THE Melbourne Vixens are the Suncorp Super Netball minor premiers for 2022, after staging an almighty comeback against the Adelaide Thunderbirds to win by four goals, 51-47.

The Vixens really stole the win from the Thunderbirds in the dying minutes after Adelaide led for most of the game and really should have gone on to win. It was the home side who got off to the better start thanks to some excellent defensive work, nabbing the first two goals of the game.

The defensive pressure from the Thunderbirds was particularly strong, causing the Vixens to make silly, fumbly kind of mistakes. However the Vixens started to get into their grove again and took the lead as the midway point of the term came. The Thunderbirds’ then gained momentum and the lead back off some great defensive work from Shamera Sterling and Latanya Wilson.

Adelaide was able to maintain their lead for the remainder of the term, and held a three goal lead at the first break. Simone McKinnis’ quarter time chat to the Vixens certainly worked for the visitors as they eliminated the lead within the first five minutes of the quarter.

The Vixens took the lead but then the Thunderbirds rejigged their defensive line slightly in the hope they could regain their first quarter momentum. It seemed to work as they levelled things up again and took the lead in the shadows of the power five. Adelaide took the lead late but then the Vixens levelled things up in the last few seconds of the quarter to see the scored tied at the main break. 

Although Adelaide got the early lead in the third term, the Thunderbirds did also pick up an injury concern with Matilda Garrett having to leave the court. The Thunderbirds continued to have great defensive pressure, which meant they were able to maintain their lead, and it was looking like they were going to cause a great upset.  

Then, as the power five was fast approaching, the Vixens started to kick into gear and finally bridge the gap slightly, which had got out to as much as six goals. The Vixens bridged the gap back to three goals during the power five, but a late goal to the Thunderbirds saw the margin at four goals at the final change.

The final quarter saw the Vixens slowly but surely chip away at the lead in the first five minutes, and although they did not quite level things up, the Thunderbirds were spooked and rejigged their line up slightly in response, which did stop the Vixens’ flow. Adelaide was able to maintain a two to three goal buffer for much of the middle part of the third term, but the match still felt like it was going to go down to the wire.

Then the Vixens started to build again and again chipped away at the lead, and levelled things up just as the power five siren went. The Vixens took the lead with about three and a half minutes to go, but the Thunderbirds knew they were still in with a chance.

Unfortunately, things started to fall apart for the Thunderbirds after that. The home side stopped scoring as the likes of Emily Mannix in particular really lifted as the Vixens took the lead and ultimately took the win and break some Thunderbird hearts. Mannix, Jo Weston and Kate Moloney’s defensive work really helped the Vixens in the dying minutes of the game, and Liz Watson was a work horse in the attack end.

Meanwhile for the Thunderbirds, if it was not for Sterling and Wilson the home side would have been no shot at winning the game. Wilson finished with six gains, seven deflections and four intercepts, while Sterling finished with eight gains, four deflections and four intercepts of her own.

Next week sees the Vixens back at home to face cross town rivals the Magpies, while Adelaide have the daunting task of tackling the Fever at home.

ADELAIDE THUNDERBIRDS  13 | 14 | 15 | 5 (47)
MELBOURNE VIXENS  10 | 17 | 11 | 13 (51)

STARTING SEVENS

Adelaide Thunderbirds:

GS: Lenize Potgeiter
GA: Tippah Dwan
WA: Georgie Horjus
C: Tayla Williams
WD: Hannah Petty
GD: Latanya Wilson
GK: Shamera Sterling

Melbourne Vixens

GS: Mwai Kumwenda
GA: Kiera Austin
WA: Liz Watson
C: Kate Moloney
WD: Kate Eddy
GD: Jo Weston
GK: Emily Mannix