Vixens Academy 2026 season wrap

The season began on a high with the Victorian side – led by head coach Wendy Jacobsen and assistant coach Tegan Hopkins – taking out their first three games over West Fever Reserves (54-47), GIANTS Netball Reserves (59-50), and Queensland Firebirds Reserves (61-52).

With different lineups starting most matches and multiple changes made throughout, Vixens Academy showcased their depth developed through the Victorian netball pathway and strengthened in the Reserves pre-season.

Vixens Academy’s regular season campaign concluded with four losses against Sunshine Coast Lightning Bolts (71-55), QBE Swifts Academy (62-60), Adelaide Thunderbirds Futures (54-43), and Melbourne Mavericks Reserves (61-51). The Victorian team established leads in two of these matches, and won at least one quarter in all four, but dipped in performance in critical patches allowing their opposition to close out games.

Vixens Academy entered the three-day finals weekend in 5th and maintained their position on the ladder through dominant wins over Tasmania Wild (69-31) then ACT’s Capital Darters (62-45).

15 athletes took the court for Vixens Academy across the 2026 SN Reserves season including: Ally O'Connor (2026 Melbourne Vixens training partner and Vixens Academy captain), Zali Anderson (2026 Melbourne Vixens training partner and Vixens Academy co vice-captain), Maggie Caris 2026 Melbourne Vixens 11th player and Vixens Academy co vice-captain), Lily Graham (2026 Melbourne Vixens contracted athlete), Mia Lavis (2026 Melbourne Vixens training partner), Gabby Dwyer (elevated to the squad mid-season), Taylah Brown, Bella Hodgson, Georgia Moody, Ruby Turner, and Ruby Pekin-Schlicht. Training partners Sahara Ball, Georgie O'Brien, Charli Nicol, and Casey Dunstan also earned court time across the campaign.

Collectively, these athletes represent eight of the 12 Victorian Netball League (VNL) teams competing in the Championship division: Boroondara Express, Melbourne University Lightning, Western Warriors, North East Blaze, Geelong Cougars, Bendigo Strikers, Hawks Netball, and Peninsula Waves. The youngest of 2026 Vixens Academy squad, 18-year-old Ball, also plays in Boroondara Express’ 23&Under side.

In a showing of the Reserves program’s strength, three Vixens Academy athletes made their Suncorp Super Netball (SSN) debuts during the 2026 season: O'Connor who became Melbourne Vixen #68 in Round 10, Pekin-Schlicht who became Melbourne Vixen #69 in Round 10, and Lavis who became Melbourne Vixen #70 in Round 12. Caris also returned to the SSN court this season in Round 10 as the Melbourne Vixens’ 2026 11th player after being part of the full-time contracted 2025 premiership winning squad.

Vixens Academy’s highest scoring goaler of 2026 was goal shooter Hodgson who shot 193 goals in regular time, and 3 super shots, including a 100% shooting accuracy performance in Round 6. Goal attack Lavis scored 150 goals and 32 super shots, including 8 super shots in Round 4 at 81% accuracy across regular and power five time. Ball scored 54 goals and 2 super shots throughout the season playing an impact role across GS/GA, and Moody scored 20 goals and 1 super shot during her minutes in goal attack.

Vixens Academy’s defenders likewise all made an impact on the stat sheet and worked cohesively as a unit, best showcased in the team’s finals win over Tasmania Wild. In this match, all five circle defenders took the court (Caris, Pekin-Schlicht, Turner, Nicol, and Dwyer) contributing to the team's 38 gain across the match – 33 of which were converted in goals for an 86% gain-to-goal rate.

It was a breakout season for Pekin-Schlicht, who went from being a 2025 Vixens Academy training partner to in 2026 being elevated to the main Vixens Academy team and making her SSN debut.

Vixen’s Academy’s midcourters were among the side’s most consistent players this season, often starting in matches and playing the majority of minutes across multiple positions: O'Connor in C/WD/WA showcasing her versatility and fitness; Anderson in WA/C for her ball security and precise feeds; and Brown in WD/C for her physical pressure and hustles for pickups. Moody was also regularly swung into WA for her circle vision.

You can continue watching all the Vixens Academy’s 2026 players in the VNL with nearly all matches available to attend and stream live for free. Visit vnl.com.au for more details including live streams, fixtures, ladders, round previews, and replays.