Vixens welcome Venter, elevate Honey
The final piece to the Melbourne Vixens 2019 puzzle has been secured with the signings of South African goaler, Ine-Marí Venter and Vixens’ mid-courter, Tayla Honey.
Currently playing for the Gauteng Jaguars in South Africa’s Brutal Fruit Netball Premier League, 23-year-old Venter caught the eye of Head Coach Simone McKinnis at the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games where she represented the SPAR Proteas, a squad she’s been named in for the last two years.
With international caps to her name, Venter was shocked when the Melbourne Vixens selection panel contacted her.
“I couldn’t believe it when I first heard that an Australian based team was interested in me, and even more so that they wanted me to sign with them,” said Venter.
“I’m really excited to be a part of the Vixens, but also to play and live in Australia is a dream come true and a great opportunity to play against some of the best players in the world.”
A familiar face in the Vixens camp, 21-year-old Tayla Honey has been elevated from her two years as a Vixens training partner to round out the list of 10, with the timeline on Mwai Kumwenda’s return from ACL injury still unclear in the early stages of rehab.
Honey, who was a replacement player for the Vixens in 2018, said she is honoured to be elevated into the team.
“It’s such a surreal feeling, being given this opportunity. I still don’t know what to think but I’m definitely very keen for the 2019 season,” said Honey.
“Over the last two years [as a training partner] I’ve learnt that the Vixens have got an incredible culture and I’m so excited to be a part of that next year and to learn from some of the best in the game.”
The two signings now complete the Vixens’ 2019 list, with the last week’s announcement of Caitlin Thwaites joining the team.
INE-MARI VENTER
Hometown: Pretoria, South Africa
DOB: 21 April, 1995
Position: GS/GA
Height: 192cm
TAYLA HONEY
Hometown: Melbourne, Australia
DOB: 20 August, 1997
Position: C, WA
Height: 175cm
2019 TEAM
Kadie-Ann Dehaney
Tayla Honey
Renae Ingles
Mwai Kumwenda* (injured with no timeframe on return at this stage)
Emily Mannix
Kate Moloney
Tegan Philip
Caitlin Thwaites
Ine-Mari Venter
Liz Watson
Jo Weston
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We acknowledge the traditional owners and custodians of all the lands and waters where netball is played throughout Victoria and pay our respects to Elders past and present. We also wish to recognise the tremendous contribution Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people make to sport, and in particular netball in Victoria. We are committed to a journey of Reconciliation, working to break down barriers and ensuring equal opportunities for both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and non-Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities across our state.
Netball Victoria is a proudly diverse and inclusive organisation, that actively celebrates LGBT+ diversity, inclusion and pride within the sport of netball throughout Victoria.
The Melbourne Vixens compete in Australia’s premier netball league, Suncorp Super Netball.
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