Round 3 Preview | Vixens vs Fever
The Vixens are looking for back-to-back wins to ignite their 2025 season, but the return of powerhouse shooter Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard to a winless West Coast Fever will stand in their way at John Cain Arena on Sunday afternoon.
Presented by super helpful match day partner, Aware Super
THE MATCH
Melbourne Vixens vs West Coast Fever
Sunday 27 April, 2pm AEST
John Cain Arena | Wurundjeri Country
THE TEAM
Kiera Austin (VC)
Maggie Caris
Kate Eddy
Rudi Ellis
Sophie Garbin
Lily Graham
Kate Moloney (C)
Hannah Mundy
Zara Walters
Jo Weston
TICKETS
Limited tickets remaining, book now via Ticketek
HOW TO WATCH
Can’t make it to the game? Tune in live or on demand on Kayo Sports, Foxtel or BINGE (Australia), or via Netball Pass (international).
LAST TIME THEY MET
Prelim Final, 2024
Vixens (73) defeated Fever (72) at John Cain Arena
WHAT TO EXPECT
With both captains lining up in the middle, expect a physical contest through the midcourt. Jess Anstiss and Kate Moloney match up well with their defensive pressure, endurance and relentless attack on any loose ball.
Fever’s defensive lineup, including former Vixen Kadie-Ann Dehaney and English import Fran Williams, will look to put significant pressure over the shot. Kiera Austin and Sophie Garbin both shot at over 90% accuracy in their one-goal prelim final win over Fever last year, and they’ll need to use their ball movement and screens again this week to find clear access to the post.
With plenty of Victorian talent on Fever’s list – from Jordan and Zoe Cransberg to Alice Teague-Neeld and Liv Wilkinson – the Vixens will be hoping to top their Round 2 crowd (8451, a new record for a first Vixens home game of the season) to ensure their fans drown out any green presence in the stands.
ONE TO WATCH
Fever's versatile shooting lineup will present a major challenge, and in what will be her 50th national league game Vixens goal keeper Rudi Ellis could get the call-up against the returning Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard. Watch for Ellis to work in tandem with the smothering defensive pressure of Kate Eddy and Jo Weston out the front to shut down Fever’s attacking movement and create opportunities to contest in the air.
THE NUMBERS
1: Just one goal has separated the Vixens and Fever in four of their last six games. Are we due for another thriller at JCA this weekend?
150: Two big milestones in successive games on the cards for the Vixens this week; should Kate Moloney and Jo Weston take the court together on Sunday, it will mark the pair’s 150th national league match together, all in Vixens colours. They’ll be the second duo to achieve the milestone in the ANZ Championship/Suncorp Super Netball era, following GIANTS co-captains Jamie-Lee Price and Jo Harten.
ALL IN. ALL VIXEN.
Book your tickets for Vixens home games via Ticketek
View the Vixens’ 2025 fixture
Shop Vixens merch at the online store
Support the team with a 2025 Vixens membership
More news
We acknowledge the traditional owners and custodians of all the lands and waters where netball is played throughout Victoria and pay our respects to Elders past and present. We also wish to recognise the tremendous contribution Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people make to sport, and in particular netball in Victoria. We are committed to a journey of Reconciliation, working to break down barriers and ensuring equal opportunities for both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and non-Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities across our state.
Netball Victoria is a proudly diverse and inclusive organisation, that actively celebrates LGBT+ diversity, inclusion and pride within the sport of netball throughout Victoria.
The Melbourne Vixens compete in Australia’s premier netball league, Suncorp Super Netball.
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