TWO Victorian Netball League (VNL) teams have byes during Round 10 as a series of bye rounds begin, with just four matches playing out each week for the remainder of the season, bar last minute changes per COVID-19 restrictions. The ladder suffered a real shake-up last round so expect some interesting performances this week. Hawks and Casey Demons will have the bye and a week to recover from respective losses last round.

Southern Saints vs. Geelong Cougars

Geelong got a big confidence boost last week so will be raring to go against the Southern Saints, who are still labouring along at the bottom of the ladder with just one win to their name. That being said, the Cougars beat Casey last round, who the Saints also had a really good match against, so the Saints will be hoping to bring that same heat when they take on Geelong, despite coming in with a 32-goal loss on their minds from back in Round 5.

The real test for the Saints in this match will be the circle matchups with Sinead Lumsden, Sam Silvester and Ella Quinlan sure to be tested every which way by the formidable Brooke Allan and Victoria Honner. The defensive prowess across the Cougars back-line is outstanding with all three defenders great ball-winners and rebounders, meaning the likes of Ashleigh Gill, Alesina Toleafoa and Alana Mcgurgan will need to be clean and precise feeding into the circle. That is easier said than done though with Madi Browne and Vanessa Augustini on the hunt, and the Cougars are more than happy to switch up roles to make it harder for the opposition. At the other end, Lyshae Barry, Stephanie McNay and Lorna Clark will be looking to create a heap of turnover ball to provide to their attack, taking on the likes of Julia Woolley, Bridgette Furphy and Zanna Woods.

Melbourne University Lightning vs. Boroondara Express 

Sitting second on the ladder with just one loss to their name this season, the Lightning are looking comfortable and confident in their winning ability and this clash should prove no different. While Boroondara also claimed a victory last round, it was against the lowly Peninsula, so while Express will be brimming with confidence they will need to take their form to a whole new level this round, especially against a side that kept them to just 36 goals last time they met.

For two sides which boast highly powered front-ends, it will be the defensive workrate that wins this one with the ball needing to be stopped well before it reaches the highly accurate goalers. For Express, Uneeq Palavi has been the go-to girl at the post with her accuracy, footwork and strength to body up on her opposition making her hard to match up on. But realistically, the likes of Steph Gorrie and Isabelle Hodgson do not play a huge role in goal attack, both playing as more of an assisting role than putting up shots left, right and centre, meaning Palavi will likely bear the full brunt of Fiona Fowler‘s skill and physicality. Gorrie and Hodgson will have their work cut out for them against Gabby Coffey, while Kelsie Rainbow and Maddie Stewart both run the gamut of the defensive midcourt positions. Shae Brown will be a tough task in centre with Jordan Cransberg in tow, as Eleanor Leydin, Casey Adamson and Taylah Brown look to limit their respective impact on the game. Defensively, Michelle Massarany and Tegan Stephenson will need to be switched on from the get-go, with Mikaela Vaughan and Claudia Mawson ruling the roost in the Lightning attack.

City West Falcons vs. North East Blaze

Sitting just outside the top four on percentage, the Blaze will be looking to step up to the tough task of City West this round, with the undefeated Falcons proving almost untouchable at this point with only a Round 1 draw blemishing their great run of form. Blaze just escaped with a win last round and will want to one-up that victory with another strong effort when the going gets tough, while the Falcons earned the win last time around but only by eight goals so will be looking for an improved performance this time around.

While there are a number of matchups across the court that provide intrigue in this match, the battle between Zoe Davies and Nyah Allen will be one to watch with both players highly influential in their own right, and even better when combining with those around them. Davies is backed by the reliable Sarah Szczykulski and Melissa Oloamanu, with Soli Ropati providing that extra buffer in wing defence, while Allen is backed by the likes of Georgia Moody and any number of viable wing attacks, namely Alex Moody and Ella Bayliss. Expect Meg Williams to run the centre for the Blaze while the Falcons typically rotate their midcourt for fresh legs, with Ropati, Montana Holmes and Emma Walters all handed the bib last round. At the other end, Jane Cook has been an immovable force for the Falcons and will be the difference in this one, with Madelyn Gray and Tahnysha Salanoa more than capable of adding to the scoreboard themselves, meaning Tayissa Coppinger and Ruby Turner will have their work cut out for them.

Peninsula Waves vs. Ariels

Expect an intriguing clash to finish off the night, with two of the bottom sides going head to head. While Ariels sit just ahead in eighth with two wins, their only two wins have come against the Saints and Peninsula meaning a win from the Waves is not entirely out of the realm of possibility here. Last time they met it was the Ariels that triumphed by 23 goals, meaning they have a proven winning formula on their side that could push them over the edge.

Rahni Samason is the lynchpin for the Ariels so will surely be the focus for the Waves in this clash, with feeds off the hand of Maddison Wallmeyer and Monique Tarrant paying off time and time again, although perhaps lacking scoreboard presence from Stacey Gannon and Olivia Morris who typically play more of an assisting role. The circle trio is likely to take on the likes of Shannon Rennison and Tara Cecil, with the two versatile defenders bolstered last round by the agility of Joanna Weitrzyk. At the other end, Clare Vearing and Stacie Gardiner have been holding up well in the Waves goal circle, with Gabby Dwyer a crucial cog propelling ball into the circle, working well despite a raft of changes happening around her with the centre bib often rotated. Defensively, the Ariels boast Alice Paget, Brodie Smith and Jessica Maher who have proven fairly consistent, with Maher’s versatility and the adaptability of Dionne Douglas paying off in spades.

Picture credit: Netball Victoria