FIXTURE
Wednesday 31 July
7.00pm - 23&U
Melbourne University Lightning vs North East Blaze*
8.45pm - Championship
Boroondara Express vs Hawks Netball
BROADCAST
Both games will broadcast live on KommunityTV – Subscription required (access is free for existing Herald Sun subscribers).
*23&U will also broadcast live on Netball Victoria Facebook
FINALS HIGHLIGHTS
Championship
- After going down in a confidence-shattering 23-goal loss last week, Boroondara Express are under pressure to bounce back against the red-hot Hawks Netball. On top of a grand final spot to play for, the two sides share a fierce rivalry where just two goals separated them earlier in 2024 – Express won 56-54 in Round 4, before drawing their Round 11 clash. Look out for the midcourt battle between Express wing defence Taylah Brown and the Hawks’ Lorna Clark – the speedy wing attack’s connection with goalers Kaylia Stanton and Annabelle Gorman will punish any side that gives them the opportunity. However, that chance is unlikely to come if Sarah Szczykulski has any say – the Express goal keeper helped push her side to a grand final appearance last year and will have the gameplan to counter Stanton’s dominant 42-goal outing at 95% accuracy last week. The Hawks are playing for their first grand final appearance since their 2011 premiership, so they’ll leave nothing in the tank in this game of inches. The winner will meet reigning premiers the City West Falcons in the grand final.
23&Under
- It’s a similar story for Melbourne University Lightning who must regather themselves after a thumping 30-goal loss last week, when they take on North East Blaze. Each side takes a 10-goal win apiece into this preliminary final clash, with Lightning the most recent victor in Round 21. They’ll be leaning on that win, where a shared and accurate shooting load from Claire Oakley and Emma Winfield set them up on the scoreboard, while defender Charlee Kemp limited Blaze goal attack Ella Tennant to just eight goals. However, their offsiders – Lightning goal keeper Dayna Williams and Blaze shooter Olivia Cawthray – will be the main event, with the shooter posting a whopping 54 goals in their previous encounter, while Williams will be desperate for a grand final appearance after an ACL injury sidelined her last year. As both teams are gunning for a spot in the inaugural 23&U grand final against the Hawks, expect centres Taiysha Wallis (Blaze) and Montaya Sardi (Lightning) to set the tone from the first whistle.
ONE TO WATCH
Isabelle Hodgson – Boroondara Express
Goaler Isabelle Hodgson brings the big game experience to Boroondara Express. Named in the VNL team of the year in 2023, a representative in the 17/U and 19/U state teams and with a grand final appearance last year, the shooter’s cool hands sealed a match-winner in the dying seconds as recently as Round 22. A versatile shooter that balances a moving and holding game to perfection alongside goal attack Ally Black, Hodgson sets her team up for another solid crack at the 2024 VNL Grand Final.
FINALS STRUCTURE
The winner of the Major Semi Final (1st vs 2nd) progresses straight to the Grand Final, earning a week off in between. The loser has a second chance, where they will meet the winner of the Minor Semi Final (3rd vs 4th) in the Preliminary Final. The winner of the Preliminary Final will progress to the Grand Final, held on Wednesday 7 August.
The City West Falcons (Championship Division) and Hawks Netball (23&U Division) have earned a place in their respective grand finals and will await the results of the preliminary finals to determine their opponents.
TICKETS
VNL finals tickets can be purchased upon arrival at the State Netball Centre, with adult tickets $5 and $2 for children (16 & under).
