THE Melbourne Vixens had a relatively inconsistent 2018 campaign, but are shaping to be hot favourites heading into the third season of Suncorp Super Netball (SSN). They just missed out on finals last year, finishing fifth on the ladder but claimed some big upset wins, with a victory over the grand finalists and minor premiers, West Coast Fever. This year the Vixens will have to ensure that they are efficient and consistent across the four quarters if they are a chance to take out their first SSN title.
The Vixens maintained a relatively stable line-up over the off-season but will be without star Malawian goal shooter Mwai Kumwenda who ruptured her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in Round 12 last year. While they have lost her to injury, the Vixens have recruited shooting sensation and Australian Diamond Caitlin Thwaites. After two years with Collingwood and nine years away from the Vixens, Thwaites returns home and offers a great target in the ring with her strong holds, clever movement and impressive accuracy. Melbourne also signed South African goaler, Ine-Mari Venter who could develop into a key player if given enough exposure. The Vixens boast a very different shooting line-up to previous years but with the likes of Liz Watson and Kate Moloney through the midcourt the avenue to goal should be straight forward.
Besides from Venter and Thwaites coming in, the changes have been minimal with the defensive end remaining the same. After missing a couple of rounds last year with a finger injury, Emily Mannix will be wanting to ensure that she is solid in defence after goal keeper Kadie-Ann Dehaney was prominent during her time on the court.
Wing defence, Renae Ingles provides that great drive through the midcourt, while youngster Lara Dunkley has also been elevated from a training partner after Tayla Honey is set to spend some time on the sidelines after suffering an injury. Dunkley provides plenty of speed, dynamism and attack across the court making her a handy inclusion for the Vixens, to give Moloney and Watson a break.
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We also previewed some of the teams in detail in the return episode of the Centre Pass Podcast now hosted by Draft Central. Listen to the link below to hear about the Collingwood Magpies as well as Adelaide Thunderbirds, NSW Swifts and Melbourne Vixens:
Thunderbirds are a-going again to the top of the SSN tree
THE Adelaide Thunderbirds are queens of Australian netball again, after defeating the Melbourne Vixens 59-57 in an epic Suncorp Super Netball Grand Final. Despite some contentious umpiring calls, the full court defensive game of the Thunderbirds proved the ultimate difference, which really wore down the Vixens. Player of the Match honors went to Romelda Aiken-George, […]
Marvellous McKinnis makes Melbourne make history repeat
MELBOURNE Vixens head coach Simone McKinnis and her troops are back in a familiar place, back in a Suncorp Super Netball Grand Final two years after their last appearance in the big dance. McKinnis said that the fact that the vast majority of the group is the same as it was two years ago has […]
PREVIEW | 2024 Suncorp Super Netball Grand Final
THIS weekend sees the biggest day in the Australian netball calendar – the 2024 Suncorp Super Netball Grand Final. On Saturday night the Adelaide Thunderbirds will host the Melbourne Vixens for the second time in a month, but only one will emerge with the ultimate prize in Australian netball. GRAND FINAL Adelaide Thunderbirds vs Melbourne […]
Vixens out fox Fever to reach yet another decider
THE Melbourne Vixens are through to their third Grand Final in five years after a 73-72 goal win over the West Coast Fever in yesterday’s Suncorp Super Netball Preliminary Final. In a match worthy of its title and a continuation of the rivalry these teams have built over the past few years, it was as […]
PREVIEW | 2024 SSN Preliminary Final
THE Suncorp Super Netball has one grand finalist for 2024, and tomorrow the second will be decided. The Melbourne Vixens and the West Coast Fever are both perennial finalists in recent years, but which one will make it back into the Super Netball Grand Final for the first time since 2022? PRELIMINARY FINAL Melbourne Vixens […]
Adelaide Thunders into another title decider
ADELAIDE Thunderbirds are through to another decider after a dominant 68-43 win over the Melbourne Vixens in yesterday’s major semi-final. The margin was only six goals in the Thunderbirds’ favour at the first change, but a 19 goals to nine second quarter really set the tone for the rest of the match, and the Vixens […]
PREVIEW | 2024 SSN Major Semi-Final
TODAY it all begins – the 2024 Suncorp Super Netball finals. The series kicks off with the major semi-final between Adelaide Thunderbirds and Melbourne Vixens. The prize for winning today is huge – a spot in the grand final. Lose though, and not all hope is lost. Hosting duties for the preliminary final await next […]
Marvelous Mundy on a quest to make her own story
THIS YEAR is shaping up to be a year of change for Melbourne Vixens’ midcourter Hannah Mundy. As someone who has always been better know by and connected to who came before her, 2024 is the chance for Mundy to really make a name for herself. As the daughter of a netball great in Shelley […]
Spoilt for choice, Samason chooses life in NZ after tough 2023
THE relationship between Australian and New Zealand netball has always been idolised in the eyes of international viewers. From 2008 to 2016 there was the ANZ Championships, which saw five Australian and five New Zealand teams compete week in, week out. Each had their respective conference titles, but it was the overall competition that was […]
