Simone McKinnis reveals 'turning point' as Vixens eye fairytale ending in Super Netball grand final
It proved the turning point that took the Vixens from strugglers to Super Netball grand finalists, and now they will hope to ride that wave of emotion to glory.
Melbourne will face the West Coast Fever in Saturday's decider at John Cain Arena after mounting an emotional comeback from 10 goals down at the final change to beat the NSW Swifts by one goal last week.
It meant McKinnis's decorated career would stretch into one more game — a tilt at a third national league title.
McKinnis announced after her 200th game in May — a defeat to Sunshine Coast Lightning — that she would be moving on, before later joking her "flat" charges, then sitting 2-4, needed to head to the pub.
Since then, Melbourne has won eight of 10 games to reach their second consecutive decider.
"The turning point was moving on, having that announcement," McKinnis said on Wednesday.
"It was just, 'Alright, that's out there. Let's just go and have fun.'
"I think that was the turning point for us."
McKinnis admitted a third triumph would be particularly special.
"It'd be enormous. It would be brilliant," she said.
"Because I'm just so super proud of how we've got here from where we started this season, and how we've got to this position, and I'm not sure that many people would have seen us in the grand final.
"So, I'm just super proud of the girls."
Defender Kate Eddy started her career as a training partner at the Vixens and, apart from two years at the Swifts, has only played under McKinnis.
She and her teammates, fuelled by the fire of losing last year's grand final to NSW, are trying not to think too much about their coach's last hurrah.
"After the siren goes, I think it'll be lots of emotions and everything as well next week," Eddy said.
"But trying to put out all of my energy and focus into this week, because obviously Simone means the world to all of us and to me as well.
"So, it'll be really hard. But try not to think about that too much."
First, the Vixens need to get the better of the Fever, who have beaten them twice this season, with star goaler Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard averaging 60 goals in those two games.
Eddy stressed the Vixens' full-court defence needed to stop the ball getting to Fowler-Nembhard, while McKinnis wants her charges switched on early.
"You're never out of the contest until the whistle is gone and the final siren's gone. It's never over," McKinnis said.
"But … you can't afford to be giving a team like Fever that sort of head start.
"The important part for us is being able to put that pressure on and show our intent and purpose right from the first whistle."
AAP
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