The 2019 Bupa Victorian Netball League (VNL) season begins tonight, with six of the 10 clubs in action at the State Netball and Hockey Centre.
All eyes will be on new VNL club Casey Demons as they take the court for their inaugural match against Melbourne University Lightning. Recruiting heavily in the off-season, the club attracted former Suncorp Super Netball talent Emma Ryde and Erin Bell.
Casey Demons club captain Ashley Bradley said that everyone is eager to take the court for the first game.
“The club is looking great, everyone’s had a great pre-season and worked really hard, so I think everyone is raring to go and ready to get on court for Round 1,” said Bradley.
“Melbourne Uni will be a great test for Round 1, as will City West Falcons in Round 2, so it’s a great way to start off the season and see where we’re at.”
2018’s 19 & Under premiers, the Boroondara Express have a wealth of talent coming through their squad, boasting seven members of the Victorian 17/U and 19/U state teams. They open their 2019 account against the Peninsula Waves, who recorded a club-best performance in the division in 2018, making the preliminary finals.
2018 Championship and Division 1 premiers City West Falcons and Hawks Netball will wait until Saturday to start their title defences in their respective divisions. Both teams open their seasons in Wantirna on the weekend in the first of 24 home games across the league for 2019.
Meanwhile the Wilson Storage Southern Saints and North East Blaze head north to Bendigo as a part of Netball Victoria’s Bendigo Blockbuster, with the Championship match to be played as a curtain-raiser to the Suncorp Super Netball pre-season games.
The Saints will look to start the season on a high against the strong Blaze side, with the Saints’ team being bolstered by the recruitment of 2018 Division 1 MVP, Chloe Wilson during the off-season.
