THE Melbourne Vixens are the first team into the 2020 Suncorp Super Netball grand final after defeating Sunshine Coast Lightning 63-47. It was a complete and utter demolition job by the minor premiers, with their sheer ball speed and full court defensive pressure causing all sorts of chaos for the Lightning.

An early turnover from the Lightning saw the Vixens blister down court with some long transition play. A three goal to zip start off the hands of Caitlin Thwaites was exactly what the Vixens hoped for as Phumza Maweni found a wealth of whistle early. Missing Kate Eddy, youngster Allie Smith got the nod at wing defence and did not skip a beat, immediately getting hands to ball. It was a scrappy start for the Lightning losing a wealth of ball through transition. With three minutes played Sunshine Coast found their way to goal through Steph Wood with the goal attack popping out under the post. the physicality went up a notch with both sides contesting every ball but the influence of Wood was starting to become a factor slotting consecutive goals and drawing her side back to within a goal.

Speed proved to be the answer for the Vixens with the Melbourne based side carving up the court while a more patient approach from the Lightning allowed them to keep in touch. After a slow start, Cara Koenen made her way into the game finding a wealth of space along the baseline and using her fancy footwork to lose Emily Mannix. Proppy on her ankle, Liz Watson was tested in every facet of the game with Maddy McAuliffe wearing her like a glove and making her earn every pass. The intensity continued to increase as big defensive efforts from Mannix and Maweni allowed them to regain possession for their respective sides. Thwaites continued her merry way, sinking the first super shot of the game to keep the Vixens’ nose in front. Down by eight goals McAuliffe sent the Lightning into transition with Wood delivering a super shot before Koenen also landed a two-point shot of her own.

Lightning upped the ante in defence making life hard for the Vixens frontend, forced to swing the ball around the court. Up the other end, the shooter to shooter interplay between Wood and Koenen started to hum, before Kate Moloney sent shockwaves through the Vixens camp going down with a suspected ankle injury forcing youngster Elle McDonald to make her way onto court. The transition was seamless, with McDonald identifying the space with ease and delivering the ball on a silver platter to Thwaites and Kumwenda. The Vixens maintained a handy six goal lead as Moloney made her way back onto the court after a short stint on the bench to get her ankle strapped.

Cleanliness started to waver for both sides as unforced errors started to creep into the game. The battle between Wood and Jo Weston was intense, with the latter refusing to give an inch of space while also having a commanding influence in the Vixens swing from defence into attack. With a timeout called Tegan Philip entered the game, using her speed to dart around the court. An offensive contact call on Laura Scherian halted the Lightning’s movement as the Vixens extended the lead to a whopping 11 goals. Inaccuracy plagued the Lightning allowing the Vixens defence to capitalise with Mannix, Weston and Smith having a field day. The introduction of Peace Proscovia did not seem to faze the Vixens as they completely shunted the movement of Sunshine Coast and put the foot down themselves to hold a commanding 14 goal lead at half time.

It was a hot start for the Lightning but a couple of poorly executed passes and lack of pressure on transition enabled the Vixens to weather the storm and keep the scoreboard ticking over. With the game slipping away, two goals in a row from Wood gave them a pep in their step as they tried to mount somewhat of a comeback against the minor premiers. It was clear that the Lightning came out with a point to prove as Maweni and Karla Pretorius tightened up in defence to force wayward balls and create doubt in the feeders minds. Laura Langman started to work her way into the game, tussling hard with Moloney while also hitting the circle edge with some serious conviction.

With the super shot in play, the Vixens made the most of it with Thwaites inflicting pain while up the other end the Lighting opted for the more cautious approach given Wood was well covered. Sunshine Coast simply had no answers for the Vixens who mounted pressure in all aspects of the game, with Mannix throwing herself at everything and the goalers dominating at the post stretching out to a whopping 20 goal lead.

With the game all but won and done the Vixens threw the bibs around as Philip pulled on the goal attack bib and Thwaites the goal shooter bib. The short and sharp passes from the Melbourne Vixens kept the Lightning defenders at bay as the minor premiers had a hand in everything. Flat out on their feet, the Vixens proved why they are considered premiership favourites owning the final quarter to run out with a 16 goal victory.

Announcing her retirement come season end, Thwaites was influential as ever under the post for the Melbourne Vixens with the veteran goaler nailing 25 goals with five of them super shots. Kumwenda continued her scintillating form not missing any of her 31 attempts while Philip made a handy cameo. The Vixens frontend relished the full return of Watson with the wing attack amassing a game high 27 goal assists. Up the other end, Langman was the general finishing with 17 goal assists. Koenen was dominant from under the post nailing 23 goals from 25 attempts while Wood flexed her muscles from range to finish with three super shots. Defensively the tried and tested duo of Weston and Mannix reigned supreme, collecting gains six of them intercepts with the latter walking away with player of the match honours.

>>> VIXENS TEAM PAGE
>>> LIGHTNING TEAM PAGE
>>> FULL MATCH STATS

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Melbourne Vixens 18 | 16 | 16 | 13 (63)
Sunshine Coast Lightning 13 | 7 | 10 | 17 (47)

STARTING SEVEN:

Melbourne Vixens

GS: Mwai Kumwenda
GA: Caitlin Thwaites
WA: Liz Watson
C: Kate Moloney
WD: Allie Smith
GD: Jo Weston
GK: Emily Mannix

Sunshine Coast Lightning

GS: Cara Koenen
GA: Steph Wood
WA: Laura Scherian
C: Laura Langman
WD: Maddy McAuliffe
GD: Karla Pretorius
GK: Phumza Maweni