Vixens Academy | SN Reserves Finals | Day 1 Preview

It's finals time in Super Netball (SN) Reserves league where Vixens Academy will play two games over a three-day tournament at Sydney's Netball Centre before the 2026 champion is crowned.

Following a Play In Tournament to determine seedings 9th to 11th, Capital Darters (ACT), Tasmania Wild and Territory Storm (Northern Territory) have joined the eight remaining SN Reserves teams set to compete across the weekend.

After finishing 5th in the regular rounds, Vixens Academy will play 10th seed Tasmania Wild in their first finals match on Friday 12 June at 1pm AEST.

All Vixens Academy athletes who have played an on-court role in the 2026 season have been selected to travel and compete in the finals weekend. Among them are three athletes who made their Suncorp Super Netball debuts in the Melbourne Vixens this season — midcourter Ally O'Connor, defender Ruby Pekin-Schlicht, and goaler Mia Lavis — as well as 2025 premiership defender Maggie Caris.

Vixens Academy will face a young and talented Tasmanian Wild side coming off a 1-goal win over Territory Storm in their second and final Play In Tournament match on Tuesday.

The team's predominant goal shooter is Amber Brown, who shot 45 goals at 88% in the Play In Tournament. Brown has been successful in the national pathway, earning selection in the 2026 Australian 17/Under Squad, despite regularly travelling 2.5 hours to Launceston and 4.5 hours to Hobart from her home in Smithton for netball commitments.

Tasmania Wild's starting goal attack this week has been Sophie Blackberry, who represented Tasmania in State Teams since 2022 before joining Super Netball Reserves from 2025. Blackberry can shoot from range, sinking three super shots across her two matches so far.

Tasmania Wild have also injected Sophie Sherriff in goal attack in their 2026 Reserves games so far. Playing her second year in the competition, Sherriff brings impressive credentials, becoming the first Tasmanian to win the 17/U MVP award at the National Netball Championships in 2025, followed by making the 2025 Australian 17/Under Squad.

Tasmania Wild vice-captain Grace Close has likewise played an impact role across goal shooter and attack, sinking at least one super shot in her appearances on court so far.

In wing attack, Tasmania Wild have started second-year Reserves player Mackenzie Graves, who has also played minutes across centre.

SN Reserves rookie Danielle Laugher has been regularly brought on at wing attack, and she can alternatively move into goal attack.

Isabella Sherriff, twin sister of Sophie Sherriff, earned the starting centre bib in Tasmania's opening game against Capital Darters. She is one of the most exciting and pathway-experienced athletes in this side with her ability to cover all three midcourt positions, recognised with selection in 2024 and 2025 Australian 17/Under Squads, and 2026 Australian 19/Under Squad.

Attacking midcourter and second-year Reserves athlete Abbey Geappen started Tasmania Wild's second game of the week at centre. A proud Pinterrairer woman, she also plays in Tasmania's First Nations Lutruwita team coached by her mother, Fiona Geappen, who is a former Melbourne Phoenix premiership player.

Milana Harnett is Tasmania Wild's starting wing defence competing in the competition for a second year. She alternates in this position with Ruby Kaye, who recently earned her first national selection in the 2026 Australian 17/Under Squad.

Starting in goal defence is Gemma Collyer who returns to the SN Reserves league for a third year, and second year as Tasmania Wild captain. She has played minutes this week across goal keeper and defence, and can also move into wing defence as required.

Tasmania Wild's predominant goal keeper is Grace Ebbelaar who captained Tasmania's 19/U team at the National Netball Championships earlier this year.

2026 17/U Tasmania State Team athlete Macie Petterwood has played a valuable role off the bench at goal defence, working with Collyer to secure a match-saving rebound in their Territory Storm game.

2026 19/U Tasmania State Team athlete Lily Case has also played minutes across goal keeper and defence after being a training partner in 2025.

Vixens Academy will go into this match with experience and confidence after a 81-31 winning game over Tasmania Wild in the 2025 SN Reserves Finals featuring six of the same athletes for Vixens Academy, and 10 for Tasmania.

After an undefeated three-game start to the 2026 SN Reserves season, followed by four losses, the Victorian side have a point to prove across this weekend.

Expect Vixens Academy head coach Wendy Jacobsen to regularly rotate her squad across the games to strategic effect, while providing athletes with valuable exposure to this elite level of netball.

Following Day 1, Vixens Academy will play against 9th seed Capital Darters in their final match of the competition on Sunday 14 June at 8am AEST.

Vixens Academy 2026 Super Netball Reserves Finals squad

• Zali Anderson – 2026 Melbourne Vixens training partner and 2026 Vixens Academy co vice-captain
• Maggie Caris – 2026 Melbourne Vixens training partner, 2026 Vixens Academy co vice-captain, and Melbourne Vixen #66
• Mia Lavis – 2026 Melbourne Vixens training partner, 2026 Vixens Academy team member, and Melbourne Vixen #70
• Ally O'Connor – 2026 Melbourne Vixens training partner, 2026 Vixens Academy captain, and Melbourne Vixen #68
• Ruby Pekin-Schlicht – 2026 Vixens Academy team member, and Melbourne Vixen #69
• Taylah Brown
• Gabby Dwyer
• Bella Hodgson
• Georgia Moody
• Ruby Turner
• Sahara Ball (training partner)
• Georgie O'Brien (training partner)
• Charli Nicol (training partner)
• Casey Dunstan (training partner)

Find out more and purchase tickets to SN Reserves finals here.

Stream all Super Netball Reserves finals games via Kommunity TV/Code Sports and keep up to date with scores via Play HQ.