Victorian Netball League 2025 live stream: Casey Demons v City West Falcons, Round 3

City West Falcons standout shooter Jane Cook continues to set the league on fire with her shooting, proving her side unbeatable in the competition so far. Watch the replays.

The City West Falcons continued their hot start to the season taking down a persistent Casey Demons side 80 - 62.

What started as a back-and-forth battle between goal shooters ended in yet another dominant display for towering Falcons shooter Jane Cook, racking up 65 goals on 98 per cent shooting.

City Wests’ speedy midcourters came out firing, lobbing the ball up to Cook quickly in the first quarter.

WATCH THE CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH ABOVE, SCROLL DOWN FOR THE 23-AND-UNDER REPLAY

The Demons kept up with the reigning premiers, with shooters Emma Ryde and young gun Piuti Laban providing fancy footwork to get the ball to one another in the circle.

A late 5 - 1 run in the quarter put the Falcons up heading into the break.

An energised second quarter saw the defending champions’ momentum continue as their passing and shooting accuracy increased after winning more ball in the centre third.

The Demons struggled to keep up with possession as goal defence Sophie Hanrahan kept Ryde smothered and unable to get the ball inside the circle.

The final term saw the Demons keeping pace with the Falcons on both ends of the court.

Wing attack Leigh Taylor became an offensive facilitator, taking control of the pace for her team on offence.

While centre Ashley Morris was an absolute workhorse against Montana Holmes on defence.

Despite the loss, the Demons kept the Falcons to their lowest score of season while simultanously achieving their highest through three rounds.

Replay: Casey Demons v City West Falcons (23&U)

A hungry Casey Demons side has held off the City West Falcons in a down-to-the-wire thriller winning 52-51.

While the Demons led for majority of the match, the Falcons weren’t going down with a fight after reclaiming the lead in the fourth quarter.

A hectic midcourt saw the Falcons get better defensively before the Demons slowed the pace to regain control of the game.

Casey showed off their bench depth with shooter Millie Barrientos making key decisions in the circle to help maintain the lead.

Goal defender Victoria Downward came up clutch in the aerial battle for possession, plucking the match saving rebound out of the air to keep the Demons ahead and ultimately win the game.

The Falcons will look to bounce back in a highly contested matchup against the Bendigo Strikers next week.

PREVIEW

It’s become the age-old question in the Victorian Netball League – how do you stop a team like City West Falcons, and a goal shooter who can sink up to 70 goals a game?

For a building Casey Demons, the prospect of facing the three-time reigning premiers and attacking star Jane Cook on Wednesday night isn’t without challenges.

The Demons and Falcons will face off live and exclusive on KommunityTV in a championship and 23-and-under double-header from 7pm.

Casey’s new defensive recruit Georgia Whittle (foot stress fracture) is still 6-8 weeks away from a club debut, while attacking player Sinead Lumsden (rolled ankle) is expected to undergo a fitness test after missing the Demons’ first win of the season on Sunday.

But while the three-day turnaround isn’t ideal, Casey’s hard-fought win over Southern Saints, who boasted their own sharpshooter in Rahni Samason, in round two should give the side a level of confidence to work with.

Casey captain Sacha McDonald didn’t shy away from the tough task of playing the Falcons, but was hopeful her side would issue a test to Marg Lind’s squad, including its star shooter.

Cook, who broke the 1000-goal glass ceiling last year, is already on her way to repeating her feat in 2025, shooting 76 goals (at 100 per cent) and 65 (at 94 per cent) across the first two rounds.

Casey Demons captain Sacha McDonald during the 2024 Victorian Netball League season. Picture: Netball Victoria/Grant Treeby

“It’s the biggest challenge for every team throughout the whole season, and for multiple seasons now in a row,” McDonald said of playing the Falcons.

“Jane Cook is such a target, and you have to focus on her but sometimes you can’t beat her and you have to try and find other ways across the court to slow it down and be a nuisance.”

Casey head coach Steve Murray agreed, revealing the Demons would need to bring “full team defensive effort right down the court” to counter Cook and the Falcons’ many weapons.

“It’s the million-dollar question in netball – how do you stop someone who is 6’6”, 6’7”, it’s like a Jhaniele Fowler, they’re super hard to stop and look, credit to Jane, she’s really improved as a netballer over the last few years, she doesn’t miss, she takes great high balls up there now.” Murray said.

FRESH BLOOD BUOYS DEMONS

Murray has enlisted the services of ex-Australian Diamond and Super Netball goaler Erin Bell to lead Casey’s championship pursuits this season.

The head coach was confident the playing group needed a consistent weekly presence from their coach as his work outside the VNL requires increasing interstate and overseas travel commitments

“Who better than Erin Bell?,” Murray said.

The 37-year-old Bell has previously played for and held specialist and assistant coaching roles at Casey, and – after welcoming two kids – is now looking to develop her coaching career.

“Everyone wants to do well for her and she’s obviously such an icon of the game, you don’t want to disappoint her either,” McDonald said of playing under Bell.

“I’ve certainly learnt so much from her already this season.”

Casey Demons coach Steve Murray during the 2024 Victorian Netball League season. Picture: Netball Victoria/Grant Treeby

Meanwhile, McDonald’s return to the club last season, after a two-year stint playing netball in the UK, has brought a strength in leadership on-court, the 25-year-old also willing to step into any position asked of her.

A trained goal attack, McDonald was tasked with taking the WA bib, as well as centre on occasion – an undertaking which also helped re-spark McDonald’s love for the game.

“For me last year was a really good transition year (returning from the UK), I let go of all expectations of myself and I got to play and learn a new position,” she said.

“We didn’t have the season we wanted to have but I think that set us up to really learn from that year for this one.”

Finishing ninth with a 7-13 record in 2024, the Demons lost a trio of experienced players with wing defence Sharni Lambden earning her first SSN contract with NSW Swifts, while ex-Melbourne Vixens’ Tayla Honey joined VNL rivals Western Warriors along with goaler Poppy Douglass.

The Demons have turned to promotion from within, particularly in their attacking end with the elevation of young gun Piuti Laban.

Laban impressed both McDonald and Murray on Sunday playing out the full four quarters in goal attack, shooting 14 goals at 87 per cent, alongside experienced goal shooter Emma Ryde (45 at 91.8).

“She really stood up and drove that attack end,” Murray said of Laban.

“Her combination now working with Sacha and Emma and a couple new guys in that attack end has been really good to watch.”

Originally published as Victorian Netball League 2025 live stream: Casey Demons v City West Falcons, Round 3