Round 11 Match Report | Lightning vs Vixens

The win was headlined by an outstanding performance from player of the match Kiera Austin (23/27 at 85%, 20 feeds, 1 gain, 2 pickups, 123 Net Points) and an impressive 60-minute effort from young gun Zara Walters (37 feeds, 1 deflection, 1 pickup), who stepped up in wing attack.

Kate Eddy (4 deflections, 1 gain) marked her 100^th national league match with an effective shut-down role on former teammate and Diamonds captain Liz Watson, and the win sees the Vixens move to third position on the ladder, one game clear of Lightning who move to fourth.

Q1 | Lightning 20–16 Vixens
It was goal-for-goal early, both sides sitting at 100% centre pass conversion until late in the term. Austin’s movement and ball speed carved up the Lightning defence from the opening whistle, her connection to Sophie Garbin picking up where it left off in Round 10. Garbin’s strength on the hold and accuracy to post (44/47, 94%) kept her side anchored, linking well with Walters who was strong early, racking up 10 feeds and a deflection in the first quarter alone. A rejection from Courtney Bruce on an Austin super shot attempt and three super shots from Reilley Batcheldor and Steph Fretwell, despite the best efforts of Jo Weston and Rudi Ellis over the shot, gave the Lightning a narrow lead at the first break.

Q2 | Lightning 31–37 Vixens
It looked a different Vixens side in the second, flying out of the blocks with a 7–2 start to the quarter. Austin’s dynamic movement was unstoppable as she entered the circle at will, both goalers showing off a strong connection with Walters and capitalising on her vision to the post. Good ball placement in Lightning’s attack end caused Weston (2 gains, 3 pickups) and Ellis (4 gains, 2 deflections) some headaches, but they persisted with hands-over pressure to disrupt their attacking rhythm and forced crucial turnovers. The Vixens’ full-court defence stepped up, led by 100-gamer Eddy was locked in a tough battle with Watson. All seven players working hard on transition allowed Austin to claim a couple of intercepts in the midcourt, as the Vixens delivered a 21-goal quarter without a single super shot and took a solid lead into half time.

Q3 | Lightning 44–54 Vixens
Brimming with confidence in attack and relentless work rate in defence, the visitors put their foot down coming out of the main break. Patience from Walters on the feed and impeccable timing between Austin and Garbin had the attack end humming despite changes to the Lightning defence with Ash Ervin entering the match, as skipper Kate Moloney (21 feeds, 1 gain, 2 pickups) delivered yet another balanced performance through the middle. Having built out their lead, a flurry of Lightning two-pointers early in the power five saw a tactical timeout called for the Vixens to reset, the directive from coach Simone McKinnis to her defenders to “keep it simple”. The tactic proved effective, the Vixens forcing a turnover straight out of the timeout to restore some calm and hold a 10-goal margin at the final break.

Q4 | Lightning 65–68 Vixens
Lightning coach Belinda Reynolds shuffled her lineup in an attempt to win much-needed ball back, bringing Kristiana Manu’a into the fray, but the scoring flow continued with the centre pass for most of the final term, both sides treasuring possession and struggling to force turnovers. Garbin was rock solid at the post, offering a strong target as Austin continued to move freely around the attacking third, and the Vixens were first onto any loose ball collecting four pickups for the term. Holding a double-figures lead heading into the power five, the Vixens stayed composed and played the one-point game while Batcheldor and Fretwell showed their intent from the super shot zone, tagged by Weston and Ellis who fought for vital rebounds. Five last quarter super shots from Fretwell weren’t enough to drag her side over the line, the Vixens holding on to take a three-goal win.

THE NUMBERS
123 – Kiera Austin’s player of the match performance saw her rack up 123 Net Points, a reflection of not just her work in the circle but her dominance on centre pass receives (a team-high 29) and work rate in defence (1 gain, 1 intercept, 2 pickups).
100 – Kate Eddy notched up her 100^th national league game, the fan favourite having played 22 matches for the NSW Swifts before returning home to join the Vixens ahead of the 2020 season.

THE COACH SAYS
Simone McKinnis was pleased with her side’s composure and work rate.

“We know what [Lightning] are capable of and they had to go for it in that last quarter, the important part was us not getting caught up in that – having that composure and playing our game… it was hard work for us tonight against a Lightning side that can move the ball so quickly.”

She was full of praise for the efforts of young gun Zara Walters, who put out a 60-minute performance in wing attack with Hannah Mundy ruled out with a foot injury.

“Zara did sensationally… I thought it was important the messaging for Zara was, ‘you’re coming on as Zara Walters’ because she’s brilliant, so come on and play your game and be you, because that’s why you’re here. Hannah has been doing a phenomenal job, but it was important that Zara came on to play her role and do her job, to do Zara, nothing else and nobody else.

“She took some great balls and put some great balls in, she just worked so hard, I was rapt for her.”

Kate Eddy also highlighted how her side measures the results of their through-court defensive work, though it may not always look like a flying intercept.

“We pride ourselves on unit work and helping each other, and the ball going over the base line is an intercept for us – we’ve gotten the ball and it’s an opportunity for us to score off it.

“For us as defenders obviously we love those two-handed intercepts, but for us all those held balls, dropped balls, loose ball gets… that’s still a turnover for us, a gained ball possession that gives our shooters an opportunity to put scoreboard pressure on.”

NEXT UP
The Vixens return home for a Round 12 matchup against reigning champions the Adelaide Thunderbirds, at John Cain Arena at 2pm on Sunday 29 June.

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