Round 4 Preview: Vixens v Thunderbirds

Following a polished performance in their 12-goal win over the Sunshine Coast Lightning on Wednesday night, the Vixens will return to USC Stadium on Sunday for another ‘home’ game on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast.

The Vixens Round 3 victory over the Lightning was particularly sweet, with the game being Co-Captain Kate Moloney’s 100^th, making her just the third person at the club to reach the milestone.

“It’s super special,” Moloney agreed. “I’m actually surprised that there’s only been three, but…to have my name alongside Bianca Chatfield and Tegan Philip, you know it’s super special. I’m just so grateful to be able to play 100 games at the Melbourne Vixens, and hopefully I can repay them for everything they’ve done for me.”

Re-pay the Melbourne Vixens fans watching on from back home in lockdown Moloney did, topping off her fairy tale night by being awarded the Nissan MVP for the match – her second for the season, just three rounds in. But ever the professional, the celebrations are complete and Moloney and her charges are now looking ahead to the Adelaide Thunderbirds.

“We’ll go and have a look at their footage,” she continued. “Adelaide have come out really strong this season. They’ve got a great defensive line and we’re going to have to have to really recover well and make sure we’re as prepared as possible as we can be for Sunday’s game.”

With two to four days between games for the Vixens this year – according to the six rounds of the 2020 Suncorp Super Netball fixture released so far – some may think this may be quite an adjustment from playing one game a week in a regular season, but Moloney is relishing the opportunity to play more and train less.

“It’s early on [in the season] but we’re actually really enjoying it [the condensed fixture]. As elite athletes you want to play and this way we’re not training as much - we’re just getting out there and playing and it’s all about the recovery for the next game.

“So…hopefully we can keep building and…maybe ask me again in a couple of weeks, I might have a different answer!” Moloney concluded with a laugh.

The Vixens meet the Adelaide Thunderbirds at USC Stadium in a fixtured home match on Sunday 16 August. The game will be broadcast live on Telstra TV and the Netball Live App from 3.30pm.

For our Melbourne army, you can support the Vixens from home on the couch, by using the hashtag #VixensAtHome on your social media, and become a Beyond the Court member for just $55 here.