Live stream: City West Falcons take on Boroondara Express in VNL Championship Grand Final

There is no denying City West Falcons’ place as the modern-day VNL powerhouse after they deservedly won their third consecutive Championship grand final. Watch the full REPLAY.

City West Falcons’ Victorian Netball League dominance has been crystallised with a third straight championship title.

The Falcons were too strong for Boroondara Express, running out 64-53 winners on Wednesday night, though the Express put up a fight to get within three goals early in the fourth quarter.

REPLAY

Championship grand final – City West Falcons v Boroondara Express

Watch the full relay in the window above.

It’s ours: City West Falcons teammates embrace after their amazing achievement. Picture: Meg Saultry

Falcons head coach Marg Lind said her team, who had lost just one game in 2024, had been “sensational” this year, though she never could have imagined clinching a three-peat.

“I really wanted them to get the win and I’m happy they did,” Lind said.

Wing defence Soli Ropati, who has been involved in all three titles, said the “positive vibes” off the court had helped the Falcons’ on court, with deafening crowd support cheering the Falcons home.

“I’m just surrounded by amazing girls, and I always say I’m getting carried, they push me to be better and I try and return the favour,” Ropati said.

“Every year, they (the crowd) are like our eighth player and the players, we feed off that energy.

“It’s great, as you see tonight, for them to get behind us, it’s such an amazing club to be part of.”

Lethal weapon Jane Cook puts up a goal in the fourth as the Falcons steady the ship. Picture: Meg Saultry

Captain Maggie Lind was instrumental in getting the Falcons off to a promising start. Picture: Meg Saultry

The Falcons flew out to a hot start, up by five goals at quarter time and 11 by the main break as midcourters Montana Holmes — who was judged best on court — and captain Maggie Lind, alongside starting goal attack Olivia Cameron, found sharpshooter Jane Cook in the circle with ease.

“We probably didn’t defensively turn enough over tonight but we know we’re capable of scoring big numbers so that really got us there in the end,” Lind said.

City West Falcons get together with their 'extra player' - their fans - as a long night of celebrations beckons. Picture: Meg Saultry

Ropati made some big intercepts at critical times off wing attack, while Lind deployed Uneeq Palavi deftly into goal attack for Cameron at times to keep the Express’ defence on their toes.

“When we needed a bit more movement we put Olivia on, when we needed a bit more strength, we put Pav on,” Lind said.

Wing attack Maggie Lind looks to send her team forward again. Picture: Meg Saultry

The Falcons kept their momentum early in the third — running out to as much as a 13-goal lead — before the Express clicked into gear, gritty goal attack Ruby Barkmeyer leading the way to peg it back to just six goals at the final break.

The Express also made their changes, interchanging Ruby Pekin Schlicht for Sophie Shoebridge in goal defence, with Pekin Schlicht taking several crucial second-half intercepts as Express’ defence worked hard to double team Cook and take her out of the contest.

“We took our foot off the pedal a little bit, they changed their strategy,” Lind said.

The Express continued their run into the fourth, getting back within three goals with 10 minutes to go, as the Falcons fought for as many defensive stops as possible to stem the flow.

Cook returned to her first half dominance late in the game, as the Falcons fought through to extend the lead back out to seven with less than five minutes to go before putting the foot down again to put it well beyond doubt.

Winners are grinners: City West Falcons after their impressive VNL victory. Picture: Meg Saultry

PREVIEW

City West Falcons coach Marg Lind doesn’t underestimate the difference Boroondara Express goaler Ruby Barkmeyer will make in the VNL championship grand final.

In a rematch of last year’s decider, the Falcons have a three-peat in their sights while for Express, redemption is on the mind after last year’s six-goal loss as a first championship title in nine years sits up for grabs.

Catch the VNL’s night of nights LIVE on KommunityTV from 6.50pm on Wednesday with the 23/U decider. The main event starts at 8.20pm.

Check the full LIVE STREAM schedule below.

Lind believed, while some would see Boroondara as underdogs after the Falcons’ dominant 22-goal qualifying final win over Express a fortnight ago, she did not, with Barkmeyer a late omission in that game.

“She’s obviously one of their more experienced players and offers a bit of leadership in the group. Without her that made them a bit vulnerable,” Lind said of Barkmeyer.

“I wouldn’t take anything away from our semi win, and not expect they’re going to be twice as good.

The Falcons v Express battle is always tough.

“I think we have to be super prepared for what’s coming.”

Boroondara Express co-coach Eliza Allen agreed Barkmeyer, who returned for the preliminary finals, was an integral part of their line-up.

“Ruby’s played with a core group of our athletes for a very long time, they know each other’s game so well and she brings that calming effect to us on the court,” Allen said.

“She’s just so well-rounded and hardworking … she’s so strong.

“I think with our full team, that we’ve been training all together for the last couple weeks has made a huge, positive impact for our team.”

Lind said Express was a “tricky” proposition to come up against, with a number of their players, including Alahria Smith and Ruby Pekin Schlicht, ex-Falcons.

“They’ve had different combinations against us this year and in last year’s final,” Lind said.

“They have lots more possibilities than they’ve had in the past.

“They can run Ruby in goal attack or wing attack, they can run Zali (Anderson) or Alahria in there, so there are lots of variations to contend with.”

Allen said she and fellow co-coach Wendy Jacobsen had tried to instil variety and unpredictability in their player’s games this year, while bench depth had also been a strength.

Boroondara Express star Ruby Barkmeyer

“We have no hesitation in playing all our players for different reasons,” she said.

After losing experienced midcourter Casey Adamson after round 3 due to a meniscus surgery, Allen praised the playing group for sticking together, with Smith, Anderson and Taylah Brown working together to cover the different midcourt positions.

“We feel losing Casey is huge,” Allen said.

“She’s one of our club leaders but she remains to have a huge impact on our team, she attends trainings and games.”

However, City also have several combinations at their disposal, too, with Uneeq Palavi back after making a SSN debut this year, while the experienced Olivia Cameron is another attacking option after joining mid-season to cover Palavi’s unavailability.

Meanwhile, defensive midcourter Lucia Fauonuku returns from injury for the grand final.

“Who knows, we’re a bit of an unknown quantity as well,” Lind said.

The astute mentor also didn’t shy from the fact the Falcons had tried to use rolling substitutes to their advantage this year.

“Roll them at the right time, that’s the key,” she said.

“I wouldn’t say we’d necessarily start the same (as the semi final) but in saying that we know what works, we know when it works so we just have to make sure we pull the trigger at the right time.”

Express or Falcons: Who will take the decider?

For Express, a one-goal win over the Falcons in the season-opener offers confidence their rivals are beatable, but they will enter the grand final knowing nothing but their best is needed.

“When you give Falcons an inch they take a mile very quickly and punish you on the scoreboard,” Allen said.

“It’s a matter of us sticking to our game plan for that full four quarters and we think, and believe, if we can do that we’re in for a chance.”