Latest news with #McKinnis
Perth Now
2 days ago
- Sport
- Perth Now
Vixens to exploit home comforts in netball grand final
The Melbourne Vixens are aiming to go full throttle as they enter the dangerous comfort zone of hosting a Super Netball grand final. Vixens coach Simone McKinnis is urging her side to stay hungry as they prepare to take on a formidable West Coast outfit on Saturday at Rod Laver Arena. The Vixens booked their spot in the decider with a stirring comeback over the NSW Swifts, turning around a 10-goal deficit at the final change to win by one in the dying seconds. West Coast finished on top of the table but McKinnis's side avoid the RAC Arena fortress thanks to Super Netball's controversial policy of selling hosting rights for the decider. A hostile environment at RAC Arena went a long way towards helping West Coast undermine top-two side NSW, with the Fever pulling off a 77-45 semi-final mauling. McKinnis won't let her side become too carried away, given the Vixens' season almost ended when the Swifts powered to a 51-41 lead at three quarter-time. "We lacked a bit of dynamic movement and punch and attack at times," McKinnis said. "When changing in the defensive structures, we didn't adapt well all the time. "We've got to take what we have to out of this because up against a Fever, you don't get a second chance or a look. "They don't give you much chance." Vixens captain Kate Moloney, who played in the club's 2020 grand final win at Brisbane venue Nissan Arena during COVID-19, can only imagine the bonus of creating a fortress for a decider. "It hasn't quite sunk in. That game, just the fight that we showed, I'm pretty exhausted right now," Moloney said. "It's amazing that we get to have (a grand final) at home. "The last grand final that we won was in a hub, and we didn't get to share that with our Melbourne Vixens fans. "They've been with us this whole time. They've sold out John Cain Arena each week. "It's an amazing reward for them as well, that we get to go home and we get the opportunity to hopefully go all the way." The NSW Swifts were left lamenting what could've been after suffering straight-sets finals exits. "We probably just looked a bit too far ahead today," Swifts co-captain Maddy Turner said. "We probably saw ourselves already like, that foot in the grand final at three-quarter time, so again, another learning."
West Australian
2 days ago
- Sport
- West Australian
Vixens to exploit home comforts in netball grand final
The Melbourne Vixens are aiming to go full throttle as they enter the dangerous comfort zone of hosting a Super Netball grand final. Vixens coach Simone McKinnis is urging her side to stay hungry as they prepare to take on a formidable West Coast outfit on Saturday at Rod Laver Arena. The Vixens booked their spot in the decider with a stirring comeback over the NSW Swifts, turning around a 10-goal deficit at the final change to win by one in the dying seconds. West Coast finished on top of the table but McKinnis's side avoid the RAC Arena fortress thanks to Super Netball's controversial policy of selling hosting rights for the decider. A hostile environment at RAC Arena went a long way towards helping West Coast undermine top-two side NSW, with the Fever pulling off a 77-45 semi-final mauling. McKinnis won't let her side become too carried away, given the Vixens' season almost ended when the Swifts powered to a 51-41 lead at three quarter-time. "We lacked a bit of dynamic movement and punch and attack at times," McKinnis said. "When changing in the defensive structures, we didn't adapt well all the time. "We've got to take what we have to out of this because up against a Fever, you don't get a second chance or a look. "They don't give you much chance." Vixens captain Kate Moloney, who played in the club's 2020 grand final win at Brisbane venue Nissan Arena during COVID-19, can only imagine the bonus of creating a fortress for a decider. "It hasn't quite sunk in. That game, just the fight that we showed, I'm pretty exhausted right now," Moloney said. "It's amazing that we get to have (a grand final) at home. "The last grand final that we won was in a hub, and we didn't get to share that with our Melbourne Vixens fans. "They've been with us this whole time. They've sold out John Cain Arena each week. "It's an amazing reward for them as well, that we get to go home and we get the opportunity to hopefully go all the way." The NSW Swifts were left lamenting what could've been after suffering straight-sets finals exits. "We probably just looked a bit too far ahead today," Swifts co-captain Maddy Turner said. "We probably saw ourselves already like, that foot in the grand final at three-quarter time, so again, another learning."
Perth Now
3 days ago
- Sport
- Perth Now
Vixens beat Swifts by one goal to reach grand final
The Melbourne Vixens have punched their ticket to a Super Netball grand final with a sensational one-goal win after Swifts attacker Helen Housby missed her shot in the dying second. The Swifts were in pole position to reach the decider after building a 10-goal lead at the final break of their preliminary final at Qudos Bank Arena on Sunday. But the Vixens, determined to extend retiring coach Simone McKinnis's reign by one more week, sprung to life and built a 65-64 lead. Swifts star Grace Nweke levelled the scores at 65-65, before Vixens goalshooter Sophie Garbin returned serve to restore the visitors' one-goal lead. Housby then had the chance to send the game into extra time when she received the ball in the circle in the dying seconds, but sent it over. The Vixens face West Coast in next Saturday's grand final and will enjoy home-court advantage at Rod Laver Arena under Super Netball's controversial policy of selling hosting rights for the decider. Vixens shooter Garbin was on song with 46 goals from 47 attempts, while captain Kate Moloney finished with 24 goal assists and 35 feeds. The visitors were cleaner and took their chances better in a frantic opening term to take a 15-12 lead at the first break. But the home side wrestled back momentum when Nweke pulled off seven consecutive goals, launching the Swifts ahead 31-29 in the second quarter. Nweke's attacking work was complemented by wing defence Sharni Lambden, who worked hard to nullify Vixen opponent Zara Walters. Vixens coach McKinnis was forced to turn to the bench in a bid to free up their attack, handing Tara Watson her Super Netball debut in place of Walters. McKinnis again threw around the magnets when the Swifts burst to a six-goal lead midway through the third term, moving Diamonds star Jo Weston into wing defence and bringing Kate Eddy into goal defence. But NSW rolled with the punches and broke out to a 51-41 lead, before the Vixens came home in a flurry. Swifts centre and co-captain Paige Hadley's impact was immediately felt on return from a foot injury, as Nweke rediscovered her form in attack with 53 goals from 58 attempts.
Perth Now
06-07-2025
- Sport
- Perth Now
Vixens book finals spot as McKinnis signs off in style
The Melbourne Vixens have given long-time coach Simone McKinnis a parting gift by booking a spot in the Super Netball finals with a tense 64-62 win over the Queensland Firebirds. The Vixens (8-5) climbed into third place at John Cain Arena on Sunday, leapfrogging both Adelaide and Sunshine Coast (both 7-6), who meet in the last round of the regular season. It means the Vixens will play finals regardless of the result of their last-round away clash with top team West Coast Fever. Down by five goals at the last change, Queensland rolled the dice late as super shots from Abigail Latu-Meafou and Emily Moore got them back within one. But the Vixens wound down the clock superbly in the final minute and sealed the result through outstanding shooter Sophie Garbin (42/47) in the dying stages. "We got the win but it wasn't enjoyable viewing," McKinnis told Fox Sports after her final home game at the helm before she stands down at the end of the season. "It was tough and I think at times we made it hard for ourselves as well, but I'm happy with the win." McKinnis led the Vixens to national titles in 2014 and 2020, and can now turn her mind to potentially adding a third before her 14-year tenure ends. The former Australian Diamonds star admitted she had to tackle plenty of extra emotion around her last home-court appearance as coach. "In the game not so much because it was just like, 'Come on, get the job done'," McKinnis said. "I've got family here and when I realised that they were all coming today because it was my last game here, it was a bit emotional. "So I think I was mindful of just staying pretty calm." Under pressure to confirm a finals spot, Melbourne dominated the first period and looked as if they would take complete control when they led 18-12 at quarter-time. But the Firebirds didn't read the script, surging back into the contest late in the second quarter to take a 32-31 lead at halftime. McKinnis demanded a greater work rate from her team in the second half and eventually got it. A three-goal deficit midway through the third period was turned into a 49-44 lead at the final change on the back of a 15-6 run. The last-placed Firebirds threatened to pull off a major upset in the dying stages but could not complete their comeback attempt. McKinnis welcomed the last-round Fever clash as a chance for the Vixens to make a statement ahead of the finals. "If you're fair dinkum and you want to be going and winning finals, then you've got to be able to beat the best," she said. "I think it's a great game for us to be heading over there."
The Advertiser
25-05-2025
- Sport
- The Advertiser
Vixens find form after coach's surprising call to exit
Melbourne Vixens have rebounded from the shock news of the impending departure of long-serving coach Simone McKinnis with a 70-52 away win over Queensland Firebirds. In the first match since McKinnis surprised the netball world by announcing she was standing down at the end of this campaign, the Vixens tallied their highest score and biggest winning margin of the season. "Obviously the news of Simone last week was a big shock to us, so to go out there and play for her is something that really fuels us," Hannah Mundy told Fox Sports after starring in Brisbane. "Hopefully she's proud of that performance. "I'm really proud of the girls. We've had a tough couple of weeks. We haven't executed the basic skills we know we have. "So just to come out and play with freedom and play how we did is really exciting for the rest of our season." The Vixens faced the possibility of losing three straight games for the first time since the visitors produced an improved performance, breaking clear after an even first quarter. Both sides were guilty of numerous first-half turnovers, but Melbourne became more clinical and efficient as the game progressed, while the Firebirds continued to make mistakes throughout. The Vixens eked out a four-goal lead by halftime, doubled it to eight at the last change, then scored the first three of the final term to lead by 11. The Vixens now have a 3-4 record for the year, while the Firebirds (2-5) slumped to a fifth straight loss, and their failure to make the finals since 2018 looks set to extend another season. Vixens and Diamonds goal attack Kiera Austin, who has been below her best in recent weeks, produced a sparking performance full of energy. She made all five of her Super Shots, hitting 15 of 18 regular goals as Sophie Garbin landed 42 of 45. Midcourters Mundy and Kate Moloney gave the Vixens plenty of drive. Firebirds circle defender Ruby Bakewell-Doran worked hard, totalling match-high tallies of three intercepts and seven gains. Ugandan shooter Mary Cholhok made 26 of 30 shots for Queensland. Melbourne Vixens have rebounded from the shock news of the impending departure of long-serving coach Simone McKinnis with a 70-52 away win over Queensland Firebirds. In the first match since McKinnis surprised the netball world by announcing she was standing down at the end of this campaign, the Vixens tallied their highest score and biggest winning margin of the season. "Obviously the news of Simone last week was a big shock to us, so to go out there and play for her is something that really fuels us," Hannah Mundy told Fox Sports after starring in Brisbane. "Hopefully she's proud of that performance. "I'm really proud of the girls. We've had a tough couple of weeks. We haven't executed the basic skills we know we have. "So just to come out and play with freedom and play how we did is really exciting for the rest of our season." The Vixens faced the possibility of losing three straight games for the first time since the visitors produced an improved performance, breaking clear after an even first quarter. Both sides were guilty of numerous first-half turnovers, but Melbourne became more clinical and efficient as the game progressed, while the Firebirds continued to make mistakes throughout. The Vixens eked out a four-goal lead by halftime, doubled it to eight at the last change, then scored the first three of the final term to lead by 11. The Vixens now have a 3-4 record for the year, while the Firebirds (2-5) slumped to a fifth straight loss, and their failure to make the finals since 2018 looks set to extend another season. Vixens and Diamonds goal attack Kiera Austin, who has been below her best in recent weeks, produced a sparking performance full of energy. She made all five of her Super Shots, hitting 15 of 18 regular goals as Sophie Garbin landed 42 of 45. Midcourters Mundy and Kate Moloney gave the Vixens plenty of drive. Firebirds circle defender Ruby Bakewell-Doran worked hard, totalling match-high tallies of three intercepts and seven gains. Ugandan shooter Mary Cholhok made 26 of 30 shots for Queensland. Melbourne Vixens have rebounded from the shock news of the impending departure of long-serving coach Simone McKinnis with a 70-52 away win over Queensland Firebirds. In the first match since McKinnis surprised the netball world by announcing she was standing down at the end of this campaign, the Vixens tallied their highest score and biggest winning margin of the season. "Obviously the news of Simone last week was a big shock to us, so to go out there and play for her is something that really fuels us," Hannah Mundy told Fox Sports after starring in Brisbane. "Hopefully she's proud of that performance. "I'm really proud of the girls. We've had a tough couple of weeks. We haven't executed the basic skills we know we have. "So just to come out and play with freedom and play how we did is really exciting for the rest of our season." The Vixens faced the possibility of losing three straight games for the first time since the visitors produced an improved performance, breaking clear after an even first quarter. Both sides were guilty of numerous first-half turnovers, but Melbourne became more clinical and efficient as the game progressed, while the Firebirds continued to make mistakes throughout. The Vixens eked out a four-goal lead by halftime, doubled it to eight at the last change, then scored the first three of the final term to lead by 11. The Vixens now have a 3-4 record for the year, while the Firebirds (2-5) slumped to a fifth straight loss, and their failure to make the finals since 2018 looks set to extend another season. Vixens and Diamonds goal attack Kiera Austin, who has been below her best in recent weeks, produced a sparking performance full of energy. She made all five of her Super Shots, hitting 15 of 18 regular goals as Sophie Garbin landed 42 of 45. Midcourters Mundy and Kate Moloney gave the Vixens plenty of drive. Firebirds circle defender Ruby Bakewell-Doran worked hard, totalling match-high tallies of three intercepts and seven gains. Ugandan shooter Mary Cholhok made 26 of 30 shots for Queensland.
