Live stream: Stars v Cougars, Express v Saints, Victorian Netball League, Round 21

Elisa Hall shot at an incredible 98 per cent as Geelong kept their slim 23&U VNL finals hopes alive, while Boroondara Express continued their excellent Championship season. Catch the REPLAYS.

Isabelle Hodgson has slotted 36 goals to propel the Boroondara Express to a 54-46 win over Wilson Storage Southern Saints in round 21 of the Victorian Netball League Championship competition.

Meanwhile, 46 goals from Elisa Hall has lifted the Geelong Cougars to a 61-43 win over the Gippsland Stars in round 21 of the 23-and-under Victorian Netball League.

Hall missed just one shot on her way to the huge tally while Kaitlin Gladman added 15 to aid her teammate.

REPLAYS

Boroondara Express v Wilson Storage Southern Saints

Gippsland Stars v Geelong Cougars (23&Under)

PREVIEW

Geelong Cougars’ 23-and-under VNL finals aspirations might not be in their own hands but captain Olivia Taylor is determined to fight until the end for a top-four berth.

A 13-goal loss to top-three North East Blaze last round made the road harder for the Cougars, who now need to win their final two games – starting with Gippsland Stars in Wednesday’s penultimate round – while hoping City West Falcons and Peninsula Waves lose both of theirs.

The Cougars’ clash with the Stars will be live streamed on KommunityTV from 7pm, followed by the Championship match between Boroondara Express and Southern Saints.

“I think we haven’t taken it (finals) out completely out of our goals but I think either way with other teams results, it’s just making sure we still have a really good, strong finish to the season and try and uphold our goals and all our team stuff in good stead,” Taylor said.

The 22-year-old defender, who was part of Geelong’s division one title-winning side last year, has embraced the 23-and-under captaincy which tasked her with leading a new-look team in a new division.

“Last year I was a vice-captain (of division one) … this year I get called a bit of the mum of the group but I’ve been really happy with that role,” Taylor said.

“I’ve really enjoyed being that role model and someone the girls can look up to and hopefully some of the values I’ve tried to instil will stay in the team for years to come.”

Geelong Cougars captain Olivia Taylor. Picture: Grant Treeby

Despite managing plantar fasciitis in her left foot, Taylor and her strong voice have continued to be a steadying presence in the Cougars’ versatile back-court, featuring the likes of Charli Hoey and Mia Aitken, as well as first-year Cougar Keeley Smith and wing defence Zoey Shaw.

With Hoey and Aitken’s state and national commitments, that flexibility has proven invaluable at times this year.

“The defence end has been really good the whole year regardless of what combination has been in there,” Taylor said.

Though the Cougars have endured an up-and-down season (10-10 and just 1-5 from their last six), Essendon-based Taylor pointed to their 33-goal win over Bendigo Strikers a fortnight ago as one of their best of the season and one to build on in the final two rounds.

“That game definitely displayed just coming together, really making sure we have confidence in each other and ourselves,” Taylor said, highlighting coach Mel Savage’s mantras of ‘control’ and ‘confidence’.

“In our own individual positions, attack end, midcourt, defence end, just making sure we all play our role, it’s always another thing that is spoken about, if every person on court and the bench plays their role, we come away with that win.”