Written by Amelia Barnes
2024 saw Boroondara Express’ second consecutive VNL Championship grand final appearance against City West Falcons.
In their quest to claim the premiership for the first time in 10 years, the club has retained most of their Championship squad — including Suncorp Super Netball-experienced players Casey Adamson and Ruby Barkmeyer — plus the exciting addition of goal attack Zanna Woods who has moved from Geelong Cougars for her 14th VNL season.
The club’s 23&Under side have been focusing on their fitness in pre-season aiming for higher finish on the ladder. State players including Sahara Ball and Leila Simpson will lead the way.
Championship athletes
The ability to execute under pressure is Boroondara Express’ focus for 2025.
A largely established lineup returns to vie for the Championship title, starting with one of the most talented midcourts in the competition: Casey Adamson (C/WA/WD), Taylah Brown (C/WD), and Zali Anderson (WA/C).
All three players have experience in the state’s high performance pathways and show up for this side week after week.
Brown and Anderson in particular had great VNL seasons last year, earning them both a spot in the VNL Championship Team of the Year.
Adamson experienced a season-ending injury in 2024 but should be ready to take the court in Round 1.
“She is such an immeasurable asset to our team. Casey is fast, fit, smart, and an amazing leader,” said Wendy Jacobsen, Boroondara Express coaching director and Championship division head coach.
New to the midcourt is Sophie Hennessey (WA/C) and Alice Astbury (WD/C) who have both been elevated from the club’s 23&Under team.
“They’re two great up-and-coming midcourt players that will learn and grow in the Champ team and challenge others for court opportunities,” said Jacobsen.
Former Melbourne Vixens athlete Ruby Barkmeyer is another important member of this team who brings experience, playmaking, and the ability to cover goals and WA.
“Ruby is a terrific ball handler. She is smart and connects well with those around her,” said Jacobsen.
She will again link up with Isabelle Hodgson (GS/GA) in goals who has been in consistently strong form over the past two years.
In 2024, Hodgson made her second consecutive VNL Championship Team of the Year, and was a member of the Melbourne Vixens SN Reserves team in its pilot season.
Accurate shooter Olivia Morris has re-signed following a strong return to the court in 2024 following an ankle injury.
Express’ new shooter is Zanna Woods who has made the big move from Geelong Cougars for her 14th VNL season.
Woods’ netball achievements include playing in the winning Collingwood Magpies team at the Australian National Championships in 2023 and claiming the best and fairest winner in the Geelong Football Netball League on three consecutive occasions from 2016-2018.
An established defensive lineup in Sarah Szczykulski and Sophie Shoebridge will once again provide plenty of ball back for Express.
Ruby Pekin-Schlicht brings plenty of agility and endurance as a talented track and field athlete who attended college in the U.S.
Naomi Fitzpatrick has also re-signed and is preparing to return to court following a knee injury in 2024.
The new defensive recruit is Tallulah Lewis, who is returning to the VNL after playing with former club Ariels then recovering from injury. She also has experience in the Netball NSW Premier League and is also a talented softball player.
“She is a young athletic and tenacious defender really looking to take her game to the next level,” said Jacobsen of Lewis. “Originally an athlete in the NSW pathway, she moved to Melbourne to complete her university degree and has really had a very strong preseason.”
23&Under athletes
Seven athletes have joined Express’ team for 2025 who are looking to improve their performance after finishing 8th in the inaugural year of the 23&Under VNL division.
“Fitness, strength and a solid preseason has been a big focus for 2025 so our 23s can perform at their best for a full 60 minutes no matter who is on the court,” said Jacobsen.
“We have an exciting mix of youth and experience and as we continue to move through preseason. Developing on court connection and understanding will be of great benefit to the team's success in 2025.”
The shooting end has experienced the least change between seasons, with Sahara Ball and Henrietta (Hetty) Donoghue both re-signing.
Ball continues to rise up the Netball Victoria pathway, most recently making the 19/U state team. “Sahara has really worked hard on her strength and conditioning and is a very accurate, tall mobile goaler with the capacity to play GA and GS,” said Jacobsen.
Coach Jacobsen is excited to see what Donoghue (GS/GA) can do in her second VNL season. “She’s tall, athletic and strong on the hold or moving.”
Express has also re-signed Lara Stefani and Ally Black after strong first seasons in this team. Both are goal attacks who can also play in the midcourt.
The team’s new goaler is 16-year-old Chloe Eyre who comes across from City West Falcons’ development program and is a member of the 2025 First Nations Black Swans squad.
“Chloe is so eager to learn, listen and implement coaching instructions. She is athletic, confident to go to the post, and works very well with those in the attacking unit,” said Jacobsen.
Leila Simpson is among the team’s new midcourters. She joins from Southern Saints and is a member of the 2024 17/U Australian squad.
“She is a very talented junior who can play across all three midcourt positions,” said Jacobsen. “Leila is known for her dogged tight one-on-one fitness, speed, and game smarts.”
Ava Gaul (C/WA) joins from Gippsland Stars, and Jemma Whitaker will play her first season of VNL in 2025.
Rounding out the midcourt is Abbey Geappen who has come through the Tasmanian netball pathway. She was named the 19U MVP of the Tasmanian State League in 2024 and was a member of Tasmania’s First Nations 2024 team coached by her mother — former Melbourne Phoenix premiership player Fiona Geappen (née Doran).
These new midcourters will learn from the experience and smarts of Ella Harvey in her fourth Express season.
Returning for her third year, Jacinta McGinley is the most experienced of Express’ 23&Under defenders.
She will again partner with Abby Hocking, who has re-signed after consistently improving across her debut VNL season.
“Abby’s capacity to create intercepts and apply pressure then attack through the court improved dramatically in 2024,” said Jacobsen.
Georgia Courtis is one of the new defenders who has come from Peninsula Waves and Casey Demons’ development pathways,
16-year-old Millie Van Diemen has officially signed after making her VNL debut with the team in 2024.
Boroondara Express has five male training partners who provide experience and a willingness to help improve both VNL teams: Tom Hardwick, Terron King, Declan Gallard, Campbell Brown, and Kelpies player Alastair Punshon.
“They are all working hard to prepare for Victorian men’s nationals and it is fantastic to have them contributing to what we do, and us contributing to what they need,” said Jacobsen.
Coaches
Wendy Jacobsen is both the coaching director and Championship head coach of Boroondara Express for 2025. The former Melbourne Vixens player and state coach brings years of high-performance experience to the club.
Her assistant coach in the Championship division is Leesa Gallard, who was a specialist coach last season.
“She has high expectations and helps the athletes on and off the court be the best they can be,” said Jacobsen of Gallard.
“She is passionate, calm and has a great relationship with the athletes. We have a great working relationship and bounce ideas around to look at things differently to keep improving and hopefully performing at our best in 2025.”
Stacey Gannon and Ness Alexandra continue as Express’ 23&Under head and assistant coaches respectively.
Lyndell Bruce is the club’s high performance coach responsible for the implementation and development of sports science, strength and conditioning, and the daily training environment across Boroondara Express’ VNL teams.
Boroondara Express 2025 Squads
Championship
Alice Astbury
Casey Adamson
Isabelle Hodgson
Naomi Fitzpatrick
Olivia Morris
Ruby Barkmeyer
Ruby Pekin-Schlicht
Sarah Szczykulski
Sophie Hennessey
Sophie Shoebridge
Taylah Brown
Tallulah Lewis
Zali Anderson
Zanna Woods
Head coach: Wendy Jacobsen
Assistant coach: Leesa Gallard
23&Under
Abbey Geappen
Abby Hocking
Ally Black
Ava Gaul
Chloe Eyre
Ella Harvey
Georgia Courtis
Henrietta Donoghue
Jacinta McGinley
Jemma Whitaker
Lara Stefani
Leila Simpson
Millie Van Diemen
Sahara Ball
Head coach: Stacey Gannon
Assistant coach: Ness Alexandra
Male training partners
Tom Hardwick
Terron King
Declan Gallard
Campbell Brown
Alastair Punshon
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