Round 7 Preview: Thunderbirds v Vixens

Just 10 days after their Round 4 clash against the Thunderbirds, the Vixens will be looking to turn the tables on their previous meeting, with the team from Adelaide the only side to have snatched a victory over the Vixens thus far in 2020.

Melbourne Vixens Co-Captain, Liz Watson, said her team would be buoyed from a hard-fought victory over the GIANTS in Round 6.

“It was a very tough game [against the GIANTS], and I think for us to be able to come out of that…you know we were down by five goals at half time, and for us to grind that out and win, we’re really proud of that effort.

“I think in the past we probably would’ve let that slip away,” Watson continued.

“So yeah lots to take out of that, it was a grind, it was a tough game, they put out everything…it was physical but we knew that, so very, very proud of how we came out at the end.”

Watson added that her side was motivated by the chance to avenge their Round 4 loss to the Thunderbirds, which was played just 10 days ago.

“I guess the benefit of that [having already played the Thunderbirds so recently], is that we can go and re-watch that game. We were very disappointed with that game, it’s something that we look back and think that we’re such a different team now compared to that game so it was probably good - I mean no one likes losing but we definitely learnt a lot from that and we’re going to take that tomorrow.

“I think just having that good start, having that presence and just going out there and being confident,” Watson reasoned were key to a positive result for her side tomorrow.

“We…are on the back foot now; they did beat us last time, so I think going out there with that belief and confidence and then taking the positives from all the games we’ve played so far. We’ve played some really good netball and we can’t just look at the one negative game that we had…[we] just have to take all the positives from our wins.”

Watson added that the launch of the Melbourne Vixens #WitnessFearless campaign in conjunction with apparel partners, Puma, had further lifted the motivation of the team nearing the halfway point of the season.

“It was amazing, it came together very quickly, but it was so nice to run out there and have it across our chest and just be really proud that we love this sport, we love this game, and we want everyone else out there to love it just as much as we do. So hopefully everyone back home can turn on the TV and tell all their friends to turn it on [too] and have a look at what we’re all about and #WitnessFearless!”

The Vixens will seek redemption against the Thunderbirds when they face off at Brisbane’s Nissan Arena tomorrow night. The match will be broadcast live on Telstra TV and the Netball Live App from 7.30pm.

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.