VNL 2023 | Round 1 Preview: New season, new opportunities
A NEW season is upon us in the Victorian Netball League (VNL) Championship Division.
It has been a long time since last season’s entertaining Grand Final, and finally after what must have felt like a long six month offseason for players and coaches alike, it is finally time to get back into it all over again.
Over the next 18 rounds, ten teams will battle it out to be crowned champion.
Will the City West Falcons go back to back? Will Geelong be able to put the pain of losing last year’s decider behind it and bounce back? Will a new title contender emerge? All this and more will be answered in the next five months.
There are plenty of faces wearing different colours in season 2023, but some who are staying put where they were last season.
Former Lightning stars Fiona Fowler and Shae Brown are back at the Lightning this season after not playing in 2022.
After making a spectacular return to netball with the Casey Demons part way through last year, Renae Ingles is back at the Dees for another year.
Speaking of the Dees, Ingles is not the only big name at Casey this season, with former Vixen Tayla Honey returning to play in the VNL after spending a year at the London Pulse in the UK’s Netball Super League.
The reigning champions the Falcons have had a busy off season.
Star defender Sarah Szczykulski has left the Falcons to join the Boroondara Express, while Caitlin Hill has also left to join the North East Blaze.
Coming the other way is Collingwood SSN training partner Sienna Allen, who comes to the Falcons from the Blaze.
One player who is not moving sides in 2023 is former Vixen Kaylia Stanton, who is staying at the Hawks for another season.
VNL Round 1 Fixture
Ariels vs North East Blaze
Melbourne University Lightning vs Southern Saints
Peninsula Waves vs Boroondara Express
Casey Demons vs Hawks Netball
Geelong Cougars vs City West Falcons
Lightning strikes twice for Hobson
IMAGINE going in for a routine scan to see how your body is holding up and being told you had no ACL (anterior cruciate ligament). Being told that the previous surgery you had five years ago wasn’t performed correctly. Being told you had to have a corrective surgery right when you were climbing up ever […]
Defenders delight as duo tie for VNL MVP
IT was a big night for the Victorian Netball League (VNL) last night, with the annual awards night taking place. In the Championship Division there was a tie for the MVP, with Sophie Hanrahan and Jessie Grenvold tying for the award. The win caps off a year that was just about perfect for Hanrahan, who […]
Triple treat for City West as Falcons fly high again
THE City West Falcons have established a true dynasty in the Victorian Netball League, defeating the Boroondara Express 64-53 to win the 2024 Grand Final, their third flag in a row. The Falcons led convincingly for most of the match as the key players really stood up and really did not allow the Express to […]
Boroondara through to a decider, but not all goes Expressly their way
THE Boroondara Express are through to another Victorian Netball League decider after defeating the Hawks 51 goals to 47. Although the Hawks put in a solid fight back at the end of the game, a strong first half from the Express meant that their efforts proved futile. The Express’ intent was on show early, as […]
Falcons fly high as Hawks survive first threat
THE City West Falcons are the first team through to the VNL Championship Grand Final after a 77-54 win over Boroondara Express in last night’s major semi-final. Although things started off tight between the sides, when the Falcons made some key positional changes in defence and attack they saw things swing in their favour, and […]
PREVIEW | 2024 VNL – Finals Series
AFTER an entertaining and at times unpredictable home and away season, it is now time for the finals series of the Victorian Netball League. Four teams are all that are left in contention to win the title – City West Falcons, Boroondara Express, Hawks and the North East Blaze. Coming into this three week finals […]
Chaotic round sees all loose ends tied up
IT was an action packed final day of the 2024 VNL Championship season, with plenty of elation, heartbreak and narrow escapes across the competition. Blaze suffer heartbreaking loss, but not all is lost The North East Blaze were unable to beat the Boroondara Express which they needed to do to make finals – losing by […]
PREVIEW | 2024 VNL: Round 22
THIS is it. The final round of the 2024 Victorian Netball League season is upon us, presenting one last chance for sides to tune up for finals, make finals, or finish the year on a high. As things sit at the moment, only the City West Falcons and the Boroondara Express have booked their place […]
Surprises not forthcoming but anticipation still high
ROUND 21 of the VNL season may not have brought many surprises, but it did still leave plenty to play for in the season finale next week. Uni upset Blaze, finals spot in danger In the biggest surprise result of the night, Melbourne Uni upset the North East Blaze by 13 goals to put the […]
