Victorian Netball League

Netball league in Australia

Football league

Victorian Netball LeagueFounded| 2009

|

Country| Australia
Region| Victoria
Divisions| Championship
23 & Under
Number of clubs| 11
Level on pyramid| 2
Current champions| City West Falcons
Most championships| City West Falcons
(7 Championship titles)
Website| vic.netball.com.au

The Victorian Netball League (VNL) is a state netball league featuring teams from Victoria, Australia. The league is organised by Netball Victoria, with the modern league beginning in 2009. It replaced an earlier state league as the top level netball competition in Victoria. On a national level, the VNL is effectively a third-tier league, below Suncorp Super Netball and the Australian Netball Championships.

From 2009-2011, due to sponsorship and naming rights arrangements, the VNL was known as the Holden Cruze Cup. Between 2018-2020, the league was sponsored by Bupa and was known as the Bupa Victorian Netball League.

A change at the end of the 2023 season saw three divisions (Championship, Division 1 and 19 & Under) become two - with Division 1 and 19 & Under replaced with a 23 & Under division. It also saw the inclusion of new clubs Bendigo Strikers, Gippsland Stars and Western Warriors. The Stars will initially field a 23 & Under team, before entering the Championship division by 2027.

Nine existing clubs (Boroondara, Casey, City West, Geelong, Hawks, Lightning, Blaze, Waves and Saints) had their licenses renewed, with foundation club Ariels a casualty of the restructure.

The league's most successful team, City West Falcons (originally known as Hume City Falcons), have won seven Championship titles and 17 premierships in total, to the end of 2023.

## History

[edit]

### Foundation

[edit]

The modern league began in 2009, replacing an earlier Netball Victoria state league as the top level netball competition in Victoria. The earlier league featured eighteen teams but, after restructuring, the number was reduced to ten. The founding ten members of the new league were Ballarat Pride, Boroondara Genesis, Geelong Cougars, Hume City Falcons, Monash University Central, North East Blaze, Peninsula Waves, Southern Saints, VU Western Lightning and Yarra Valley Grammar Ariels. The league featured three divisions – Championship, Division 1 and 19 & Under. The ten teams entered a team in each of the three divisions. The new structure was designed to encourage player development.[1][2][3][4]

### City West Falcons

[edit]

The league's most successful team has been City West Falcons, who have won seven Championship titles and 17 premierships in total, across three divisions.[5] As Hume City Falcons, they won the inaugural Championship in 2009 and claimed it again the following year[2][6][7] With a team that included Kathleen Knott, they won their first Championship as City West Falcons in 2012 [8][9] and again in 2013.[10][11] In 2018, Falcons won their fifth Championship title.[12][13] Falcons won their sixth Championship title in 2022, also winning the 19 & Under Grand Final.

### Victorian Fury

[edit]

The Australian Netball League team Victorian Fury is effectively the representative team of the VNL. In turn, Fury is the reserve team of Melbourne Vixens.[14][15][16]

## Teams

[edit]

### 2023 teams

[edit]

Team  | Home venue/base  | Home city/town/suburb  | Debut season

|
|
|

Boroondara Express [17][18] | Boroondara Sports Complex | Boroondara | 2009
Casey Demons [19][20][21] | Casey Stadium | City of Casey | 2019
City West Falcons [5] | Maribyrnong College[7] | Maribyrnong | 2009 (as Hume City Falcons)
Geelong Cougars [22][23] | - | Geelong | 2009
Hawks Netball [24][25][26] | - | \-  | 2009 (as Monash Storm)
Melbourne University Lightning [27][28][29] | Parkville Campus | University of Melbourne | 2009 (as VU Western Lightning)
North East Blaze [30][31] | Community Bank Stadium | Diamond Creek | 2009
Peninsula Waves [32][33] | - | Mornington Peninsula | 2009
Wilson Storage Southern Saints [34][35] | - | City of Bayside | 2009
Bendigo Strikers  | Red Energy Stadium  | Bendigo | 2024
Gippsland Stars  | \-  | \-  | 2024
Western Warriors  | \-  | \-  | 2024

Notes

* ^1 Ariels VCNA previously played as Yarra Valley Grammar Ariels.
* ^2 Boroondara Express previously played as Boroondara Genesis.
* ^3 Casey Demons are affiliated to both the VFL Casey Demons and Melbourne Football Club.[21]
* ^4 City West Falcons previously played as Hume City Falcons.[7]
* ^5 Hawks Netball previously played as Melbourne Central, Monash University Central, Monash University Storm. In 2018 they adopted their current name after forming a partnership with Hawthorn Football Club.[12][24][25][26]
* ^6 Between 2009 and 2014, Melbourne University Lightning had a partnership with Victoria University and played as VU-Western Lightning.[7][27][36]

Source:[3][21][37][38][39]

### Former teams

[edit]

Team  | Home city/town/suburb  | Debut season  | Final season

|
|
|

Ballarat Pride [4][40][41] | Ballarat | 2009 | 2014
ACU Sovereigns [41][42][43] | Ballarat | 2015 | 2018
Ariels  | Maroondah Nets  | 2009  | 2023

## Championship Grand Finals

[edit]

Season  | Winners  | Score  | Runners Up  | Venue

|
|
|
|

2009 [2][5][17] | Hume City Falcons | 47–44 | Boroondara Genesis | SNHC
2010 [5] | Hume City Falcons |  |  | SNHC
2011 [17][25] | Monash University Storm |  | Boroondara Express | SNHC
2012 [8][9] | City West Falcons | 42–37 | VU-Western Lightning | SNHC
2013 [10][11] | City West Falcons | 44–41 | Peninsula Waves | SNHC
2014 [44][45] | Southern Saints | 48–42 | City West Falcons | SNHC
2015 [46][47] | Boroondara Express | 50–44 | City West Falcons | SNHC
2016 [48][49] | Melbourne University Lightning | 53–52 | City West Falcons | SNHC
2017 [50][51] | North East Blaze | 49–46 | Melbourne University Lightning | SNHC
2018 [12][13] | City West Falcons | 56–48 | Geelong Cougars | SNHC
2019 [52][53][54][55] | Geelong Cougars | 69–55 | Casey Demons | SNHC
2020 | No competition due to COVID-19 pandemic
2021 | No finals series played[56]
2022[57][58] | City West Falcons | 49–47 | Geelong Cougars | Parkville
2023  | City West Falcons  | 60-54  | Boroondara Express  | Parkville

## Notable players

[edit]

The VNL is effectively a feeder league for the Suncorp Super Netball teams Melbourne Vixens and Collingwood Magpies. VNL players have also played for the Australia national netball team and other international teams.[14][59]

### Internationals

[edit]

Australia

* Erin Bell
* Kelsey Browne
* Tegan Caldwell
* Julie Corletto

* Renae Ingles
* Wendy Jones
* Cynna Kydd
* Sharni Layton

* Kate Moloney
* Caitlyn Nevins
* Elizabeth Watson
* Jo Weston

|
|

Malawi

* Mwai Kumwenda

Scotland

* Fiona Themann

Sri Lanka

* Tharjini Sivalingam

### Melbourne Vixens

[edit]

* Karyn Bailey
* Kelsey Browne
* Julie Corletto
* Lara Dunkley
* Shannon Eagland
* Kate Eddy

* Erin Hoare
* Ashlee Howard
* Renae Ingles
* Wendy Jones
* Kathleen Knott
* Sharni Layton

* Kara Richards
* Alice Teague-Neeld
* Brooke Thompson
* Elizabeth Watson
* Jo Weston
* Micaela Wilson

|
|

### Collingwood Magpies

[edit]

* Melissa Bragg
* Kelsey Browne
* Matilda Garrett
* Molly Jovic
* Maggie Lind

* Kelsie Rainbow
* Gabrielle Sinclair
* Micaela Wilson

|

Source:[6][9][27][47][49][51][53][59]

### Award winners

[edit]

Margaret Caldow Trophy

The Championship MVP award is named after Margaret Caldow.

Season  | Player  | Team

|
|

2009 [2] | Brooke Thompson | VU Western Lightning
2010 |  |
2011[60] | Melinda Cranston | Boroondara Genesis
2012 [8] | Caitlyn Strachan (Note 1) | Yarra Valley Grammar Ariels
Mwai Kumwenda | Peninsula Waves
Helen Barclay | Monash University Central
2013 [10] | Caitlyn Strachan(Note 2) | Yarra Valley Grammar Ariels
Brooke Thompson | VU Western Lightning
2014 [44] | Chloe Watson | City West Falcons
2015 [46] | Kathleen Knott | City West Falcons
2016 [48] | Maggie Lind | City West Falcons
2017 [50] | Micaela Wilson | North East Blaze
2018 |  |
2019[61] | Julia Woolley | Geelong Cougars
2020 | Not awarded
2021[56] | Julia Woolley (Note 3) | Geelong Cougars
Maggie Lind | City West Falcons
2022[62] | Nyah Allen | North East Blaze

Notes

* ^1 2012 award was shared.
* ^2 2013 award was shared.
* ^3 2021 award was shared.

Player of the Championship Grand Final
Season  | Player  | Team

|
|

2009 [2] | Ashlee Howard | Boroondara Genesis
2010 |  |
2011 |  |
2012 [8] | Christie Barnes | City West Falcons
2013 [10] | Elizabeth Watson | City West Falcons
2014 [44] | Leah Percy | Southern Saints
2015 [46] | Sarah Yule | Boroondara Express
2016 [48] | Dani Stewart | Melbourne University Lightning
2017 [50] | Micaela Wilson | North East Blaze
2018 |  |
2019 [53] | Vanessa Augustini | Geelong Cougars
2022 [63] | Zoe Davies | City West Falcons

## Main sponsors

[edit]

| Years

|

Holden Cruze[2][64][65] | 2009–2011
Devine Homes [8][10] | 2012–2013
Bupa[12][52][66][67] | 2018–2020
No sponsor  | 2021-current

## References

[edit]

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2. ^ a b c d e f "Netball Victoria – Annual Report 2009" (PDF). Netball Victoria. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 January 2021. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
3. ^ a b "The talk is over" (PDF). www.bna.org.au. 9 March 2009. Archived (PDF) from the original on 18 March 2020. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
4. ^ a b "Pride's bid to stay in Victorian Netball League". www.thecourier.com.au. 20 February 2014. Archived from the original on 15 June 2020. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
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6. ^ a b "Falcons take wing". starcommunity.com.au. 2 March 2010. Archived from the original on 15 June 2020. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
7. ^ a b c d "City West Falcons embrace the red, white and blue". wyndham.starweekly.com.au. 7 April 2015. Archived from the original on 15 June 2020. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
8. ^ a b c d e "2012 Annual Report – Netball Victoria – Melbourne Vixens" (PDF). Netball Victoria. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 January 2021. Retrieved 22 August 2020.
9. ^ a b c "Western rivals collide". wordpress.com. 11 August 2012. Archived from the original on 17 June 2020. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
10. ^ a b c d e "Netball Victoria – Annual Report 2013" (PDF). Netball Victoria. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 January 2021. Retrieved 9 July 2020.
11. ^ a b "VNL: City West Falcons soar to VNL win". starweekly.com.au. 5 August 2013. Archived from the original on 15 June 2020. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
12. ^ a b c d "Netball Victoria – 2018 Annual Report" (PDF). vic.netball.com.au. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
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14. ^ a b "Victorian Fury team named". vic.netball.com.au. 18 March 2020. Archived from the original on 16 June 2020. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
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17. ^ a b c "Boroondara Express". www.bna.org.au. Archived from the original on 14 June 2020. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
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20. ^ "Casey Demons". vic.netball.com.au. Archived from the original on 14 June 2020. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
21. ^ a b c "Casey joins Victorian Netball League". www.melbournefc.com.au. 19 September 2018. Archived from the original on 14 June 2020. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
22. ^ "Geelong Netball Club". geelongnetball.com.au. Archived from the original on 26 June 2020. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
23. ^ "Geelong Cougars". vic.netball.com.au. Archived from the original on 14 June 2020. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
24. ^ a b "Hawks Netball Club". hawksnetballclub.com.au. Archived from the original on 14 June 2020. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
25. ^ a b c "Hawks Netball". vic.netball.com.au. Archived from the original on 14 June 2020. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
26. ^ a b "Hawks expand their wings into netball". www.hawthornfc.com.au. 19 March 2018. Archived from the original on 15 June 2020. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
27. ^ a b c "Melbourne University Lightning – Our History". mulightning-dpga.squarespace.com. Archived from the original on 18 June 2020. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
28. ^ "Melbourne University Lightning". vic.netball.com.au. Archived from the original on 14 June 2020. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
29. ^ "Melbourne University Sport – Netball". sport.unimelb.edu.au. Archived from the original on 15 June 2020. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
30. ^ "North East Blaze Netball Club". www.northeastblazenetball.com.au. Archived from the original on 13 March 2020. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
31. ^ "North East Blaze". vic.netball.com.au. Archived from the original on 14 June 2020. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
32. ^ "Peninsula Waves". peninsulawaves.com.au/. Archived from the original on 6 March 2020. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
33. ^ "Peninsula Waves". vic.netball.com.au. Archived from the original on 14 June 2020. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
34. ^ "Wilson Storage Southern Saints". baysidenetballclub.com. Archived from the original on 17 June 2020. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
35. ^ "Wilson Storage Southern Saints". vic.netball.com.au. Archived from the original on 14 June 2020. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
36. ^ "New era for netball". www.smh.com.au. 11 August 2014. Archived from the original on 16 June 2020. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
37. ^ "VNL Teams". vic.netball.com.au. Archived from the original on 14 June 2020. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
38. ^ "Victorian Netball League". netball.draftcentral.com.au. Archived from the original on 4 March 2020. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
39. ^ "2020 Bupa Victorian Netball League fixture released". vic.netball.com.au. 2 December 2019. Archived from the original on 15 June 2020. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
40. ^ "Ballarat's exit from VNL would be hugely detrimental: Vixens' Tegan Caldwell". www.thecourier.com.au. 26 June 2014. Archived from the original on 15 June 2020. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
41. ^ a b "Sovereigns unsuccessful in its bid for Victorian Netball League licence". www.thecourier.com.au. 6 September 2018. Archived from the original on 15 June 2020. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
42. ^ "2016 Victorian Netball League Guide". www.pixelninjacreative.com.au. Archived from the original on 15 June 2020. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
43. ^ "Netball: new on-court leader for Sovereigns". www.thecourier.com.au. 3 March 2016. Archived from the original on 12 June 2020. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
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45. ^ "VNL GF: City West Falcons v Southern Saints". starweekly.com.au. 3 July 2014. Archived from the original on 15 June 2020. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
46. ^ a b c "Netball Victoria – Annual Report 2015" (PDF). vic.netball.com.au. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
47. ^ a b "Success for Boroondara Express". www.latrobevalleyexpress.com.au. 18 June 2015. Archived from the original on 15 June 2020. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
48. ^ a b c "Netball Victoria – 2016 Annual Report" (PDF). vic.netball.com.au. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
49. ^ a b "VNL Grand Finals Report". vic.netball.com.au. 28 August 2016. Archived from the original on 15 June 2020. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
50. ^ a b c "Annual Report 2017 – Netball Victoria" (PDF). vic.netball.com.au. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
51. ^ a b "Blaze and Cougars VNL Premiers". vic.netball.com.au. 19 August 2017. Archived from the original on 15 June 2020. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
52. ^ a b "Netball Victoria – 2019 Annual Report" (PDF). vic.netball.com.au. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
53. ^ a b c "Bupa VNL Grand Final results". vic.netball.com.au. 14 August 2019. Archived from the original on 15 June 2020. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
54. ^ "Casey falls at the final hurdle". cranbournenews.starcommunity.com.au. 15 August 2019. Archived from the original on 15 June 2020. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
55. ^ "2019 VNL Champions". geelongnetball.com.au. 19 August 2019. Archived from the original on 15 June 2020. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
56. ^ a b "Netball Victoria Annual Report 2021" (PDF). Netball Victoria. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
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58. ^ "City West Falcons claim epic Grand Final win". Netball Victoria. 11 August 2022. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
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62. ^ "2022 VNL Awards announced". Netball Victoria. 12 August 2022. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
63. ^ "City West Falcons claim epic Grand Final win". Netball Victoria. 11 August 2022. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
64. ^ "See More VNL Netball in Round 17 of the Holden Cruze Cup!". sportstg.com. 19 July 2010. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
65. ^ "Holden Cruze Cup - Round 8". sportstg.com. 7 May 2011. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
66. ^ "Bupa announced as new major partner of the Victorian Netball League". vic.netball.com.au. 9 April 2018. Archived from the original on 15 June 2020. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
67. ^ "Bupa announces new major partnership with Netball Victoria with VNL naming rights". Bupa. 9 April 2018. Archived from the original on 15 June 2020. Retrieved 15 June 2020.

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Netball in Australia

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