Vixens Academy | Round 2 preview

If the close Round 1 matches are any indication, the league will be tightly contested this year, with several SSN-experienced players and stars of the future in the competition.

Vixens Academy are coming off a 7-goal win (the largest margin of Round 1) over reigning premiers West Coast Fever Reserves, while GIANTS lost by 1 in the final seconds to QBE Swifts Academy who pulled off a fourth quarter comeback.

The GIANTS Reserves team comprises six athletes returning to the squad from 2025 (who finished 11th), including their captain and defensive midcourter Jamie Podmore-Taylor, supported by fellow returning player and attacking midcourter Audrey Little as vice-captain. Both are experienced players in the NSW pathway, and Little a current GIANTS SSN training partner and previous NSW Swifts SSN training partner.

Another 2026 GIANTS Netball SSN training partner and returning Reserves player is Monika 'Otai. The shooter was GIANTS’ 11th player in their 2025 SSN squad who shot at 100% in on debut, and captained Australia's FAST5 gold medal-winning team at the 2023 Trinbago Commonwealth Youth Games.

The fellow returning goalers are Olivia Harris, who has experience playing in GIANTS’ SSN pre-season matches, and versatile Ellie Hart who captained the gold medal-winning NSW 19/U State Team at the 2026 National Netball Championships.

Making her Reserves debut this season is GIANTS’ remaining 2026 training partner, Eva Carneiro. The 16-year-old defender plays beyond her years with her fast footwork and pressure, and she recently captained NSW’s 17/U State Team at the 2026 National Netball Championships.

Also among the new faces this season is defensive midcourter and NSW 19/U State Team vice-captain Matilda Fanning, and defender Violet Wetsteyn. The squad also includes three athletes in 2026 Australian 19/Under Squad in attacking midcourter Marley Aplin, versatile defender Kelis Ogle, and goaler Matilda Percival.

Vixens Academy can expect to face a similar match day squad to GIANTS Reserves Round 1 team, with the likely additions of goal attack Skye Thompson and defender Dakota Thomas if not elevated to GIANTS Netball’s SSN match day squad. Both players made their SSN debuts in Round 7 – Thompson as the elevated 11th player, and Thomas as a temporary replacement player.

Vixens Academy will need to draw on their experience to win this against this young and exciting side. Key to the game plan will be limiting goal attempts in the power 5, especially via Harris, who shot 7 super shots in Round 1. Watch for the defensive combination of Vixens Academy’s Maggie Caris and Ruby Pekin-Schlicht to apply their rangy arms over the shot.

It will be a battle of speed and strength in the midcourt with Little and Podmore-Taylor likely to test Vixens Academy captain Ally O’Connor and vice-captain Zali Anderson who both had dominant Round 1 performances.

Goal attack Mia Lavis and goal shooter Bella Hodgson had patches of brilliance last week but will need to be crafty to find space against Carneiro, Egan, and Wetsteyn.

GIANTS played a relatively stable lineup in their Round 1 game with no changes to their shooters or midcourters, while Vixens Academy used their entire 12-person match day squad to pull off their win over Fever. Expect Vixens Academy head coach Wendy Jacobsen to again use the bench strategically to bring on fresh legs, test match ups, and build on combinations.

Vixens Academy vs GIANTS Netball Reserves
Sunday 3 May, 6.30pm AEST, John Cain Arena (following the Melbourne Vixens v GIANTS Netball Round 8 SSN match)
Admission is included with all SSN tickets to this match
Stream all Super Netball Reserves games via Kommunity TV/Code Sports and keep up to date with scores via Play HQ