The Victorian Netball League (VNL) is excited to announce a new digital eco system, including launch of a standalone website ahead of the 2026 season, starting this Wednesday, 11 March.
The new platform created in partnership with SEN will feature free live streaming of all games, giving fans the opportunity to watch every match live via the VNL website throughout the season. The website will also introduce enhanced digital technology, delivering improved highlight packages and expanded content to bring supporters closer to the action than ever before.
Round 1 is being held across three locations, starting with a grand final rematches between City West Falcons and Hawks Netball; Melbourne University Lightning versus Geelong Cougars; and Western Warriors versus North East Blaze all from 7pm on Wednesday March 11 at Melbourne’s State Netball Centre.
Bendigo Strikers will meet Boroondara Express at Red Energy Arena in Bendigo as a curtain raiser to the Round 1 Suncorp Super Netball (SSN) match between Melbourne Mavericks and GIANTS Netball on Saturday March 14. Access to these VNL games is included in all SSN tickets to the match, starting with the 23&Under division VNL teams at 12.30pm, Championship division VNL teams at 2pm, and the SSN match at 5pm.
VNL Round 1 round will conclude on Sunday March 15 with a huge one-day Gippsland Showcase event in Gippsland Regional Indoor Sports Stadium in Traralgon featuring Gippsland Stars, Peninsula Waves, Casey Demons and Wilson Storage Southern Saints. Tickets on sale here.
The new VNL website signals a new era for the state league competition where fans and clubs can access free match live streams, replays, highlights, news, shooting statistics, ladders, and fixtures via a single online destination. Previous VNL content has lived across the Netball Victoria website and Netball Connect, with select match streams only available via Facebook and paywalled media providers.
General Manager of Community at Netball Victoria Abbey Misso said investing in a dedicated online destination for VNL has been an important step to elevate the league’s presence, equally market the 12 clubs, and appropriately showcase the high standard of play. “We need to improve the fan experience. We needed to create more visibility of the athletes and really showcase that this is the heart of Victorian netball,” said Misso.
Every game held at Melbourne’s State Netball Centre will be available to livestream and watch on replay for free in 2026, with select away matches also available to stream.
The Victorian Netball League is currently the primary feeder competition to Suncorp Super Netball.
Over 25% of 2026 contracted SSN athletes developed through the state league clubs, including the following established athletes:
Australian Diamonds captain Liz Watson (City West Falcons, now Sunshine Coast Lightning)
Gabrielle Sinclair (Melbourne University Lightning, now Sunshine Coast Lightning)
Emily Mannix (City West Falcons, now Melbourne Vixens)
Hannah Mundy (Boroondara Express, now Melbourne Vixens)
Jo Weston (Melbourne University Lightning, now Melbourne Vixens)
Kate Eddy (Boroondara Express, now Melbourne Vixens)
Kate Moloney (City West Falcons, now Melbourne Vixens)
Rudi Ellis (Boroondara Express, now Melbourne Vixens)
Molly Jovic (City West Falcons, now Melbourne Mavericks)
Matilda Garrett (Boroondara Express, now Adelaide Thunderbirds)
Alice Teague-Neeld (Geelong Cougars, now West Coast Fever)
Kadie-Ann Dehaney (Ariels, now West Coast Fever)
Lara Dunkley (Boroondara Express, now Queensland Firebirds)
The following athletes have all attained SSN contracts since the 2024 season based on their VNL performances:
Casey Adamson (Boroondara Express, now GIANTS Netball)
Sacha McDonald (Casey Demons, now Melbourne Mavericks)
Jessie Grenvold (Wilson Storage Southern Saints, now Melbourne Mavericks)
Uneeq Palavi (City West Falcons, now Melbourne Mavericks)
Sharni Lambden (Casey Demons, now NSW Swifts)
Maggie Caris (Melbourne University Lightning, Melbourne Vixens)
Lily Graham (Wilson Storage Southern Saints, now Melbourne Vixens)
Zara Walters (Geelong Cougars, now Melbourne Vixens)
Jordan Cransberg (Melbourne University Lightning, now West Coast Fever)
Zoe Cransberg (Melbourne University Lightning, now West Coast Fever)
Charlotte Sexton (Bendigo Strikers, now Melbourne Mavericks)
Olivia Wilkinson (Peninsula Waves, now West Coast Fever)
Multiple coaches have also developed through the league, including new Melbourne Mavericks head coach Gerard Murphy, Melbourne Vixens assistant coach Kate Upton, and West Coast Fever assistant coach Sharni Layton.
Marquee players competing in the 2026 VNL season are:
2020 Melbourne Vixens premiership player and Malawi Queen Mwai Kumwenda, who is returning to Peninsula Waves
Former Australian Diamond Kristiana Manu'a for Bendigo Strikers
Former English Rose Elle McDonald for Bendigo Strikers
Former Melbourne Vixen Rahni Samason for Wilson Storage Southern Saints
Former Melbourne Vixen Kaylia Stanton for Hawks Netball
Former Adelaide Thunderbird Jane Cook for City West Falcons
Stars of the future to watch this VNL season are:
Melbourne Mavericks training partner Charli Hoey (Hawks Netball)
Melbourne Mavericks training partner Ruby Shannon (Western Warriors),
Melbourne Mavericks training partner Teal Hocking (Bendigo Strikers)
Melbourne Vixens training partner Zali Anderson (Boroondara Express)
Melbourne Vixens training partner Mia Lavis (Western Warriors)
Melbourne Vixens training partner Ally O’Connor (Geelong Cougars)
MVP of the 2025 Fire5 tournament Mia Van Wyk (Wilson Storage Southern Saints)
In addition to livestreaming, most VNL matches are open to the public to attend. For ticketing, location, and attendance information visit: Victorian Netball League
