Round 8 Match Report | GIANTS vs Vixens

Coming from behind in the third quarter, the crucial win puts the Vixens in equal fourth position on the ladder at the end of Round 8.

Met with impressive shooting accuracy from Matisse Letherbarrow and Sophie Dwyer, the Vixens remained composed to secure the win, led by stellar performances from Kiera Austin, Hannah Mundy and Jo Weston.

Q1 | GIANTS 19–15 Vixens
The GIANTS came out firing in front of their home crowd, picking up two early turnovers and converting quickly. The Vixens wanted to move quickly and look long into the first option, which the GIANTS combatted early to push out to a five-goal lead, but after a tactical time out the Vixens adjusted well. The visitors tightened up on their defence down the court, picking up two gains and ensuring they slowed the GIANTS' movement. Jo Weston (5 deflections, 6 gains, 2 intercepts, 2 rebounds) hunted down every loose ball, bringing her trademark tagging defence to steady the ship, while the GIANTS continued to move quickly and look long into Letherbarrow. A lift in defensive effort across the court and composed feeding from Mundy and the ever-reliable Kate Moloney in attack closed the margin, which sat at four goals at quarter time.

Q2 | GIANTS 35–33 Vixens
An early break was the start the Vixens needed, as Mundy (40 feeds, 21 goal assists, 1 gain, 1 intercept) and Moloney (30 feeds, 4 pickups, 2 deflections) worked beautifully down the court to circle edge, bringing the ball in cleaner and quicker. Kiera Austin (22/28, 78%) and Sophie Garbin (43/51, 84%) were working their magic in the circle, with quick one-two passing getting the Vixens on the scoreboard quickly. However, the GIANTS continued to convert under the post via Letherbarrow whose impact continued in the second term. While Rudi Ellis (5 gains, 2 intercepts, 2 deflections), Kate Eddy (3 deflections, 4 pickups) and Weston provided some intense pressure, Letherbarrow stepped up again in the power five which saw the margin quickly become six goals with two minutes to play. The Vixens responded in the final minutes to keep in touch, with Mundy’s relentless attack on the ball giving the Vixens some momentum before the main break.

Q3 | GIANTS 51–53 Vixens
With neither side able to break through and the contest remaining tight across the term, both teams were desperate to take their chances as they presented. Ellis had two early deflections and kickstarted the Vixens' energy, as they began to find momentum and hit the front for the first time with 9 minutes to play. The GIANTS called a tactical time out as the Vixens' impressive gained ball became threatening. Eddy, Mundy and Moloney brought the pace in the middle, propelling their side to a lead, and Eddy and Weston's suffocating pressure across the defensive transverse line forced a change for the GIANTS with Hope White coming in for Maddie Hay in WA. The GIANTS capitalised in the power five again with some late super shots from Letherbarrow and Dwyer, but the Vixens stayed composed and kept their quick ball movement going to lead by two at the final break.

Q4 | GIANTS 61–71 Vixens
Simone McKinnis injected some fresh legs in the midcourt with Zara Walters (1 gain, 1 intercept) coming into WD for Eddy. Walters picked up an impressive intercept early and applied some hungry see-ball-get-ball influence. Protecting the ball and converting quickly, the Vixens continued to power through the final term and grew their lead, but as the GIANTS responded McKinnis called a tactical time out with 8 minutes to play and made another clever change. With Weston moving into GK and Eddy coming back on into GD to offer a more dynamic defensive structure, Weston turned it on with an impressive intercept as the Vixens pushed the margin out beyond the GIANTS' reach. The home side's efforts in the power five saw the Vixens working overtime to keep the game on their terms, but with Austin's (33 feeds, 1 gain) player of the match performance and Weston’s relentless defence, the Vixens registered a 10-goal win.

THE NUMBERS
13 – The number of deflections combined between Jo Weston (5), Kate Eddy (3), Rudi Ellis (2), Kate Moloney (2) and Hannah Mundy (1). Displaying strong defensive pressure for the entire 60 minutes, all midcourters and defenders banked a deflection; an impressive sign of full team defence.

THE COACH SAYS
Simone McKinnis was pleased with her side’s work ethic and persistence to come from behind in a tough battle against the GIANTS.

“I’m really pleased with the way that we finished, I think it was hard work right from the start and I think it’s very valuable for us to be able to work our way through it.

“We were down but being able to pull ourselves out collectively and as a team and have that really strong finish. The GIANTS made it so tough … and that can easily get into your head. I thought we stuck to what we were doing and stuck together for the whole game.”

NEXT UP
Back-to-back home games are on the horizon for the Vixens, who host the season’s second Melbourne derby against the Mavericks at John Cain Arena on Sunday 8 June. Both teams will be supporting FightMND at the match, with fans encouraged to wear their Big Freeze 11 beanies or purchase one at the game.

ALL IN. ALL VIXEN.
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