TWO of the Victorian Netball League (VNL) contenders will clash in a massive Round 10 encounter tonight for an evening of ladder-defining battles. Now at the mid-point of the season, seems are starting to play sides for a second time in the 2022 season, and it also marks the second time that the Geelong Cougars and North East Blaze face off, being ranked first and third respectively after nine rounds.

The Cougars easily took care of the Blaze back in Round 3 when both were undefeated from their opening two matches. The top of the table Cougars piled on 66 goals to 38 to win by 28 goals in an impressive showing. Funnily enough, the Cougars would only drop one game in the first half of the season – to Melbourne University Lightning – in Round 5, the same round where an understrength Blaze suffered defeat at the hands of Casey Demons out in Cranbourne.

After stringing three consecutive wins together, North East Blaze suffered a heartbreaking one-goal loss at the hands of Southern Saints last week, as the Cougars continued on their merry way with a 21-goal victory over Ariels. The title favourites and 2019 champions head into the Round 10 clash having won four on the trot and a very impressive 8-1 record. Eight points clear of the next best, the Cougars are sitting pretty, but for the Blaze they win and they could take second spot if City West Falcons lose, but a loss could see them drop down to at least fourth, and potentially fifth depending on goal difference with Southern Saints’ game.

The North East Blaze attacking end has been a threat when it is on-song, given Nyah Allen and Georgia Moody can be deadly from all ranges. They have been able to benefit from the likes of Meg Williams and Tayissa Coppinger providing pressure up the court, while Kaitlyn Black and Sienna Allen hold down the defensive end. If the full-strength Cougars outfit comes to play it will be difficult to beat however, given the midcourt could very easily feature the likes of Madi Browne and Melissa Bragg, whilst Georgia Cuthberton, Vanessa Augustini and Zana Woods are all match-winners in their own right.

Aside from the top three clash, the desperate seventh placed Hawks Netball will be keen to cause an upset over top two side City West Falcons, while the fourth placed Melbourne University Lightning plays host to sixth placed Boroondara Express. In other games, two top eight side in Southern Saints (fifth) and Casey Demons (eighth) lock horns, while the bottom two clash between Peninsula Waves and Ariels should also be a tight contest.

ROUND 10 FIXTURES: May 25

North East Blaze vs. Geelong Cougars
City West Falcons vs. Hawks Netball
Southern Saints vs. Casey Demons
Melbourne University Lightning vs. Boroondara Express
Peninsula Waves vs. Ariels