The 2025 VNL finals series began with edge-of-your-seat action as matches went down to the wire and teams fought to keep their seasons alive. Some dreams moved a step closer to becoming a reality, while others came to a heartbreaking end. In the Championship division, Bendigo Strikers managed to knock out Casey Demons, while Hawks Netball shattered North East Blaze’s season. City West Falcons and Geelong Cougars have progressed in the 23&Under division, eliminating Hawks Netball and Bendigo Strikers.
Details on the finals structure and teams.
KEY MOMENTS
Championship
- No strangers to the finals stage, the City West Falcons produced a dominant performance against Boroondara Express in the 1 vs 2 battle. A 22-6 first quarter for the Falcons made it difficult for Express to get back into the game. Express went on to keep up with the reigning premiers with a tight second and third quarter, but the damage was done early. Ally Black’s injection into goal attack for Express added more movement around the circle while also providing great vision in attack. However, the defence from Sophie Hanrahan and Charity Nasalio made it near impossible for Express to get the ball into their shooting circle.
- Hawks Netball held off a fourth quarter fight back from North East Blaze in a one-goal thriller, knocking Blaze out of finals. Hawks were up by as much as eleven goals, but intercepts from Kaitlyn Black and Ty Coppinger swung the momentum into Blaze’s favour. Blaze’s full court presence made sure the Hawks never really felt settled, but Keighley Starrett kept her composure, putting on the scoreboard pressure. Chloe Duke was instrumental, with the Hawks defender building into the game and coming in clutch with some crucial deflections in the fourth quarter. The introduction of Mia Lavis into goal attack for Blaze was the real game changer, with the shooter’s timing around the circle sublime, and confidence shooting from long range with accuracy.
- A final-quarter push from the Casey Demons fell just short and sees them bow out of finals, as the Bendigo Strikers held on for a narrow one-goal win. Despite relentless rotations from the Demons in search of momentum, the Strikers remained with their starting seven from start to finish and maintained control for much of the game, including a commanding nine-goal lead. It was a shootout at the post between Casey’s Emma Ryde (51 goals, 98%) and Bendigo’s Gabe Richards (49 goals, 92%) with both shooters being a key target for their feeders. A six-goal run in the final quarter saw the Demons reduce the deficit, but crucial intercepts from Charlotte Sexton ensured Bendigo secured the win over a resilient Casey outfit.
23&Under
- A powerful second half from top of the table North East Blaze saw them win by 11 goals against second placed Melbourne University Lightning. The score was 25-all at half time, but Blaze didn’t back down from a challenge to win the second half convincingly. Tilly Shepherd tried everything she could in goal keeper to turn ball over for the Lightning, but the connection between Olivia Cawthray (45 goals, 86%) and Ella Tennant (13 goals, 76%) was too seamless. Blaze’s Ayva Tanfara and Lightning’s Millie Hogg went head-to-head in another tightly contested battle, with neither able to gain the upper hand. Hogg’s speed in attack saw the Lightning score quickly in transition while Tanfara picked off intercepts in the pocket.
- A consistent four-quarter performance saw the City West Falcons move ahead in the finals series, defeating Hawks Netball by four goals. The Falcons got out to a nine-goal lead in the third quarter, but a five-goal run for Hawks shifted the momentum heading into the last break. It was a goal-for-goal fourth quarter with Falcons’ Amalani Fauonuku (37 goals, 94%) utilising her strength on the take and body positioning to reward the defensive efforts of Mikaela Minns who dominated the rebounds at the other end of the court. Emma Storey won ball for the Hawks, finding the smallest spaces to come away with tips and intercepts.
- The Geelong Cougars progress through to the semi finals, claiming a dominant win over the Bendigo Strikers. It was a relatively close game until the last break where the Cougars kicked up a gear. Down by six goals at three quarter time, the Strikers needed to take some risks in defence, but that ultimately left more space open for the Cougars attacking unit to win the fourth quarter 21-9. Geelong’s Charli Hoey and Mia Aitken made it difficult for the Strikers to gain any momentum, with the defensive duo clogging up the middle channel and intercepting with ease. Strikers’ shooter Jorja Clode kept ticking the scoreboard over with 42 goals at 95%.
RESULTS
Championship
City West Falcons (72) vs (48) Boroondara Express
Hawks Netball (55) vs (54) North East Blaze
Casey Demons (58) vs (59) Bendigo Strikers
23&Under
North East Blaze (58) vs (47) Melbourne University Lightning
Hawks Netball (51) vs (55) City West Falcons
Bendigo Strikers (52) vs (70) Geelong Cougars
NEXT UP – Semi finals
Wednesday 30 July
23&U
Major semi final: North East Blaze vs Geelong Cougars
Minor semi final: Melbourne University Lightning vs City West Falcons
Championship
Major semi final: City West Falcons vs Hawks Netball
Minor semi final: Boroondara Express vs Bendigo Strikers
Tickets for week two of finals are on sale now.
