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The Australian
a day ago
- Sport
- The Australian
Vixens earn ultimate revenge, end Thunderbirds' Super Netball three-peat hopes
Melbourne Vixens enacted the ultimate revenge on the Adelaide Thunderbirds for last year's Super Netball Grand Final defeat, with a 58 to 56 win that quashes the Thunderbirds chance of a historic threepeat. With the teams barely separated for 60 minutes, it was a super shot shoot out between Georgie Horjus and Kiera Austin that decided the game, with superior composure from MVP Austin in the clutch moments that gave her side the win. Austin spoke about the feeling she had heading into the game, as well as the shot that sealed the deal. 'It was the most relaxed I have felt in a while, I wanted to be in the moment,' she said. 'I have some great teammates around me who believe I could make the shot.' Kate Moloney passes for the Vixens. Picture: Getty Images With the game in the balance, Matilda Garrett was forced from the court with injury. In the time out that followed, Tania Obst was direct to her star shooter Horjus. 'Georgie, you are going to have to be brave mate,' said Obst, as she was tasked with bringing the game home for them. Despite her two super shots, it was a miss that landed in the hands of the Vixens that gave them the chance to then play possession netball and come away with a hard fought win. The Vixens were handed a minor complication before the first whistle, with starting goal keeper Rudi Ellis copping a stray elbow from teammate Jo Weston that left a nasty cut requiring some quick attention from the medical staff. It didn't perturb Ellis, who was quick into the action and working hard to disrupt the ball into Romelda Aiken-George. Romelda Aiken-George has been on-target for the Thunderbirds all season. Picture: Getty Images Kate Eddy was tasked with containing reigning season MVP Georgie Horjus, and did so with ease. She finished the game with three gains and only five penalties while forcing Horjus into an uncharacteristic two turnovers. As the lead started to push out, Thunderbirds were quick to pull their super sub and move Georgie Horjus into goal attack and it didn't take long for her to hit her first two super shots and draw the margin back to three heading into the main break. The Thunderbirds defensive duo were kept relatively quiet, with the ball speed and patience from the Vixens limiting their ability to win any ball finishing with only three gains between them. The battle between Latanya Wilson and Austin was tipped to decide the game, with Austin dominating in the first half as she moved around the court with ease and wasn't put off by Wilson's lengthy reach. Becoming increasingly frustrated by her inability to win ball, Wilson's penalties increased to 16, ahead of her season average of 14.2 per game. The victory marks the first time in four matches that the Vixens have toppled the 2024 premiers, and sets them up for yet another do or die clash with either the West Coast Fever or NSW Swifts next weekend to earn a place in the grand final. It also provides the chance for the Vixens to send head coach Simone McKinnis out on the ultimate high, as she is set to step down from her role at season's end. Thunderbirds wing defence Sophie Casey looks to pass. Picture: Getty Images MIGHTY MCKINNIS Melbourne Vixens head coach Simone McKinnis announced mid-season that this would be her last at the helm of the Victorian powerhouse club. She took over the reins 13 years ago, and in that time has guided the club to two premierships, two additional grand final appearances and three minor premierships. Having coached over 200 games of elite netball, she is one of the most respected coaches in the game and is responsible for the development of a raft of current and former Diamonds players. MATILDA'S MILESTONE Thunderbirds defender Matilda Garrett notched up her 100th national league game in the side's loss to the Vixens. She moved to the club in 2021after three years at the now defunct Collingwood Magpies and has since become one of Australia's leading defenders. Often the quiet achiever alongside Jamaican superstars Shamera Sterling-Humphrey and Latanya Wilson, this year she has stepped into her own with 35 gains and 48 deflections to her name to earn her third consecutive Diamonds call up. FEVER THRASH THE SWIFTS West Coast Fever have continued their march through a record breaking season, with a relentless 77 to 45 point victory over the NSW Swifts to book their place in the 2025 Super Netball grand final. Finishing as minor premiers for the first time in the club's history, Fever have also recorded an historic 13 wins on the trot in a record finals' margin that left Swifts struggling for answers. Unable to wipe the smile off his face post match, an elated coach Dan Ryan said to the near capacity crowd, 'Get your flights to Melbourne - we will see you there!' West Coast star Fran Williams. Picture: Getty Images Battling injuries to key personnel, the long trip west to Fever's fortress and the raucous Green Army, the match proved to be mission impossible for the Swifts, after they were annihilated by 32 points. They will face the Melbourne Vixens in next weekend's elimination final, a tough comedown after going undefeated through their first eight matches. While exciting defender Teigan O'Shannassy remains out with a back issue, the Swifts will be hoping their ever-reliable captain Paige Hadley will be available after sitting out two matches with a foot injury. Nerves played a role at the start, as Fever tore out to an early 8-2 lead following two offensive penalties from Swifts' star shooter Grace Nweke, who was caught pushing off her opponent. In a clinical display, Fever gave away just 15 turnovers and also pounced on the Swifts' 30 as Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard delivered a master shooting class at the other end. Fever trio Shanice Beckford, Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard and Sunday Aryang high five at the half time break. Picture: Getty Images The ice cool Jamaican queen shot a outdid her own finals' record with 66/68 at 97 percent accuracy despite enormous defensive pressure from Diamonds' defender Sarah Klau. Swifts slumped to a nine point deficit at the end of the first quarter, with goal attack Helen Housby kept under tight wraps by defenders Sunday Aryang, Kadie-Ann Dehaney and Fran Williams during the two point period. With the lead blowing out further, Swifts' coach Briony Akle had little option but to go to supershots to reduce the deficit, benching Nweke for Sophie Fawns, leaving two mobile shooters in the circle. Grace Nweke was benched as the Swifts turned to the super shot to salvage the semi final. Picture: Getty Images While their radar was on, both were starved of opportunity under smothering defensive work as Fever continued to build their lead. Akle continued to rotate her young troops, but coming up with just seven gains to Fever's 18, and a 61 percent centre pass conversion rate compared to Fever's 81, was never going to be enough to make inroads. New Diamonds' squad member Alice Teague-Neeld was in blistering MVP form, while Aryang finished with seven gains as she dominated her opponents. TEIGAN TURNS UP THE HEAT Despite missing finals with a back injury, Swifts' defender Teigan O'Shannassy has been rewarded with a Diamonds' invitee berth for her great form this season. National coach Stacey Marinkovich described O'Shannassy as one of the best defenders in the league for 'coming off her own player and getting intercepts'. 'She's hard, courageous to the ball, and has a loud voice at the back at key moments in the game, so that really grabbed our attention,' she said. NET POINT NOUS Across the season, the four players with the highest average Net Point scores all come from the Fever and Swifts. Leading the pack is Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard on 114.6, followed by Grace Nweke on 90.5, Alice Teague-Neeld on 87.3 and Paige Hadley on 86. The loss of the ever-reliable Hadley through a foot injury is a particular blow to the Swifts during today's match. Read related topics: Adelaide
Perth Now
2 days ago
- Sport
- Perth Now
Fever ready for fierce grand final battle with rivals
West Coast have had the wood on the Melbourne Vixens this season but star defender Fran Williams expects the battle-hardened Victorian outfit to put up a fierce challenge in the Super Netball grand final. Ahead of the decider on Saturday at Melbourne's Rod Laver Arena, on the Vixens' home patch after Netball Australia sold hosting rights, England captain Williams says the teams have formed a spicy rivalry. They have met in the grand final twice before, with Melbourne taking the honours in 2020 and the Fever winning their first-ever Super title in 2022 in a thumping 11-point victory. Fever have won both meetings this season en route to claiming the minor premiership and the record for the most consecutive wins, which is now up to 13. Williams joined the Fever last season and said she quickly became aware there was no love lost between her team and the Vixens. "There's a real rivalry and I noticed that when I arrived," the 27-year-old goal keeper said. "I think it's because they've had so many tightly-contested finals matches in the past and you kind of inherit that rivalry when you come and join this side." While Fever blitzed the NSW Swifts in the major semi-final to book a grand final berth, the fourth-placed Vixens edged reigning champions Adelaide by two points in the minor semi-final. They then upset the Swifts in Sydney in a one-goal thriller on Sunday to reach their fourth grand final in six seasons. "Playing Vixens is an exciting challenge for us and we're so up for it," said Williams. "We obviously played them in round 14, so quite fresh playing them ... we've got some evidence on how we've been able to beat them. "But also we know they're a quality, class side as well that bring some insane netball come finals time ... we'll be going in all guns blazing." Williams said her team would "embrace" the sell-out occasion in enemy territory, hopeful that some of the green army would make the trip east. "We've known from the start of the season that if we were going to win this whole thing, we were going to have to do it away so that's not feeling that new to us. "When you go away, our Fever bubble stays really strong and we kind of lean in on each other even more." Williams said she and Diamonds defender Sunday Aryang would be working hard to put pressure on the Vixens' Test shooting duo Sophie Garbin and Kiera Austin. "I thought Sophie was really impressive on the weekend and Keira as well with her super shot shooting, she was pretty clutch," Williams said. "They're very crafty with the ball so it's about winning your one on one battle first to kind of make them unsettled, and then making sure that they don't have those easy links and connections."
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."
Courier-Mail
2 days ago
- Sport
- Courier-Mail
Melbourne Vixens stun NSW Swifts in preliminary final comeback, grand final vs West Coast Fever
Don't miss out on the headlines from Netball. Followed categories will be added to My News. Melbourne Vixens are riding high after a last ditch effort to beat the NSW Swifts by 66 to 65 points, to book their place in the 2025 Super Netball grand final. They came from behind in the dying seconds of the game, having trailed 51-41 after the third quarter, and will go into next week's match full of confidence having won eight of their last ten games. Watch every game of the 2025 Suncorp Super Netball season, LIVE on Kayo. New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1. Standing in their way however, will be the formidable West Coast Fever, who demolished the Swifts by 32 points in last weekend's major semi-final. Speaking post match captain and MVP Kate Moloney said, 'I'm exhausted but I'm so bloody proud. We were down by ten goals and we found something in that last quarter and they just never stopped fighting.' Coaching her second last match with the Vixens, Simone McKinnis, added, 'We weren't going to walk away from here afraid to take risks. They saw a glimpse and a hope and away they went.' X SUBSCRIBER ONLY It was the greatest preliminary final comeback in Super Netball history, beating the nine-goal market the Vixens set in 2022 against the Giants. It was a dismal end to the season for Swifts, despite the return of inspirational captain Paige Hadley who has missed the last two rounds with a foot injury. While she provided a calm head and safe pair of hands, the Swifts have been bundled out of the finals in straight sets, after looking untouchable as they went undefeated through the first eight rounds. Melbourne Vixens players celebrate. (Photo by) Simone McKinnis inspired her players. (Photo by) There was immense pressure from the opening whistle, causing fumbles, stray passes and uncharacteristic missed shots. The Swifts were first to take advantage of those errors, going long and high to Grace Nweke in the circle. Despite her athleticism, some balls were sprayed over her head or swatted away by goal keeper Rudi Ellis who finished with six gains, allowing the Vixens to shift gears and take a three point lead into the first break. The Swifts hit the front in the second quarter as their confidence grew, with Helen Housby raising the bar after a quiet few weeks. Passes started going in more smoothly to the circle, with Nweke lifting her shooting from a subpar 77 percent in the first quarter to a total of 53/58 at 91 percent across the match. With the Swifts' Sharni Lambden applying enormous pressure at wing defence, Vixens' skipper Moloney did everything she could to pull her side over the line. She had a strong connection with Sophie Garbin under the post, who picked up the slack while the hero of so many victories, Kiera Austin, struggled for influence early on. The Swifts couldn't believe it. (Photo by Mark) The Vixens seemed down and out of the contest with the deficit sitting at 11 points and their penalties twice their opponents, until Lily Graham sank consecutive supershots to bring the margin back to single digits. In an inspirational last quarter Austin finally switched on her radar when it counted, firing in three long range shots to finish with 12/16 including four from five supershots, while her partner Garbin had a solid 46/47. The Vixens found another gear and rolled over the Swifts in highly emotional scenes. MCKINNIS MAGIC Simone McKinnis will make her final appearance as Vixens' coach in next weekend's grand final, after 212 games in charge of the club. Across 13 years, she's taken them to two titles, three minor premierships and a further three grand final appearances, and will leave massive shoes to fill. It looked like it was going to be McKinnis' final game in charge at the end of the third quarter but an inspiration and emotional final address helped inspire the Vixens to life. 'We have nothing to lose here! Except for throwing our best selves as this contest,' McKinnis said. PAIN FOLLOWS A POINT Remarkably, the previous three Super Netball preliminary finals have been decided by a solitary point, with the Vixens taking out two of those wins, and the Swifts the other. Despite moving on into the grand final, neither side was then able to steal the ultimate victory. Originally published as Super Netball stunner as emotional speech sparks all-time Vixens comeback
