IN what may feel like a blink of an eye, we are almost at the halfway point of the 2023 Victorian Netball League season.

Although next week is the official midpoint of the season, teams can now start thinking about how their season has gone so far and perhaps reassess how they approach the back end of the year.

This week is a particularly unique one in the sense that the round is spread out across the working week and across the city, with all parts of Melbourne getting to enjoy state level netball action near them.

The action begins tonight in Balwyn with the Express hosting the Lightning at the Boroondara Sports Complex.

It is starting to get close to crunch time for the Lightning this season. They may only be three games outside the top four at the moment, that may not stay that way for long so they will need to get their skates on if they want to play finals again in 2023.

However they come up against an Express side in really good form, and have only lost once so far this season, so that is not going to be an easy task.

The action then moves to a double header worth of clashes on Wednesday night.

In Parkville it is a top four clash between the Cougars and Blaze.

Perhaps the clash of the round, both teams will be keen for the win and to increase the gap between themselves and the chasing pack.

Another clash that may be particularly interesting is happening in Altona on Wednesday night as the Falcons host the Southern Saints. This is first versus fifth, but the Southern Saints are a vastly improved team this year and matching it with the better sides, although not always getting over the top.

The round ends on Sunday with two clashes all encompassing the bottom four sides. The Waves will be battling the Hawks in Sommerville, while up the freeway in Heathmont the Ariels will be hosting Casey.

All four teams would have these clashes pencilled in as potential wins. None of the sides have been pretty convincing this season and could all realistic take the clashes.  

VNL Round 8 Fixture

Boroondara Express vs Melbourne University Lightning – Monday at Boroondara Sports Complex

Geelong Cougars vs North East Blaze – Wednesday at State Netball Centre

City West Falcons vs Southern Saints – Wednesday at Altona Sports Centre

Peninsula Waves vs Hawks Netball – Sunday at Somerville Recreation Centre

Ariels vs Casey Demons – Sunday at Maroondah Nets