After a week hiatus, the VNL is back with a blockbuster round of action. North East Blaze is the final undefeated side in any division, yet to lose a game in Division 1, while all the stars from last week's National Championships will be on show across the divisions.
Fixture
Melbourne University Lightning v Ariels
City West Falcons v Wilson Storage Southern Saints
Hawks Netball v North East Blaze
Peninsula Waves v Geelong Cougars
Casey Demons v Boroondara Express
Players to Watch
Championship - Gabby Coffey
The Melbourne Vixens training partner is a key asset in the defensive line for the Melbourne University Lightning and played an instrumental role in the side's win over the previously undefeated Geelong Cougars. Coffey has a great read on the ball which sees her win plenty of deflections and intercepts. When playing in goal keeper Coffey has proven to be a real anchor in defence for the Lightning, and when in goal defence she can really shut down her goal attack. In the Lightning's last game against Geelong, Coffey worked well with Ramayer Gourley to shut down the shooters for Geelong, who previously had been extremely dominant.
Division 1 - Helen-Margaret Ashin
Helen-Margaret Ashin has been a great addition to the Waves' Division 1 side this season, after playing a few games as a temporary replacement player last season. Ashin can play both shooting positions and is a really smart player with the way she moves around the goal circle and isn’t afraid to go for those long range shots. The 21-year-old is an exciting prospect that has proven she can hold her own inside the circle and will be hoping to assert herself nice and early. In the match against the City West Falcons last round, she struck up a strong combination with Stacie Gardiner which created a dynamic moving circle for the Waves.
19/Under - Charlotte Morey
Charlotte Morey was one of the many athletes on show for Victoria in the National Championships last week in Tasmania, but this week she’ll be back in the Geelong colours. A new addition to the Cougars' side this season after spending 2021 as a training partner for Melbourne University, Morey can play across both attacking midcourt positions and injects that speed into the Cougars midcourt. Morey is really strong on the second phase and feeds the ball well into the Geelong goalers. The talented midcourter uses her speed to get around her defender with ease and can help her team bring the ball down court on defensive transition.
The match between Hawks Netball and North East Blaze will be livestreamed via the Netball Victoria Facebook page on Wednesday night from 7pm.
