Round 10 Match Report | Vixens vs Swifts

In a nail-biting finish, the Vixens kept their composure against the fast-finishing Swifts, displaying a clinical brand of netball headlined by stand-out performances from Kiera Austin, Sophie Garbin and player of the match Jo Weston.

Despite the result, the Sargeant-McKinnis Cup, decided on aggregate scores of the two sides’ matches each season, will head to NSW.

Q1 | Vixens 18–15 Swifts
A sold-out John Cain Arena cheered on a fiery start - it was goal-for-goal the first few minutes, with the Vixens’ tight defence forcing an early turnover and the Swifts doing the same. The Swifts looked to move quickly into Grace Nweke under the post, while the Vixens used patient and clean ball movement to settle themselves into the quarter. The Vixens got out to a three-goal lead early, led by impressive offensive and defensive pressure from Kiera Austin (20/23, 87%) all over the court and Hannah Mundy’s (25 feeds and 16 goal assists) speed and timing on circle edge. Jo Weston (3 feeds, 3 gains, 3 deflections) continued her form from the last few weeks, taking out a stellar intercept and deflection to get the crowd on their feet early, while Austin did what she did best in the power five to propel her side to a three-goal lead at quarter time.

Q2 | Vixens 39–30 Swifts
With Paige Hadley moving into the middle to match up on fellow Diamonds midcourter Kate Moloney (24 feeds, 14 goal assists) the tone was set from their physical battle in centre. The Swifts came out firing in the second term with the first few minutes remaining tight, but the Vixens' unit defence and offence broke away quickly. Sophie Garbin (47/49, 95%) and Austin starred in the circle with their timing and ball movement, Garbin’s strong holds and takes under the post a stand-out against Sarah Klau. All seven Vixens played their roles and displayed a punishing brand of netball, and with Weston and Rudi Ellis (5 gains, 1 intercept, 2 deflections) picking up plenty of loose balls and rebounds, the home side marched into the second half with a nine-goal lead.

Q3 | Vixens 54–48 Swifts
The Vixens held their focus, patient in their ball movement and protecting their gained ball. The Swifts threw everything at the home side, with Sharni Lambden and Mundy continuing their tough battle across the transverse line. Kate Eddy (8 centre pass receives, 1 gain, 1 intercept) played an important role down the court, providing a reset on the transverse line and forcing a WA change for the Swifts in the third term. With the Vixens attack not slowing and the margin staying at nine goals, the Swifts called a tactical time-out with six minutes to play to recalibrate before the power five. With Helen Housby known for her power five impact, Ellis and Weston stayed body-on and restricted her movement to keep themselves six goals up ahead of a huge final quarter at John Cain Arena.

Q4 | Vixens 70–68 Swifts
A huge final quarter kicked off with stellar ball movement from Austin and Garbin, supported by hands-over pressure and a deflection from Eddy. The Swifts worked to close the margin quickly, looking long into Nweke at every chance. With Ellis’ footwork and elevation impressive under the post, the Vixens kept the away side at arms-length in the final term. Skipper Kate Moloney starred for the entire 60 minutes, particularly stepping up in the last quarter to keep her side composed. The attacking connection between Moloney, Mundy, Garbin and Austin down the court was difficult to stop, the quartet staying calm and focused in front of a vocal home crowd. Ahead of the power five, Simone McKinnis called a tactical time out to steady the ship in the final minutes of the game. With Housby starring in the power five, a late resurgence from the Swifts saw the margin close to three goals with two minutes to play. An intense and tight finish saw the game come down to the final twenty seconds, when the Vixens' strong defensive structure held up against a charging Swifts.

THE NUMBERS
95 – In-form shooter Sophie Garbin continues to star with her impressive efficiency and strong holds under the post. Shooting 47/49 against Diamonds defender Sarah Klau, Garbin was vital in her team’s tight win.
5 – Rudi Ellis has gained momentum in the last few weeks against some tall utilities under the post, holding her own against star import Grace Nweke as she took out five gains. Ellis also banked two deflections and an intercept.

THE COACH SAYS
Simone McKinnis was particularly impressed with her side's discipline and ability to put their areas for improvement into action.

"It's about the teamwork and connection and that's something you can work on. I think it's recognising that, and then knowing we're capable of anything," she said.

"We just had to get that reconnection and that teamwork that had been our strength of ours for a long time, and the girls have worked really hard at that."

NEXT UP
The Vixens are back on the road next weekend, heading north to face Sunshine Coast Lightning at UniSC Arena, at 5pm Saturday 21 June.

ALL IN. ALL VIXEN.
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