet, and windy Victorian conditions.
Despite the weather outside, the competition inside was hot, with the Premier Championship Final between Bondi Pickleball Club and the Northern Crocs serving as a statement of class and composure heading into the 2025 Season Finals.
Bondi Pickleball Club reasserted their dominance on the Premier stage, defeating a talented Northern Crocs side 3–1in the Championship Final to claim the Geelong title.
From the first serve, Bondi looked composed. The pairing of Roos van Reek and Kat Westbury held firm in the women’s doubles, falling narrowly in the opener to Crocs Haas and Dikosavljevic but finding rhythm through clinical resets and smart transitions.
In the men’s matchup, Louis Laville and Max Manthou flipped the momentum, blending Laville’s laser-sharp resets with Manthou’s aggressive drives to level the tie and shift pressure onto the Crocs.
That spark carried through mixed play. The Dutch connection of van Reek and Laville delivered a near-flawless performance in their mixed match, before Westbury and Manthou sealed the championship in style, 21–15, showcasing both tactical patience and aggresive offence.
Bondi closed out the match 3–1, with a +10 point differential (79–69), solidifying their position as the most consistent Premier squad heading into finals.
Bondi athlete Louis Laville reflected after the win:
“The level this weekend was arguably the best of the entire season to date and all matches whether I was playing or watching were super exciting! To win back to back with such an awesome team capped off an amazing weekend in Melbourne! “
The Gold Coast Glory completed their Geelong campaign in style, overcoming the Brisbane Breakers 3–0 (63–38 total points) in a dominant Challenger Championship Final that showcased both athletic brilliance and team depth.
From the first serve, the Glory looked locked in. Jess Hughes and Natalie Fisher opened proceedings with confidence, taking the women’s doubles 21–11, a breakout moment for Fisher, who stepped in as a late sub and delivered one of the most composed performances of her career. Her steady hands and calm decision-making gave Hughes room to attack, setting the tone for the match.
In the men’s round, the crowd got involved as Daniel Fogl-Kulich and Matt Kouznetsov stormed through their match 21–15. Kouznetsov, playing in front of a supportive home-state audience was unstoppable, using his athleticism and court coverage to convert defence into attack. His explosive movement and precision resets turned crucial points and drew cheers from every corner of Dinx.
That energy carried into the mixed match, where Hughes and Fogl-Kulich closed the door with a thrilling 23–21 win, completing a clean sweep and sealing the title for Gold Coast.
Glory’s captain Jess Hughes said:
“So, so proud of the Glory team! Every person contributed so much over the weekend. There were so many tight and exciting games. Look out for the Sydney Finals!”
The Brisbane Breakers, led by Crystal Mildwaters and David Richardson, fought hard but were unable to break the Gold Coast rhythm as momentum stayed one-way from start to finish.
As storms lashed Geelong throughout the weekend, Dinx Pickleball proved a game-changer providing uninterrupted, climate-controlled competition and an exceptional viewing experience for fans who were treated to free access all weekend thanks to Pickleball Victoria.
The smooth execution across all three days showcased the venue’s capacity to host high-level professional events and reinforced the growing infrastructure behind MLPA’s national expansion.
Thank You to Our Partners
A huge thank you to JOOLA, our presenting partner, alongside our event sponsors Franklin, DUPR, Pacific Team Sports, SportsGel, Facolos, PaddleTek, SixZero, ProXR, HAMR, P3 Geelong, VICE Australia, The Picklr, Pickleball Victoria, Pickleball Australia, venue team, volunteers, and the passionate fans who brought the noise indoors all weekend. Your support drives the growth of pickleball’s professional frontier across Australia and the wider Asia-Pacific region.
With Geelong wrapped, all eyes now turn to the MLPA Season Finals, Sydney at PicklePoint, running November 28–30.
The Finals Schedule featuring both Premier and Challenger divisions will be released later this week, setting up an epic showdown to close the 2025 MLPA season.
If Geelong was any indication, Sydney promises to be the most explosive event yet.
Full match results - HERE
Watch replays - HERE
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