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:
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