2025 Victorian Netball League live stream: Watch two preliminary finals live
The finals-harderned City West Falcons had it much closer than they would have liked in a huge preliminary final clash against Boroondara Express. Watch the replay here.
The City West Falcons are through to the Victorian Netball League grand final for yet another year after taking down Boroondara Express 61-55.
The win marks the Falcons fourth straight grand final appearance.
The Express weren’t going to hand it over easily, sticking with the undefeated side for the entire match.
WATCH CHAMPIONSHIP REPLAY IN PLAYER ABOVE, 23&U REPLAY BELOW
Goal shooter Ruby Barkmeyer was on fire early, drilling shots from range and helping her side end the first quarter one point ahead.
The Express continued to apply pressure on the defence, doubling the lead to two at the half - 45-43.
But the finals hardened Falcons knew exactly when to put their foot down.
Lead by their star shooter Jane Cook with 53 goals, the Falcons would not be denied the lead any longer.
Shooting partner and goal attack Madelyn Romios ended the third quarter with a huge statement buzzer beater to keep the energy flowing for the Falcons.
Entertainment inside the shooting circle was a at a premium with a must-watch matchup between Falcons defender Sophie Hanrahan and Express’ Barkmeyer.
Contstant pressure saw Hanrahan win the ball more often, making sure the Express couldn’t mount a late comeback.
It’s a bittersweet finish for the Express who fall short again after losing to the Falcons in the grand final for the past two seasons.
The Falcons will now enter the grand final against an eager Hawks side who defeated them just two rounds ago by 11 points.
North East Blaze v Melbourne University Lightning (23U)
Melbourne University Lightning have zapped minor premiers North East Blaze right out of the competition, beating them 64-46.
The loss marks the Blaze’s second consecutive defeat in the finals after finishing with just one loss in the regular season and sitting on top of the ladder.
Having lost to the Blaze just two weeks ago, it was a measure of revenge for the Melbourne Uni girls.
After a fairly level first half, it was all one way traffic for the Lightning coming out of the half time break.
Playing a smart game with high IQ plays, the Lightning racked up a 22-10 third quarter in what could be their highest scoring period this season.
Goal shooter Kate O’Dwyer was her usual accurate self, hitting 35 shots on nearly 95 per cent accuracy.
It wasn’t just their offence clicking but defensively goal keeper Tilly Shepard was having a huge impact game inside the circle.
The Lightning will face the Geelong Cougars in a huge grand final clash next week.
PREVIEW
A 40-game winning streak might have had to come to an end at some stage, but VNL powerhouse City West Falcons will hope a rare loss only extends to the championship semi-finals this year.
The minor premiers had what could only be described as an “off-night” in last week’s major semi-final against third-placed Hawks, who stunned the Falcons, 60-49, to earn the early grand final berth.
It’s forced the Falcons, who are chasing a flag four-peat and have lost just three games since June 2022, to reload for Wednesday’s preliminary final against second-placed Boroondara Express.
The Falcons v Express Championship matchup will be available live and exclusive on KommunityTV from 8.45pm, with the 23&U preliminary final between North East Blaze and Melbourne University Lightning to start the action from 7pm.
The Falcons have made no secret they aren’t fans of this year’s new top six finals structure, with the new system doing little to incentivise a first place finish and the Falcons finishing with a perfect 18-0 home-and-away record to sit two games clear of second-place.
As it turns out, the Falcons have had arguably the toughest run of all in finals – their three finals so far against 2nd, 3rd and 2nd again – instead of playing any of the teams ranked fourth-through-six.
Despite that challenge, Falcons coach Marg Lind conceded her squad hadn’t played at their best against the Hawks.
A “flat” training session on Sunday leading into the semi-final was followed by a lack of leadership and communication on court, as the Falcons also made an uncharacteristic 33 errors against the Hawks.
Captain Maggie Lind would also come out of the game, having deloaded in recent weeks due to a lower leg injury, in a bid to get up for the preliminary final.
“We didn’t get off to a great start, we struggled throughout the game,” Lind said.
“A really flat game from us, and Hawks played well.”
With hindsight, Lind said the Falcons’ focus leading into the game had been too heavily geared to their opponents, rather than on playing their own game.
“I’ve made personal contact with every player, and it was all the same,” she said.
“We need to refocus back on ourselves and what’s going to work well against teams.
“It was pretty positive conversations.
“Everyone was super disappointed – we haven’t lost since round 1, 2024 – so it’s something that hurts a lot.
“Last night (Sunday training), certainly a different feel to the week before and hopefully that reflects in the game.”
The Falcons haven’t lost two in a row since the opening two rounds of the 2022 season, with Lind without an answer to how her team had strung 40 consecutive wins together from round 2 last year to last month’s qualifying final, especially given the club is without premiership players Uneeq Palavi, Soli Ropali and Melissa Oloamanu this season.
“There have been games we’ve been super under the pump but we’ve come through,” Lind said.
“But I think they’re a good team, the girls get along well, they’ve got great chemistry so obviously under pressure, most of the time that gets us through.”
The Falcons are expecting a battle with Boroondara Express, despite getting the better of their rivals 72-48 in the first week of finals.
While the two clubs might have fought out the last two grand finals, this year only one will make it through to the final week.
“We got off to a great start against them last time, that’s definitely not going to happen again,” Lind said.
“I think it’s going to be a high pressure game.”
Meanwhile, the 23&Us minor premier North East Blaze’s road to a potential grand final is a similar story to the Falcons.
The Blaze lost just their second game for the year after falling agonisingly shy to fifth-placed Geelong Cougars in a one-goal semi-final last week, with Ella Bayliss’ squad now forced into a rematch against second-placed Melbourne University Lightning in Wednesday’s 23&Us preliminary final.
The Blaze defeated the Lightning, 58-47 in their qualifying final.
Originally published as 2025 Victorian Netball League live stream: Watch two preliminary finals live
