Live stream: Boroondara believing in Victorian Netball League finals dream; big off-season movers

One Victorian Netball League team who missed the finals last year is dreaming big for season 2023, but they aren’t the only ones with stars in their eyes. Meet the big movers and shakers.

Boroondara coach Kathleen Knott has tipped a runaway Express to take the Victorian Netball League by storm in 2023.

A young team coming of age in the Premier League, with the addition of premiership-winning defender Sarah Szczykulski from the Falcons, the Express have set their expectations high for this season.

The Express are expected to be one of the biggest movers and shakers of the VNL season, which will be live streamed on KommunityTV again in 2023.

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The girls from Melbourne’s eastern suburbs, who will feature on the live streams in Round 2 against Ariels, have their sights set on the VNL post-season after finishing eighth last season.

The captains of the Victorian Netball League. Pic: Grant Treeby/Netball Victoria

“The expectation we have set for ourselves is to be there and to be in finals,” Knott said.

“We’ve been together, we’ve built those connections and we’ve got more experience.

“For our group, the average age is like 22 with two older girls who will provide the experience to the group.

“We had a few close calls last year where the girls only lost by one or two, so now the challenge will be for the girls to get over the line and turn those into wins.”

While they remain a young squad, there is plenty of high-level experience in the Express ranks with several players on training contracts with Super Netball clubs.

Young guns Ruby Barkmeyer and Taylah Brown have been training alongside the Melbourne Vixens top side, while Casey Adamson has been splitting her time between the Express and Collingwood Magpies training bases.

Big things are expected of Boroondara Express this year.

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Despite having an inauspicious season in 2022, Knott is hopeful opposition sides at the midway point of the year will be talking about the improvement and the ‘threat’ of the Express.

“I always set the bar of expectation high,” she said.

“I have been a part of Melbourne Vixens where we have won a premiership, I have been a part of Fury where we have gone through seasons undefeated.

“For me, I know what these girls are capable of and I want them to have that belief in themselves and go and put it out on the court.

“We know the quality of the competition, but I guess we do want the clubs to be talking about how much of a threat we are.”

MOVING PIECES

The Express aren’t the only team expected to raise the bar to contend with reigning premiers City West Falcons and grand finalists Geelong this season.

There has been several high profile players making moves in the off-season as clubs aim to get a fast start to the season from Wednesday.

Fiona Fowler is making a return.

Former Scottish international Fiona Fowler and Shae Brown, the niece of former Essendon fan favourite Mark Bolton, have signed on with the Melbourne University Lightning for this season.

Former Australian Diamond, Renae Ingles, who made her return to the VNL last season has signed on again at the Casey Demons - and is hoped to make a cameo in the middle of the year.

The Falcons have felt the pinch of their premiership win, with Caitlin Hill joining Szczykulski at the exit door, as she takes up an opportunity with North East Blaze.

But City West have aimed to strengthen their back court with the addition of Collingwood Magpies training partner Sienna Allen.

Melbourne Vixens Academy member Ashlee Barnett is set to suit up for the Wilson Storage Southern Saints alongside fellow academy member Mia van Wyk.