Round 3 Match Report | Vixens vs Fever

The Vixens fell short in Jo Weston and Kate Moloney’s 150^th game together in navy and Rudi Ellis’ 50^th national league game, with in-form captain Moloney and young defender Maggie Caris providing highlights in an otherwise disappointing loss.

Q1 | Vixens 15–14 Fever
The tone was set at John Cain Arena with a few early rebounds from 50-gamer Rudi Ellis, who squared up against her old side and returning tall Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard, but the visitors stayed close all quarter and applied hands-over pressure to force some turnovers at the Vixens’ end. With competitive head-to-heads all over the court, Hannah Mundy (21 feeds) took on Fever captain Jess Anstiss with some hard drives to circle edge, delivering the ball cleanly to Kiera Austin under the post.

Q2 | Vixens 29–35 Fever
Fever came out firing and lifted their pressure in the second, forcing some costly turnovers for the Vixens which pushed the margin out. After taking time to recalibrate, Simone McKinnis injected Lily Graham into GS which took immediate effect off the back of a captain’s intercept. McKinnis also made some defensive changes, with Weston moving into WD and Kate Eddy (3 gains) into GD. Amongst a persistent Fever defence, three super shots from Graham brought the Vixens right back into the fight for the second half.

Q3 | Vixens 41–51 Fever
Fever persisted with their hands-over pressure and fast ball movement, setting up a dominant second half. Second-gamer Maggie Caris (3 intercepts, 3 gains, 4 deflections) came on into GK to change up the pressure in the Fever’s goal circle, throwing herself at every ball as she matched up on Fowler-Nembhard. Mundy and Moloney attempted to steady the ship through the middle, with 45 feeds and 23 goal assists between them, while Graham continued to make space and create options when the Vixens needed it most.

Q4 | Vixens 57–67 Fever
McKinnis made some last quarter changes, putting Sophie Garbin back into GS and bringing Zara Walters into WA. Garbin (16/20, 80%) and Austin picked up where they left off, showcasing some much-needed clean ball movement in the circle, while Walters (12 feeds, 7 goal assists) produced some clean feeds on the circle edge. Despite a fightback to reduce the margin, the home side couldn't get the job done and finished with a 10-goal margin.

THE NUMBERS
50 – Rudi Ellis played her 50^th career game. Since debuting for the Vixens last year, she has impressed with more consistent court time up against some of the world's best shooters, and made her Diamonds debut last year.
150 – Jo Weston hit a 150-game milestone for the second time in two rounds, this time in tandem with captain Kate Moloney. Since debuting in 2014 and 2013 respectively, the pair became just the second duo to play 150 games together in the ANZ Championship/Suncorp Super Netball era (after GIANTS co-captains Jamie-Lee Price and Jo Harten).

THE COACH SAYS
Head coach Simone McKinnis was full of praise post-game for youngster Maggie Caris who came on in the second half.

“I liked that she worked off the body... I think the more aggression and strength she gets on that contest she will get even more balls. I was pleased for her because… I think she came on and did really well.”

NEXT UP
The season’s first Melbourne derby is coming up in Round 4, with the Mavericks hosting the Vixens at John Cain Arena on Sunday 4 May. Tickets are available now via Ticketek.

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