Prelim Final Match Report | Thunderbirds vs Vixens

The Vixens will take confidence in their full-court defence heading into the Grand Final after executing a dogged, disciplined and composed brand of netball that collected seven gains in a game of millimetres.

Kiera Austin put in another player of the match performance, shooting 29 from 32 at 91% including four clutch super shots.

Q1 | Vixens 18–19 Fever

The Vixens’ shaky start against a well-drilled Fever defence gave way to an early deficit, before Austin and Hannah Mundy’s speed around the circle settled the attack end with a steady path to goal. The home side turned up the heat, working their angles with short and sharp netball to dismantle Fever’s connections across the court. High-flying Rudi Ellis’ (1 intercept) hot start on Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard was crucial to the Vixens turning over ball, and bringing all seven players into the 60-minute tug-of-war.

Q2 | Vixens 37–38 Fever

Both teams remained unchanged as the battle between Mundy (36 feeds) and Sunday Aryang resumed in all its ferocity – the wing attack’s ability to draw Aryang away from the contest allowed Kate Moloney (32 feeds) to find circle edge and feed a revitalised Sophie Garbin (38 goals, 95%). The under-pressure Fever shuffled their midcourt with Kelsey Browne entering at centre, the move just enough to stem the Vixens’ attack as they claimed the lead for the first time, before a Shanice Beckford super shot in the final seconds gave her side the half time advantage.

Q3 | Vixens 57–52 Fever

Keeping with their lineups, it was clear the contest was becoming a game of millimetres. Only the smallest errors gave way to Fever’s four-goal lead, where in reply, Simone McKinnis enlisted Emily Mannix (2 gains) at goal keeper whose immediate impact set the raucous crowd alight. Jo Weston and Kate Eddy (2 intercepts, 1 deflection) were ever-reliable on transition down court – their support, paired with Mundy and Austin's ball speed around circle edge, allowing the Vixens attack to break open the scoreline heading into the final quarter.

Q4 | Vixens 73–72 Fever

Fever made wholesale changes to snap the Vixens’ momentum, but the connections were singing within the Mundy-Austin-Garbin attack line, bolstered by Moloney’s stellar captain’s knock at centre. The skipper was the general down court and kept the side cool-headed as the invigorated Eddy-Weston-Mannix defensive unit rose to the occasion with two crucial intercepts. With the wind in their sails and a 12-goal lead, the Vixens looked to cruise to victory, but had to withstand a last-ditch effort from Fever who sunk six super shots to close the gap, before a composed one-point goal from Garbin sent the Vixens into the Grand Final.

THE NUMBERS

• 110.5: Sophie Garbin executed a near-perfect shooting game for the Vixens, spearheading them to victory with 36 goals at 95%, plucking an intercept and leading the side with 110.5 Nissan Net Points (NNP). Her composed performance will hold her in good stead against the Adelaide Thunderbirds next week.
• 22: Emily Mannix was given just 22 minutes to turn the match on its head, and only needed a few seconds to cause an immediate impact. The goal keeper had a monstrous task against Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard but her two gains and small penalty count were crucial to firing up the Vixens’ defence, and pressuring Fowler-Nembhard into four general play turnovers and 13.5 NNP in the second half.

THE COACH SAYS

Head coach Simone McKinnis breathed a sigh of relief after escaping Fever’s last-ditch effort to win the match.

“I don’t think it needed to be one goal. It was something that we chatted about – we just needed to keep the score ticking away. But I’m really encouraged by getting 12 goals ahead as well, that was some great netball,” she said.

McKinnis is fully focused on delivering one last win in Adelaide next week.

“It’s an opportunity we’re not going to let go. We’ll really enjoy it but we’ve got a job to do against a very good side in the Adelaide Thunderbirds and on their home court, so it’s a super challenge for us.”

NEXT UP

The Vixens will return to Adelaide for the second time in a fortnight to face reigning champions the Thunderbirds. The Grand Final will take place at 7pm AEST at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre on Kaurna Land. Vixens members will receive ticket pre-sale details via email tonight.