Written by Amelia Barnes
Last year’s VNL Championship runners up Boroondara Express have retained most of their squad who are looking to go one better in 2024.
This disciplined side have stars all over the court, including Casey Adamson and Ruby Barkmeyer with Suncorp Super Netball experience, and several players who represented Victoria at the 2023 Australian Netball Championships.
Partnerships across the Championship side are also well established, with multiple players having signed with the club for their sixth and seventh seasons.
The 23&Under side sees a blend of returning players to the club and new recruits from right across the state.
Boroondara Express will host home games in Rounds 3 and 15.
Championship Athletes
Express has one of the most stable and experienced Championship sides in the competition, especially in the midcourt.
Former Collingwood Magpies squad member Casey Adamson is back for her sixth season at the club and will again showcase her ability to play across all three midcourt positions.
Adamson continues to reach new heights in her career, including her second SSN appearance in 2023, a spot in the 2023 VNL Championship Team of the Year, and a starring role in the Collingwood Magpies’ win at the 2023 Australian National Championships (ANC).
“Casey has really worked hard on her attacking skills and feeding placement. She's always been a great attacker, but that fine tuning and finesse into the goal circle has been something that I know she's been working on. I think it was so amazing for her to play across all three positions at ANC,” said Boroondara Express coaching director and Championship co-coach Wendy Jacobsen.
Zali Anderson is another long-time Express athlete who represented the Magpies at ANC in 2023. Her performance saw the midcourter awarded with selection in the Australian 21/U squad.
Another returning Boroondara athlete who stood out in 2023 is C/WD Taylah Brown. Brown made the 2023 VNL Championship Team of the Year and was named vice captain of Victorian Fury when selected to play at ANC for the first time.
Fast and agile Alahria Smith is also returning to the club and rounds out an outstanding midcourt.
The shooters are also all retained Boroondara Express athletes.
Melbourne Vixens training partner Ruby Barkmeyer will return to the court after suffering an injury late in the 2023 season. The precise and crafty goal attack consistently performs for her team, and she was named in the 2023 VNL Championship Team of the Year.
Barkmeyer will resume her partnership in the goal circle with accurate shooter Bella Hodgson. Hodgson had a breakout year in 2023 that saw her named in the 2023 VNL Championship Team of the Year. She was also a training partner for Victorian Fury and elevated to the main squad for the final games of ANC.
All of Boroondara’s Championship Team of the Year athletes can be on court at the same time, creating one formidable attacking lineup.
Shooter Olivia Morris suffered a compound ankle fracture that prevented her from playing most of the 2023 season, but she has re-signed and is expected to make a strong return.
GA/GS Tiahnee Farrell stepped up from Division 1 to Championship halfway through the 2023 VNL season and has been rewarded with a permanent spot.
In the defence end, Boroondara can rely on Sarah Szczykulski to win plenty of ball back. The predominant GK was named Express’ 2023 MVP in her first year at the club.
Sophie Shoebridge has signed with Express for her fourth season and will build on her partnerships with Szczykulski and the athletic Ruby Pekin-Schlicht.
New to Boroondara’s Championship team is fast and fit defender Joanna Wietrzyk who has come across after a season with Ariels.
WD/GD Karina Martin has been elevated to the Championship team after impressing in Division 1 last season.
23&Under Athletes
A combination of young athletes from across the state have been selected for Boroondara’s first 23&Under team, who coach Jacobsen sees as the future of the club.
There’s a lot of versatility in this side, including multiple players who can play across different areas of the court, starting with Kirra Parks who can slot into shooting or defence.
Both Parks and Bethany Hosking have come across from Ariels’ former Championship team.
Lauren Pratt is another newcomer to Boroondara Express. She joins from Peninsula Waves and can cover both WD and the goal circle as a defender.
Defender Abby Hocking has signed her first VNL contract after being a Hawks Netball 19&Under training partner in 2023.
Jacinta McGinley will be tasked with leading this young defence group as she returns for her second year with Express.
The midcourt sees two familiar faces in Ella Harvey who is originally from Deniliquin, and Elsie Boyer originally from the Shepparton region.
They’ll be boosted by the experience of Sophie Hennessey who has multiple Division 1 seasons under her belt with Peninsula Waves and Hawks Netball.
Midcourter Alice Astbury, originally from Ararat, is set to make her VNL debut with the team.
Express’ 23&Under shooting lineup is stacked with talent. Among the new signings is 17-year-old Sahara Ball, daughter of former VNL player Meredith Ball and niece of former Diamond turned Queensland Firebirds coach Bec Bulley.
Ball had a breakout season playing in Melbourne University Lightning’s 19&Under premiership side and is in the Victorian 17/U State team.
“She's certainly a player of the future who we've got our eyes on,” said Jacobsen of Ball.
Ball will build under the guidance of Chelsea Quinn from Warrnambool who played in Division 1 last season.
Lara Stefani has also been elevated from Boroondara’s former 19&Under team and can move into the midcourt if required.
Ally Black comes across after multiple seasons with Ariels and can likewise cover both goals and the midcourt. She brings valuable Championship level experience to this young side.
Boroondara are excited to have offered Henrietta (Hetty) Donoghue her first VNL contract after coming through the club’s development pathway.
“I'm really excited to see what she can bring to the next level. She’s such an athlete,” said Jacobsen of Donoghue.
“People are going to have to really push to be starting seven in this group. They're all looking fit and moving well.”
Coaches
Wendy Jacobsen continues as Boroondara Express’ coaching director and will also co-coach the Championship side. The former Melbourne Vixens player began playing with Boroondara in the VNL after her retirement from the elite level. She’s since coached for many years, including for the Victorian 19/U State team.
“Our versatility and the strength and depth of our squad is what I'm most excited to work with for this year,” said Jacobsen of the club’s 2024 squads.
“I've been a pathway coach for quite some time, and I'm excited about the new opportunity to make this competition the best competition we can.”
A previous 19&Under assistant coach with the club, Eliza Allen has returned and will step up to lead Championship alongside Jacobsen.
Allen and Jacobsen have previously worked together at a Netball Victoria Talent Academy coaching level and are both familiar faces around the Boroondara club.
“I think it's been really fortunate that I have worked with a lot of the girls across the squads for many years, so I feel like it's not like a brand new team,” said Jacobsen.
“I think we both are very similar in regards to expectations and that we really want to drive success.”
After a year coaching Boroondara’s 19&Under side, Stacey Gannon will coach the club’s first 23&Under side. Gannon played in the VNL from the modern competition’s inception in 2009 right through to 2022 when she jumped straight into coaching.
Gannon’s attacking experience will be complemented by 23&Under assistant coach Ness Alexandra who is more defensive-minded.
Specialist Leesa Gallard will work across both the Championship and 23&Under teams ensuring both teams are working towards the same goals.
Boroondara Express 2024 Squads
Championship
Alahria Smith
Casey Adamson
Isabelle Hodgson
Joanna Wietrzyk
Karina Martin
Naomi Fitzpatrick
Olivia Morris
Ruby Barkmeyer
Ruby Pekin-Schlicht
Sarah Szczykulski
Sophie Shoebridge
Taylah Brown
Tiahnee Farrell
Zali Anderson
Co-coaches: Wendy Jacobsen and Eliza Allen
23&Under
Abby Hocking
Alice Astbury
Ally Black
Bethany Hosking
Chelsea Quinn
Ella Harvey
Elsie Boyer
Henrietta Donoghue
Jacinta McGinley
Kirra Parks
Lara Stefani
Lauren Pratt
Sahara Ball
Sophie Hennessey
Head coach: Stacey Gannon
Assistant coach: Ness Alexandra
Follow @boroondara_express on Instagram
View the 2024 VNL fixture
