Round 7 Match Report | Firebirds vs Vixens

After struggling to find consistent form in recent weeks, the Vixens delivered a classy display of defensive pressure and attacking connection in Sophie Garbin's 100th national league game.

Celebrating the first instalment of the league's First Nations Round and wearing a dress designed by proud Wiradjuri woman Miah Pearce, player of the match Hannah Mundy and Kiera Austin put on brilliant performances to lead their side to victory.

Q1 | Firebirds 16–16 Vixens
Maggie Caris earned her first callup into the starting seven, sent straight to Mary Cholhok to quell the 201cm shooter's influence. From the first whistle it was a fiery battle under the post, with Caris throwing herself at every feed, while Cholhok stayed focused and efficient in her conversions. Both defensive ends found ball early, with Jo Weston (2 gains, 2 rebounds), Kate Eddy (1 deflection, 1 intercept, 8 centre pass receives) and Caris forcing an early held ball. The visitors took their chances late, headlined by 100-gamer Sophie Garbin’s (42/45, 93%) impressive shooting efficiency and skipper Kate Moloney’s (23 feeds, 3 pickups) clean ball movement. A late super shot from Emily Moore saw scores tied at the first break.

Q2 | Firebirds 30–34 Vixens
The Vixens brought some suffocating defence in the second quarter, with persistent body-on defence and hands-over pressure from Austin (20/23, 87%) and Mundy in the centre third. While the Firebirds consistently looked for Cholhok under the post, Weston played her role on Moore to shut down the second option in the circle for the home side. Mundy (33 feeds, 3 pickups) and Moloney brought some slick ball movement and quick centre pass conversions which kept their side in front for majority of the term. With two and a half minutes left to play, Rudi Ellis (2 gains, 1 intercept, 1 rebound) came into GK for Caris to tackle Cholhok’s influence,. Lily Graham also came in for Garbin with a minute to play, bringing her signature dynamic movement to the attack end as she nailed two from two super shots.

Q3 | Firebirds 43–51 Vixens
With Garbin coming back into GS, she and Austin (20 feeds, 2 deflections, 3 pickups) found great connection with their feeders to convert quickly and drove their side to the biggest lead of the game in the early stages of the quarter. The Firebirds stayed in touch, with Lara Dunkley dominating their feeds up against Kate Eddy in the middle. The Vixens called a tactical time out with six minutes to play, the main message from coach Simone McKinnis and captain Moloney being to find composure on transition. With four minutes to play, the home side called a tactical time out and Abigail Latu-Meafou sank two back-to-back super shots to eat into the margin. The Vixens continued to take their chances and convert at the other end, which saw them lead by 8 goals at three-quarter time.

Q4 | Firebirds 52–70 Vixens
An early intercept from Ellis set the tone for a strong final term for the visitors, who looked a different side to the one outclassed by the Lightning at home last week. The running machines in Mundy and Moloney continued their relentless attack on the ball, while Garbin’s footwork and goal line drives proved difficult to stop. Eddy’s last quarter was impressive, her persistent hands-over pressure forcing the Firebirds to reset and risk longer feeds as she kept their attackers off circle edge. While the Firebirds continued to press defensively and force some turnover ball, the Vixens' decision-making, seamless connections in attack and well-drilled defensive pressure proved too strong to overcome at Nissan Arena.

THE NUMBERS
90 – A stellar performance from Hannah Mundy saw her bank 90 Nissan Net Points. A classy show of 34 feeds, 22 goal assists and 3 pick ups from 60 minutes in wing attack saw her walk away as the player of the match.

THE COACH SAYS
Post-game, coach Simone McKinnis was particularly pleased with the improvement in her side's connection.

"Our main focus this week was about the teamwork and the connection and playing your roles ... what we want from each other and how we're going to do it. Our game will come from that.

"It was never about technical or tactical and all of that. It was about teamwork."

NEXT UP
The Vixens are on the road again in Round 8, heading to Sydney to take on the GIANTS at Ken Rosewall Arena on Sunday 1 June.

ALL IN. ALL VIXEN.
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