FIXTURE
Wednesday 3 July
State Netball Centre, Parkville
Wilson Storage Southern Saints vs Gippsland Stars (23&U only – Championship BYE)
Geelong Cougars vs North East Blaze
Hawks Netball vs Western Warriors
Boroondara Express vs Bendigo Strikers
Narrandjeri Stadium, Thornbury
Melbourne University Lightning vs City West Falcons
Friday 5 July
Jubilee Park Stadium, Frankston
Peninsula Waves vs Casey Demons
BROADCAST
Wednesday, 19 June
Netball Victoria Facebook
Wilson Storage Southern Saints vs Gippsland Stars
7.00pm - 23&U
Boroondara Express vs Bendigo Strikers
8.30pm - 23&U
KommunityTV
Hawks Netball vs Western Warriors
7.00pm - Championship
8.30pm – 23&U
Subscription required (access is free for existing Herald Sun subscribers).
ROUND HIGHLIGHTS
Championship
- It’s another do or die match for the Geelong Cougars - who are sitting outside the top four on percentage - when they take on second-placed North East Blaze. The Cougars have rallied against big teams in recent weeks, and their defenders Brook Allan and Indya Forde will need to be centimetre perfect if they’re to quell the strike power of Blaze shooter Sam Silvester.
- Peninsula Waves are eying their first win of 2024 when they host Casey Demons in front of a home crowd. The Demons won by 30 goals the last time they met but have struggled throughout the season, falling to second-bottom. Led by legendary coach Sue Hawkins, the Waves are playing for their supporters, for pride, as well as a chance to build momentum into 2025.
- Fourth-placed Hawks Netball face Western Warriors in a must-win battle. The Warriors will be full of confidence after a 10-goal win over Melbourne University Lightning, but will need to cut off the feed into Hot Shot Leaderboard regular Kaylia Stanton if they’re to stir another upset.
23&Under
- The Geelong Cougars will make a final push for the top four when they face third-placed North East Blaze who haven’t lost since Round 9. The Cougars won by five goals the last time they met, with Tully Bethune spearheading the attack (45 goals, 88%), but this week they’ll look to Elisa Hall to lift the team.
- The City West Falcons face Melbourne University Lightning in a battle between fourth and second. A Falcons victory will all but seal their finals position, but after falling short to Blaze last week, it’ll be a huge challenge to bounce back against a team that has only lost twice in 2024.
ONE TO WATCH
Shaid Sasalu – Western Warriors
Western Warriors’ 23&U defender Shaid Sasalu has already had a taste of international netball with the Fiji Pearls team that competed in last year’s PacificAus Sports Series. The agile and creative defender was part of Melbourne University Lightning’s 2023 19&U premiership team and will be out to prove she can match the VNL’s best when the Warriors take on Hawks Netball.
