THE Melbourne Vixens have again proven why they are Queens of the arm-wrestle in 2023, defeating Collingwood 64 goals to 55 in the final ever Melbourne Derby.

After Collingwood dominated the first half, the Vixens flipped the switch in the third quarter and pulled off a win that was at times a lot tighter than the final scoreboard would suggest.

The pressure was up from the get go for both sides, as there were a lot of tips and hot hands across the court.

It was impossible to split the teams for much of the quarter as that intensity maintained.

Eventually just as the Power Five was approaching Collingwood managed to begin to build a bit of a lead.

However, Kiera Austin found her range from Super Shot territory straight away and made sure Collingwood could not take their lead for granted.

The Magpies kept strong though, and ensured Austin’s Super Shot was not going to become a continuing pattern for the rest of the quarter.

In the end the Magpies held a four-goal lead at the end of the first quarter in what ended up being a low scoring quarter from both sides.

Collingwood maintained its lead through the opening stages of the second term, and even grew it out to upwards of eight goals.

But then, the Vixens started to win the defensive gains Collingwood had earlier in the game, and the scoreboard started to shift a bit.

Three late Super Shots from the Vixens though saw the margin drop drastically.

However, a late goal to Collingwood saw their lead sit at six goals at the main break.

It was the Vixens who got the better start to the second half, and as such methodically kept eating away at the deficit. They got within two goals before Collingwood steadied, however the Vixens managed to complete the comeback with another Super Shot from Austin, her fourth for the game.

Things then took a turn for Austin and the Vixens when she was forced from court after being involved in a heavy collision. Thankfully for the Vixens she was able to return to the court in the final quarter.

With one last late goal from Mwai Kumwenda, the Vixens held a one goal lead heading into the final quarter and the John Cain Arena crowd were on their feet.

Austin was not the only injury scare for the game in the end, with Molly Jovic forced from the court early in the last quarter after also coming off second best in a heavy collision. She did not return to the court but was walking around post match.

This really did not help the Pies, who conceded the first four goals of the quarter as the Vixens continued to take control of the game.

The Pies were not going to lie down easily though, and fought back to get within a goal of their rivals.

The Vixens recovered and then got out to as much as six goals in front, but after Shimona Nelson found her range from Super Shot territory, the Magpies were not going to go away easily.

However the Vixens then rallied again and put the result out of Collingwood’s reach.

Emily Mannix was at times a woman on a mission for the Vixens, and finished with five gains, four deflections and a rebound.

Injury scare aside, Austin (15 regular goals, four Super Shots, 22 feeds, 16 assists, three gains, three deflections, one rebound) also had a big impact both in and out of the ring.

Meanwhile for the Magpies it was their defenders, namely Geva Mentor (seven gains, four deflections, two rebounds) and Jodi-Ann Ward (seven deflections, four gains, three intercepts).

MELBOURNE VIXENS                    10 | 16 | 20 | 18 (64)
COLLINGWOOD MAGPIES            14 | 18 | 13 | 10 (55)

STARTING SEVENS

Melbourne Vixens

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

Collingwood Magpies

GS: Shimona Nelson
GA: Sophie Garbin
WA: Kelsey Browne
C: Molly Jovic
WD: Ash Brazill
GD: Jodi-Ann Ward
GK: Geva Mentor