Match Report | Vixens vs Fever

Lily Graham’s breakout match in goal shooter and Zara Walters starring in wing attack helped deliver the Vixens their huge momentum swings, and could be key injections ahead of finals.

Kate Eddy made a successful return from the lower leg injury that sidelined her from Round 5, registering two pickups and an intercept in 20 minutes on court across wing defence and goal defence.

The teams marked the beginning of NAIDOC Week with the second instalment of the league-wide First Nations Round.

Q1 | Vixens 15–20 Fever

The match opened with blistering pace with Jo Weston (3 deflections) and Rudi Ellis (4 deflections, 2 gains) keeping the Fever goalers on notice – using their long arms over to pressure Shanice Beckford into a few shaky feeds and missed shots – but the Perth side rallied off the back of former Vixen Kadie-Ann Dehaney's defensive effort to pull away their lead.

Q2 | Vixens 34–34 Fever

While Eddy collected two pickups in her first 15 minutes on court, the Vixens tweaked their defence with Emily Mannix pushing Weston into a tagging role to cover speedy wing attack Alice Teague-Neeld. Fever looked to take control until an Ellis rebound triggered the momentum shift, where the Vixens’ attack adjusted to Fever’s body-on-body defence with short and sharp ball movement. Kiera Austin, Kate Moloney and Zara Walters kept their composure to unlock Lily Graham (17 from 25, 1 rebound) at circle edge, who shot four super shots to claw back the 9-goal deficit.

Q3 | Vixens 52–52 Fever

The two sides remained unchanged except for Beckford returning to the court, with the Vixens settling into a Walters-Austin-Graham attack line rarely tested so far this season. Walters (48 feeds, 28 goal assists) continued to impress with her ownership of circle edge, choice of feed and defensive pressure down court – muting Sunday Aryang’s usual brilliance. The battle between Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard and Ellis was an aerial spectacle, but the Vixens’ full-court defence was responsible for turning over ball in a battle for control.

Q4 | Vixens 67–68 Fever

Sophie Garbin re-took the court in goal shooter and provided a solid holding option as Fever inched away their lead. Jess Anstiss lifted in her battle with workhorse Moloney (24 feeds, 1 intercept, 102 NNP) to allow the Perth midcourt to find more space and force a Vixens timeout – Graham returned to goals once more, while Eddy went into goal defence as the energiser bunny the home team needed. The Vixens’ fightback nearly lifted the roof off John Cain Arena but their desperation and three late super shots were not enough to turn the result.

THE NUMBERS

• 113.5: Zara Walters has well and truly hit her stride in her first 60-minute hit out since suffering a lower back injury in Round 4. The wing attack amounted 113.5 Nissan Net Points, 48 feeds, 28 goal assists and a gain to steady the under-pressure Vixens.
• 9035: The Melbourne Vixens have broken their regular season attendance record for the second time in 2024 in their final home game of the season, with 9035 fans packing out John Cain Arena. We thank our fans for their unwavering support this season, and are honoured to play on Wurundjeri Country for First Nations Round.

THE COACH SAYS

Head coach Simone McKinnis unpacked her side's hard loss with one round to go until finals.

“We acknowledged there was a little bit of inconsistency – obviously a slow start which wasn’t great – and had moments of great defence and great attack but there were just little patches [of inconsistency] as well… We’re also acknowledging it was a good, hard, tough match and we showed a lot of fight to get back into it, but you can’t give teams a start like that.”

McKinnis was particularly pleased with the performance of Walters despite a huge challenge from Fever’s defenders.

‘She just takes it on, there is no fear. She’s excited about any challenge that comes, and I don’t think I’ve come across anybody who was as professional, as diligent and so good about rehab… She’s a great quality person.”

NEXT UP

The Vixens head north for the final round of the regular season, facing the Queensland Firebirds at Nissan Arena on Saturday 13 July. Ladder positions will come down to the wire again this season, the Vixens needing a high-scoring win to sew up top spot and a home semi final.