Victorian Netball League 2025 live stream: North East Blaze v Bendigo Strikers, Round 5
Rising second-year franchise Bendigo Strikers took a major scalp over North East Blaze in round five of the VNL. Catch the REPLAY here.
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It was indeed a case of third time’s the charm for Bendigo Strikers on Wednesday night with the second-year franchise knocking off North East Blaze.
After back-to-back one-goal losses against last year’s top two VNL sides, the Strikers showed they had learned from those defeats with a tight 59-55 win in round 5.
Despite a 34-goal showing from Blaze star Nyah Allen, the underdogs managed to hold on despite a 14-goal final term from the Blaze.
WATCH THE CHAMPIONSHIP REPLAY ABOVE AND THE 23 & U BELOW
The four-goal loss was North East’s first for the season while the Strikers notched up win number two.
In 23 & U action, it was North East Blaze that defeated Bendigo 72-59.
REPLAY
North East Blaze v Bendigo Strikers (23 & U)
PREVIEW
Bendigo Strikers head coach Tracey Brereton is taking a “glass half full” approach to back-to-back one-goal losses against last year’s two best Victorian Netball League teams.
But the second-year franchise will be hoping third time’s the charm when it gets another crack at one of last year’s top four in North East Blaze on Wednesday night.
The VNL double-header will be exclusively live streamed on KommunityTV from 7.15pm.
With a 9-11 record in their first year in championship, the Strikers have announced themselves as a serious contender in 2025 after pushing last year’s runners-up Boroondara Express and reigning premiers City West Falcons within one goal each in their past two fixtures.
“You can look at it two ways – glass half full or half empty,” Brereton said.
“Half empty, we’ve gone down by one in both games and are disappointed, or half full, look at the sort of netball we’re playing and putting out there.
“We keep playing the way we are, hopefully we can cement it – we know we can match it with the top.
“These are the ones now (North East Blaze) … these are the ones we need to win if we’re going to be serious contenders.”
While many predicted Bendigo could be on the rise after bringing in a handful of big-name recruits, it hasn’t been all smooth sailing.
Brereton was forced to cover three changes to her initial October list after Kristiana Manu’a earned a Super Netball chance at Sunshine Coast Lightning and goaler Milly Brock (health reasons) and young gun Harriett Gall (ACL) became unavailable.
“We’ve probably done pretty well to recoup after losing those guys,” Brereton said.
Melbourne Mavericks’ new training partner and Strikers recruit Emma Walters has slotted in well and brought her smarts through the midcourt, while Brereton has turned to former two-time WNBL champion and local Bendigo netball star Gabe Richards to fill the void left by Brock.
The former Bendigo Spirit forward, now 40, has dominated at local level in recent years, winning two A-grade premierships at Elmore.
With the 6’2” goal shooter sinking 107 goals in her first three appearances for the Strikers – including 38 against Boroondara – Brereton went with a different strategy against the Falcons last week, utilising a moving goal circle with Teal Hocking and Bridgette Furphy, Richards rolling on in the last quarter.
“We’ve got such variety in our goaling end, if we need change, we’re not taking off a goaler for another goaler to replace it with the same sort of thing,” Brereton said.
“We’ve got so much versatility with the group and Gabe just adds an extra bit to that.”
Hocking, who has been named in the Melbourne Mavericks’ inaugural SSN reserves team under Brereton as coach, starred with 42 goals at 91.3 per cent against a tough Falcons defence.
“What more can you ask from your goalers when they’re shooting 85-plus per cent,” Bretreton said.
“I just feel so good with balls in Teal’s hands.”
Meanwhile, inaugural Strikers skipper Meg Williams is building back up from a bad run of injuries last season, Chelsea Sartori taking on the captaincy as Williams focuses on her return to court.
The midcourter played a half in win against Peninsula Waves in round 1 and got minutes against Boroondara Express in round 3.
“Number one (is) just getting her back on the court and playing some good netball,” Brereton said of Williams.
Up against the red-hot North East Blaze – who have won their last three and drawn their season-opener – Brereton is expecting a “ripping” round 5 encounter.
“I just hope we’re the ones on the other side of the ledger this time,” she said.
Originally published as Victorian Netball League 2025 live stream: North East Blaze v Bendigo Strikers, Round 5
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