Victorian Netball League Explained

Upcoming Season:	2024
Founded:	2009
Teams:	11
Divisions:	Championship 23 & Under
Levels:	2
Country:	Australia
Region:	Victoria
Champions:	City West Falcons
Most Successful Club:	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

Foundation

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

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

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

2023 teams

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	Maribyrnong College	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

• Ariels VCNA previously played as Yarra Valley Grammar Ariels.
• Boroondara Express previously played as Boroondara Genesis.
• Casey Demons are affiliated to both the VFL Casey Demons and Melbourne Football Club.^[21]
• City West Falcons previously played as Hume City Falcons.^[7]
• 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]}
• Between 2009 and 2014, Melbourne University Lightning had a partnership with Victoria University and played as VU-Western Lightning.^{[7] [27] [36]}

Former teams

Team	Home city/town/suburb	Debut season	Final season
Ballarat Pride ^[37] ^[38]	Ballarat	2009	2014
ACU Sovereigns ^[39] ^[40]	Ballarat	2015	2018
Ariels	Maroondah Nets	2009	2023

Championship Grand Finals

Season	Winners	Score	Runners Up	Venue
2009	Hume City Falcons	47–44	Boroondara Genesis	SNHC
2010	Hume City Falcons			SNHC
2011	Monash University Storm		Boroondara Express	SNHC
2012	City West Falcons	42–37	VU-Western Lightning	SNHC
2013	City West Falcons	44–41	Peninsula Waves
2014 ^[41] ^[42]	Southern Saints	48–42	City West Falcons	SNHC
2015 ^[43] ^[44]	Boroondara Express	50–44	City West Falcons	SNHC
2016 ^[45] ^[46]	Melbourne University Lightning	53–52	City West Falcons
2017 ^[47] ^[48]	North East Blaze	49–46	Melbourne University Lightning	SNHC
2018	City West Falcons	56–48	Geelong Cougars	SNHC
2019 ^[49] ^[50] ^[51] ^[52]	Geelong Cougars	69–55	Casey Demons	SNHC
2020	No competition due to COVID-19 pandemic
2021	No finals series played
2022^[53] ^[54]	City West Falcons	49–47	Geelong Cougars	Parkville
2023	City West Falcons	60-54	Boroondara Express	Parkville

Notable players

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] [55]}

Internationals

Erin Bell Kelsey Browne Tegan Caldwell Julie Corletto

Renae Ingles Wendy Jones Cynna Kydd Sharni Layton

Kate Moloney Caitlyn Nevins Elizabeth Watson Jo Weston

• Mwai Kumwenda

• Fiona Themann

• Tharjini Sivalingam

Melbourne Vixens

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

Melissa Bragg Kelsey Browne Matilda Garrett Molly Jovic Maggie Lind

Kelsie Rainbow Gabrielle Sinclair Micaela Wilson

Award winners

Margaret Caldow Trophy The Championship MVP award is named after Margaret Caldow.

Season	Player	Team
2009	Brooke Thompson	VU Western Lightning
2010
2011^[56]	Melinda Cranston	Boroondara Genesis
2012	Caitlyn Strachan	Yarra Valley Grammar Ariels
	Mwai Kumwenda	Peninsula Waves
	Helen Barclay	Monash University Central
2013	Caitlyn Strachan	Yarra Valley Grammar Ariels
	Brooke Thompson	VU Western Lightning
2014	Chloe Watson	City West Falcons
2015	Kathleen Knott	City West Falcons
2016	Maggie Lind	City West Falcons
2017	Micaela Wilson	North East Blaze
2018
2019^[57]	Julia Woolley	Geelong Cougars
2020	Not awarded
2021^[58]	Julia Woolley	Geelong Cougars
	Maggie Lind	City West Falcons
2022^[59]	Nyah Allen	North East Blaze

Notes

• 2012 award was shared.
• 2013 award was shared.
• 2021 award was shared.

Player of the Championship Grand Final

Season	Player	Team
2009	Ashlee Howard	Boroondara Genesis
2010
2011
2012	Christie Barnes	City West Falcons
2013	Elizabeth Watson	City West Falcons
2014	Leah Percy	Southern Saints
2015	Sarah Yule	Boroondara Express
2016	Dani Stewart	Melbourne University Lightning
2017	Micaela Wilson	North East Blaze
2018
2019	Vanessa Augustini	Geelong Cougars
2022 ^[60]	Zoe Davies	City West Falcons

Main sponsors

	Years
Holden Cruze^[61] ^[62]	2009–2011
Devine Homes	2012–2013
Bupa^[63] ^[64]	2018–2020
No sponsor	2021-current

Notes and References

1. Web site: Victorian Netball League. vic.netball.com.au. 14 June 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200614153437/https://vic.netball.com.au/victorian-netball-league. 14 June 2020. live.
2. Web site: Netball Victoria – Annual Report 2009. Netball Victoria. https://web.archive.org/web/20210112224117/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/netball-wp-assets/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2017/10/06164500/NV-Annual-Report-2009_reduced-size2.pdf. 12 January 2021. 14 September 2020.
3. Web site: The talk is over. www.bna.org.au. 15 June 2020. 9 March 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20200318210845/https://bna.org.au/images/stories/Annual_VNL/LEV050.pdf. 18 March 2020. live.
4. Web site: Pride's bid to stay in Victorian Netball League. www.thecourier.com.au. 15 June 2020. 20 February 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20200615133437/https://www.thecourier.com.au/story/2100716/prides-bid-to-stay-in-victorian-netball-league/. 15 June 2020. live.
5. Web site: City West Falcons. vic.netball.com.au. 14 June 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200614153700/https://vic.netball.com.au/city-west-falcons. 14 June 2020. live.
6. Web site: Falcons take wing. starcommunity.com.au. 15 June 2020. 2 March 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20200615205533/https://starcommunity.com.au/star/02-03-2010/falcons-take-wing/. 15 June 2020. live.
7. Web site: City West Falcons embrace the red, white and blue. wyndham.starweekly.com.au. 15 June 2020. 7 April 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20200615150524/https://wyndham.starweekly.com.au/uncategorized/1835656-city-west-falcons-embrace-the-red-white-and-blue/. 15 June 2020. live.
8. Web site: 2012 Annual Report – Netball Victoria – Melbourne Vixens. Netball Victoria. https://web.archive.org/web/20210112130347/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/netball-wp-assets/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2013/09/06163159/Annual-Report-2012_Online.pdf. 12 January 2021. 22 August 2020.
9. Web site: Western rivals collide. wordpress.com. 14 June 2020. 11 August 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20200617070410/https://brittanyshanahan.wordpress.com/2012/08/11/western-rivals-collide/. 17 June 2020. live.
10. Web site: Netball Victoria – Annual Report 2013. Netball Victoria. https://web.archive.org/web/20210110234719/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/netball-wp-assets/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2013/09/06164114/NV_AR_FA_Digital-1.pdf. 10 January 2021. 9 July 2020.
11. Web site: VNL: City West Falcons soar to VNL win. starweekly.com.au. 15 June 2020. 5 August 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20200615195030/https://brimbanknorthwest.starweekly.com.au/uncategorized/1683456-vnl-city-west-falcons-soar-to-vnl-win/. 15 June 2020. live.
12. Web site: Netball Victoria – 2018 Annual Report. vic.netball.com.au. 10 January 2021.
13. Web site: Victorian Netball League: City West Falcons beat Geelong Cougars in grand final. www.heraldsun.com.au. 14 June 2020. 3 September 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180904130354/https://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/north-west/sport/victorian-netball-league-city-west-falcons-beat-geelong-cougars-in-grand-final/news-story/779b35bda86e2f9c74aa15daebb1a3e0. 4 September 2018. live.
14. Web site: Victorian Fury team named. vic.netball.com.au. 16 June 2020. 18 March 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200616155609/https://vic.netball.com.au/news/victorian-fury-team-named-0. 16 June 2020. live.
15. Web site: 2020 Team. vic.netball.com.au. 16 June 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200616224931/https://vic.netball.com.au/2020-team. 16 June 2020. live.
16. Web site: Victorian Fury Selection Policy. vic.netball.com.au. 16 June 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200617204948/https://vic.netball.com.au/sites/vic/files/2020-01/Victorian-Fury-Selection-Policy-Document-2020.pdf. 17 June 2020. live.
17. Web site: Boroondara Express. www.bna.org.au. 14 June 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200614160223/https://www.bna.org.au/vnl. 14 June 2020. live.
18. Web site: Boroondara Express. vic.netball.com.au. 14 June 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200614153603/https://vic.netball.com.au/boroondara-express. 14 June 2020. live.
19. Web site: Casey Demons Netball. caseydemonsnetball.vic.netball.com.au. 14 June 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200614160211/http://caseydemonsnetball.vic.netball.com.au/. 14 June 2020. live.
20. Web site: Casey Demons. vic.netball.com.au. 14 June 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200614153611/https://vic.netball.com.au/casey-demons. 14 June 2020. live.
21. Web site: Casey joins Victorian Netball League. www.melbournefc.com.au. 14 June 2020. 19 September 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20200614220928/https://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/254701/casey-joins-victorian-netball-league. 14 June 2020. live.
22. Web site: Geelong Netball Club. geelongnetball.com.au. 14 June 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200626161738/https://geelongnetball.com.au/. 26 June 2020. live.
23. Web site: Geelong Cougars. vic.netball.com.au. 14 June 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200614153627/https://vic.netball.com.au/geelong-cougars. 14 June 2020. live.
24. Web site: Hawks Netball Club. hawksnetballclub.com.au. 14 June 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200614163422/http://hawksnetballclub.com.au/. 14 June 2020. live.
25. Web site: Hawks Netball. vic.netball.com.au. 14 June 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200614153635/https://vic.netball.com.au/hawks-netball. 14 June 2020. live.
26. Web site: Hawks expand their wings into netball. www.hawthornfc.com.au. 15 June 2020. 19 March 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20200615150526/https://www.hawthornfc.com.au/news/465404/hawks-expand-their-wings-into-netball. 15 June 2020. live.
27. Web site: Melbourne University Lightning – Our History. mulightning-dpga.squarespace.com. 17 June 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200618182832/https://mulightning-dpga.squarespace.com/our-history. 18 June 2020. live.
28. Web site: Melbourne University Lightning. vic.netball.com.au. 14 June 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200614174636/https://vic.netball.com.au/melbourne-university-lightning. 14 June 2020. live.
29. Web site: Melbourne University Sport – Netball. sport.unimelb.edu.au. 15 June 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200615143941/https://sport.unimelb.edu.au/clubs/netball. 15 June 2020. live.
30. Web site: North East Blaze Netball Club. www.northeastblazenetball.com.au. 14 June 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200313181943/http://www.northeastblazenetball.com.au/. 13 March 2020. live.
31. Web site: North East Blaze. vic.netball.com.au. 14 June 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200614153656/https://vic.netball.com.au/north-east-blaze. 14 June 2020. live.
32. Web site: Peninsula Waves. peninsulawaves.com.au/. 14 June 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200306062803/http://peninsulawaves.com.au/. 6 March 2020. live.
33. Web site: Peninsula Waves. vic.netball.com.au. 14 June 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200614173617/https://vic.netball.com.au/peninsula-waves. 14 June 2020. live.
34. Web site: Wilson Storage Southern Saints. baysidenetballclub.com. 14 June 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200617070410/http://baysidenetballclub.com/southern-saints/. 17 June 2020. live.
35. Web site: Wilson Storage Southern Saints. vic.netball.com.au. 14 June 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200614153658/https://vic.netball.com.au/wilson-storage-southern-saints. 14 June 2020. live.
36. Web site: New era for netball. www.smh.com.au. 15 June 2020. 11 August 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20200616183820/https://www.smh.com.au/education/new-era-for-netball-20140807-3d9pf.html. 16 June 2020. live.
37. Web site: Ballarat's exit from VNL would be hugely detrimental: Vixens' Tegan Caldwell. www.thecourier.com.au. 15 June 2020. 26 June 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20200615143636/https://www.thecourier.com.au/story/2379997/ballarats-exit-from-vnl-would-be-hugely-detrimental-vixens-tegan-caldwell/. 15 June 2020. live.
38. Web site: Sovereigns unsuccessful in its bid for Victorian Netball League licence. www.thecourier.com.au. 15 June 2020. 6 September 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20200615140008/https://www.thecourier.com.au/story/5629501/sovereigns-unsuccessful-in-its-bid-for-victorian-netball-league-licence/. 15 June 2020. live.
39. Web site: 2016 Victorian Netball League Guide. www.pixelninjacreative.com.au. 14 June 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200615022507/https://www.pixelninjacreative.com.au/articles/2016-victorian-netball-league. 15 June 2020. live.
40. Web site: Netball: new on-court leader for Sovereigns. www.thecourier.com.au. 12 June 2020. 3 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20200612202112/https://www.thecourier.com.au/story/3768235/lawson-gets-sovereigns-captaincy-role/. 12 June 2020. live.
41. Web site: Netball Victoria – Annual Report 2014. vic.netball.com.au. 28 August 2020.
42. Web site: VNL GF: City West Falcons v Southern Saints. starweekly.com.au. 15 June 2020. 3 July 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20200615193439/https://brimbanknorthwest.starweekly.com.au/sport/1805612-gallery-video-vnl-gf-city-west-falcons-v-southern-saints/. 15 June 2020. live.
43. Web site: Netball Victoria – Annual Report 2015. vic.netball.com.au. 29 August 2020.
44. Web site: Success for Boroondara Express. www.latrobevalleyexpress.com.au. 14 June 2020. 18 June 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20200615022350/http://www.latrobevalleyexpress.com.au/story/3150207/success-for-boroondara-express/. 15 June 2020. live.
45. Web site: Netball Victoria – 2016 Annual Report. vic.netball.com.au. 10 January 2021.
46. Web site: VNL Grand Finals Report. vic.netball.com.au. 15 June 2020. 28 August 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20200615184051/https://vic.netball.com.au/news/vnl-grand-finals-report. 15 June 2020. live.
47. Web site: Annual Report 2017 – Netball Victoria . vic.netball.com.au. 8 January 2021.
48. Web site: Blaze and Cougars VNL Premiers. vic.netball.com.au. 15 June 2020. 19 August 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20200615190129/https://vic.netball.com.au/news/blaze-and-cougars-vnl-premiers. 15 June 2020. live.
49. Web site: Netball Victoria – 2019 Annual Report. vic.netball.com.au. 10 January 2021.
50. Web site: Bupa VNL Grand Final results. vic.netball.com.au. 15 June 2020. 14 August 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20200615190129/https://vic.netball.com.au/news/bupa-vnl-grand-final-results. 15 June 2020. live.
51. Web site: Casey falls at the final hurdle. cranbournenews.starcommunity.com.au. 14 June 2020. 15 August 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20200615014415/https://cranbournenews.starcommunity.com.au/sport/2019-08-15/casey-falls-at-the-final-hurdle/. 15 June 2020. live.
52. Web site: 2019 VNL Champions. geelongnetball.com.au. 14 June 2020. 19 August 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20200615015044/https://geelongnetball.com.au/2019-vnl-champions/. 15 June 2020. live.
53. Web site: VNL 2022: Season wrap . Netball Victoria . 4 November 2022 . 8 September 2022.
54. Web site: City West Falcons claim epic Grand Final win . Netball Victoria . 4 November 2022 . 11 August 2022.
55. Web site: Vixens & Magpies. www.bna.org.au. 16 June 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200614160323/https://www.bna.org.au/vnl/melbourne-vixens. 14 June 2020. live.
56. Web site: Staindl . Gavin . Never say never again . Pakenham Gazette . 7 November 2022 . 23 November 2011.
57. Web site: Bupa VNL Awards Night - live updates . Netball Victoria . 4 November 2022 . 21 August 2019.
58. Web site: Netball Victoria Annual Report 2021 . Netball Victoria . 4 November 2022.
59. Web site: 2022 VNL Awards announced . Netball Victoria . 4 November 2022 . 12 August 2022.
60. Web site: City West Falcons claim epic Grand Final win . Netball Victoria . 7 November 2022 . 11 August 2022.
61. Web site: See More VNL Netball in Round 17 of the Holden Cruze Cup!. sportstg.com. 19 July 2010. 13 January 2021.
62. Web site: Holden Cruze Cup - Round 8. sportstg.com. 7 May 2011. 13 January 2021.
63. Web site: Bupa announced as new major partner of the Victorian Netball League. vic.netball.com.au. 15 June 2020. 9 April 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20200615190132/https://vic.netball.com.au/news/bupa-announced-new-major-partner-victorian-netball-league. 15 June 2020. live.
64. Web site: Bupa announces new major partnership with Netball Victoria with VNL naming rights. Bupa. 15 June 2020. 9 April 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20200615133439/https://media.bupa.com.au/bupa-announces-new-major-partnership-with-netball-victoria-with-vnl-naming-rights/. 15 June 2020. live.