GEELONG Cougars and Boroondara Express will face off tonight for a spot in the 2023 Victorian Netball League (VNL) Grand Final. The match takes place from 7pm and will be streamed via the Netball Victoria Facebook page as well as KommunityTV, to determine which side will take on the red-hot City West Falcons.

The Cougars went down to City West Falcons last week, utilising their double chance in the preliminary final this week against an Express side that ended Melbourne University Lightning’s season Both matches were incredibly close, with the Express winning by six goals (50-44) and the Cougars going down by seven (59-52).

Back at the State Netball Centre on Court 11 where the Express won last week, the third placed team will hope to upset the Cougars, who are traditionally a strong side in the Championship. The City West Falcons await the winner to be played on Court 1 next Wednesday, August 9.

Both sides have plenty of quality at their disposal, with Brooke Allan a key player in goal keeper for the Cougars, while Indya Forde and Victoria Honner provide important defensive cover. Isabelle Hodgson has been outstanding for the Express, and is coming off a 43-goal performance against the Lightning and looms as the key threat to the Cougars.

Tiahnee Farrell can also provide some over in that area, while Zali Anderson will look for feeds on the edge of the circle. Boroondara’s midcourt of Taylah Brown and Casey Adamson will have a terrific battle with Ally O’Connor and Zara Walters, while up front, Geelong’s Zanna Woods (39 goals last week) and Daisy O’Kane (17) provide more of a two-pronged attack.

It will be up to Boroondara’s Sarah Szczykulski and Sophie Shoebridge to try and contain the pair. Given the quality that was on Melbourne University’s list, the Express will not fear what the Cougars could produce.

The first time these teams faced off was back in Round 3, where the Express rolled the Cougars by 11 goals. That day, Hodgson scored 40 goals from 51 attempts, but was well supported by Ruby Barkmeyer (16 from 19).

In the more recent Round 15 clash, the Cougars got up by 15 goals. Woods (27 goals from 30 attempts and Emma Buwalda (24 from 30) did a lot of the damage, with the latter able to slot into that goal attack bib to mix it up from O’Kane.

Expect the match to be a thrilling contest and similar to the semi-finals. While their previous two encounters both ended up one-sided to the respective teams, finals action is different and both these teams are capable of reaching the grand final.