Moloney, Watson and Mannix to lead the Vixens in 2020

Emily Mannix will also join the team’s 2020 leadership group as Vice-Captain.

With 2020 being Moloney’s eighth season at the club, she said it was an honour to lead the team for what is now half her time at the club.

“I grew up following the Kestrels and the Phoenix and then the Vixens,” Moloney said. “That was always the level of netballer I’d aspired to be, so to have been able lead a club with such a proud history for such a period of time is truly something.”

“Lizzy and I have known each other and played together for a long time now, so it’s quite poetic that we now have the opportunity to lead this club that we both grew up aspiring to play for, together.”

Despite being Melbourne Vixens Co-Vice-Captain for the past two seasons, as well as current Australian Diamonds Vice Captain, Liz Watson said she was surprised to learn that she would be joining Moloney in the top-job for 2020.

“The fact that the leadership group is voted by the team makes it really meaningful,” Watson said.

“Kate has done such a fantastic job as captain over the past three seasons that I don’t really think she needs much help,” Watson added,” but I will always be there to support her and all my teammates where I can.”

Joining the Vixens leadership group for the first time in 2020, Mannix said she was shocked when she would be the team’s Vice-Captain for 2020.

“I was like, ‘I know 2020 has been a bit of an odd year so far, but, are you serious?!’” Mannix laughed.

“But no in all honesty, I was surprised, but it is a privilege to be voted in by the team, alongside Kate and Lizzy who have been such great leaders of our team for many years now.”

Whilst the Vixens are not a team who like to spend a lot of time focussing on individual accolades, Head Coach, Simone McKinnis OAM, said the squad was fortunate to have so many natural leaders within the wider group.

“Kate, Lizzy and Em have already been such positive role-models for the whole team throughout what has been a very up and down year for everyone so far,” McKinnis reiterated, “so I have no doubt they will do a fantastic job leading our team both on- and off-court throughout this unusual season.”

“We are lucky to have so many leaders within not just our team but our wider squad,” McKinnis continued. “Every single person in our squad could be in the leadership group or be a future Captain of the Vixens. We are lucky to be developing not only great athletes, but great leaders too.”

The 2020 Suncorp Super Netball season will commence on August 1, with fixture information to be released within the coming days.