Victorian Netball League
{{Short description|Netball league in Australia}}
{{Infobox football league
|logo =
|pixels =
|caption=
|upcoming_season=2024
|founded = 2009
|teams= 11
|divisions = Championship
23 & Under
|levels = 2
|country= Australia
|region= Victoria
|champions = City West Falcons
|most successful club = City West Falcons
(7 Championship titles)
|website= [https://vic.netball.com.au/victorian-netball-league vic.netball.com.au]
}}
The Victorian Netball League (VNL) is a state netball league featuring teams from Victoria, Australia. The league is organised by Netball Victoria, with the modern league beginning in 2009. It replaced an earlier state league as the top level netball competition in Victoria. On a national level, the VNL is effectively a third-tier league, below Suncorp Super Netball and the Australian Netball Championships.
From 2009-2011, due to sponsorship and naming rights arrangements, the VNL was known as the Holden Cruze Cup. Between 2018-2020, the league was sponsored by Bupa and was known as the Bupa Victorian Netball League.
A change at the end of the 2023 season saw three divisions (Championship, Division 1 and 19 & Under) become two - with Division 1 and 19 & Under replaced with a 23 & Under division. It also saw the inclusion of new clubs [https://vic.netball.com.au/news/victorian-netball-league-names-new-clubs-2024 Bendigo Strikers, Gippsland Stars and Western Warriors]. The Stars will initially field a 23 & Under team, before entering the Championship division by 2027.
Nine existing clubs (Boroondara, Casey, City West, Geelong, Hawks, Lightning, Blaze, Waves and Saints) had their licenses renewed, with foundation club Ariels a casualty of the restructure.
The league's most successful team, City West Falcons (originally known as Hume City Falcons), have won seven Championship titles and 17 premierships in total, to the end of 2023.
History
=Foundation=
The modern league began in 2009, replacing an earlier Netball Victoria state league as the top level netball competition in Victoria. The earlier league featured eighteen teams but, after restructuring, the number was reduced to ten. The founding ten members of the new league were Ballarat Pride, Boroondara Genesis, Geelong Cougars, Hume City Falcons, Monash University Central, North East Blaze, Peninsula Waves, Southern Saints, VU Western Lightning and Yarra Valley Grammar Ariels. The league featured three divisions – Championship, Division 1 and 19 & Under. The ten teams entered a team in each of the three divisions. The new structure was designed to encourage player development.{{cite web|url=https://vic.netball.com.au/victorian-netball-league|title=Victorian Netball League|publisher=vic.netball.com.au|access-date=14 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200614153437/https://vic.netball.com.au/victorian-netball-league|archive-date=14 June 2020|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/netball-wp-assets/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2017/10/06164500/NV-Annual-Report-2009_reduced-size2.pdf|title=Netball Victoria – Annual Report 2009|work=Netball Victoria|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210112224117/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/netball-wp-assets/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2017/10/06164500/NV-Annual-Report-2009_reduced-size2.pdf|archive-date=12 January 2021|access-date=14 September 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://www.bna.org.au/images/stories/Annual_VNL/LEV050.pdf|title=The talk is over|publisher=www.bna.org.au|access-date=15 June 2020|date=9 March 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200318210845/https://bna.org.au/images/stories/Annual_VNL/LEV050.pdf|archive-date=18 March 2020|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.thecourier.com.au/story/2100716/prides-bid-to-stay-in-victorian-netball-league/|title=Pride's bid to stay in Victorian Netball League|publisher=www.thecourier.com.au|access-date=15 June 2020|date=20 February 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200615133437/https://www.thecourier.com.au/story/2100716/prides-bid-to-stay-in-victorian-netball-league/|archive-date=15 June 2020|url-status=live}}
=City West Falcons=
The league's most successful team has been City West Falcons, who have won seven Championship titles and 17 premierships in total, across three divisions.{{cite web|url=https://vic.netball.com.au/city-west-falcons|title=City West Falcons|publisher=vic.netball.com.au|access-date=14 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200614153700/https://vic.netball.com.au/city-west-falcons|archive-date=14 June 2020|url-status=live}} As Hume City Falcons, they won the inaugural Championship in 2009 and claimed it again the following year{{cite web|url=https://starcommunity.com.au/star/02-03-2010/falcons-take-wing/|title=Falcons take wing|publisher=starcommunity.com.au|access-date=15 June 2020|date=2 March 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200615205533/https://starcommunity.com.au/star/02-03-2010/falcons-take-wing/|archive-date=15 June 2020|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=City West Falcons embrace the red, white and blue|url=https://wyndham.starweekly.com.au/uncategorized/1835656-city-west-falcons-embrace-the-red-white-and-blue/|publisher=wyndham.starweekly.com.au|access-date=15 June 2020|date=7 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200615150524/https://wyndham.starweekly.com.au/uncategorized/1835656-city-west-falcons-embrace-the-red-white-and-blue/|archive-date=15 June 2020|url-status=live}} With a team that included Kathleen Knott, they won their first Championship as City West Falcons in 2012 {{Cite web|url=https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/netball-wp-assets/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2013/09/06163159/Annual-Report-2012_Online.pdf|title=2012 Annual Report – Netball Victoria – Melbourne Vixens|publisher=Netball Victoria|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210112130347/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/netball-wp-assets/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2013/09/06163159/Annual-Report-2012_Online.pdf|archive-date=12 January 2021|accessdate=22 August 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://brittanyshanahan.wordpress.com/2012/08/11/western-rivals-collide/|title=Western rivals collide|publisher=wordpress.com|access-date=14 June 2020|date=11 August 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200617070410/https://brittanyshanahan.wordpress.com/2012/08/11/western-rivals-collide/|archive-date=17 June 2020|url-status=live}} and again in 2013.{{cite web|url=https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/netball-wp-assets/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2013/09/06164114/NV_AR_FA_Digital-1.pdf|title=Netball Victoria – Annual Report 2013|publisher=Netball Victoria|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210110234719/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/netball-wp-assets/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2013/09/06164114/NV_AR_FA_Digital-1.pdf|archive-date=10 January 2021|access-date=9 July 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://brimbanknorthwest.starweekly.com.au/uncategorized/1683456-vnl-city-west-falcons-soar-to-vnl-win/|title=VNL: City West Falcons soar to VNL win|publisher=starweekly.com.au|access-date=15 June 2020|date=5 August 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200615195030/https://brimbanknorthwest.starweekly.com.au/uncategorized/1683456-vnl-city-west-falcons-soar-to-vnl-win/|archive-date=15 June 2020|url-status=live}} In 2018, Falcons won their fifth Championship title.{{cite web|url=https://vic.netball.com.au/sites/vic/files/2020-01/NV_201820Annual20Report_FA_Screen_Spreads.pdf|title=Netball Victoria – 2018 Annual Report|publisher=vic.netball.com.au|access-date=10 January 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/north-west/sport/victorian-netball-league-city-west-falcons-beat-geelong-cougars-in-grand-final/news-story/779b35bda86e2f9c74aa15daebb1a3e0|title=Victorian Netball League: City West Falcons beat Geelong Cougars in grand final|publisher=www.heraldsun.com.au|access-date=14 June 2020|date=3 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180904130354/https://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/north-west/sport/victorian-netball-league-city-west-falcons-beat-geelong-cougars-in-grand-final/news-story/779b35bda86e2f9c74aa15daebb1a3e0|archive-date=4 September 2018|url-status=live}} Falcons won their sixth Championship title in 2022, also winning the 19 & Under Grand Final.
=Victorian Fury=
The Australian Netball League team Victorian Fury is effectively the representative team of the VNL. In turn, Fury is the reserve team of Melbourne Vixens.{{cite web|url=https://vic.netball.com.au/news/victorian-fury-team-named-0|title=Victorian Fury team named|publisher=vic.netball.com.au|access-date=16 June 2020|date=18 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200616155609/https://vic.netball.com.au/news/victorian-fury-team-named-0|archive-date=16 June 2020|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://vic.netball.com.au/2020-team|title=2020 Team|publisher=vic.netball.com.au|access-date=16 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200616224931/https://vic.netball.com.au/2020-team|archive-date=16 June 2020|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://vic.netball.com.au/sites/vic/files/2020-01/Victorian-Fury-Selection-Policy-Document-2020.pdf|title=Victorian Fury Selection Policy|publisher=vic.netball.com.au|access-date=16 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200617204948/https://vic.netball.com.au/sites/vic/files/2020-01/Victorian-Fury-Selection-Policy-Document-2020.pdf|archive-date=17 June 2020|url-status=live}}
Teams
=2023 teams=
;Notes
- {{note|1|1}} Ariels VCNA previously played as Yarra Valley Grammar Ariels.
- {{note|2|2}} Boroondara Express previously played as Boroondara Genesis.
- {{note|3|3}} Casey Demons are affiliated to both the VFL Casey Demons and Melbourne Football Club.
- {{note|4|4}} City West Falcons previously played as Hume City Falcons.
- {{note|5|5}} Hawks Netball previously played as Melbourne Central, Monash University Central, Monash University Storm. In 2018 they adopted their current name after forming a partnership with Hawthorn Football Club.
- {{note|6|6}} Between 2009 and 2014, Melbourne University Lightning had a partnership with Victoria University and played as VU-Western Lightning.{{cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/education/new-era-for-netball-20140807-3d9pf.html|title=New era for netball|publisher=www.smh.com.au|access-date=15 June 2020|date=11 August 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200616183820/https://www.smh.com.au/education/new-era-for-netball-20140807-3d9pf.html|archive-date=16 June 2020|url-status=live}}
{{small|Source:{{cite web|url=https://vic.netball.com.au/vnl-teams|title=VNL Teams|publisher=vic.netball.com.au|access-date=14 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200614153458/https://vic.netball.com.au/vnl-teams|archive-date=14 June 2020|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://netball.draftcentral.com.au/vnl/|title=Victorian Netball League|publisher=netball.draftcentral.com.au|access-date=15 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200304041327/https://netball.draftcentral.com.au/vnl/|archive-date=4 March 2020|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://vic.netball.com.au/news/2020-bupa-victorian-netball-league-fixture-released|title=2020 Bupa Victorian Netball League fixture released|publisher=vic.netball.com.au|access-date=15 June 2020|date=2 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200615140943/https://vic.netball.com.au/news/2020-bupa-victorian-netball-league-fixture-released|archive-date=15 June 2020|url-status=live}}}}
=Former teams=
Championship Grand Finals
Notable players
The VNL is effectively a feeder league for the Suncorp Super Netball teams Melbourne Vixens and Collingwood Magpies. VNL players have also played for the Australia national netball team and other international teams.{{cite web|url=https://www.bna.org.au/vnl/melbourne-vixens|title=Vixens & Magpies|publisher=www.bna.org.au|access-date=16 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200614160323/https://www.bna.org.au/vnl/melbourne-vixens|archive-date=14 June 2020|url-status=live}}
=Internationals=
;{{nb|Australia}}
| style="vertical-align:top" | * Erin Bell | * Renae Ingles
| * Kate Moloney
|
;{{nb|Malawi}}
;{{nb|Scotland}}
;{{nb|Sri Lanka}}
=Melbourne Vixens=
=Collingwood Magpies=
| style="vertical-align:top" | * Melissa Bragg | * Kelsie Rainbow
|
=Award winners=
;Margaret Caldow Trophy
The Championship MVP award is named after Margaret Caldow.
;Notes
- {{note|1|1}} 2012 award was shared.
- {{note|2|2}} 2013 award was shared.
- {{note|3|3}} 2021 award was shared.
;Player of the Championship Grand Final
| class="wikitable collapsible"
! Season ! Player ! Team | ||
| 2009 | Ashlee Howard | Boroondara Genesis |
| 2010 | ||
| 2011 | ||
| 2012 | Christie Barnes | City West Falcons |
| 2013 | Elizabeth Watson | City West Falcons |
| 2014 | Leah Percy | Southern Saints |
| 2015 | Sarah Yule | Boroondara Express |
| 2016 | Dani Stewart | Melbourne University Lightning |
| 2017 | Micaela Wilson | North East Blaze |
| 2018 | ||
| 2019 | Vanessa Augustini | Geelong Cougars |
| 2022 {{cite web |title=City West Falcons claim epic Grand Final win |url=https://vic.netball.com.au/news/city-west-falcons-claim-epic-grand-final-win |website=Netball Victoria |access-date=7 November 2022 |date=11 August 2022}} | Zoe Davies | City West Falcons |
Main sponsors
References
{{reflist|3}}
{{Netball in Australia}}
{{Netball leagues}}
Category:2009 establishments in Australia