The Melbourne Vixens may be underdogs heading into Saturday’s Super Netball grand final, but don’t write them off captain Kate Moloney says.
A 25-point semi final loss to Adelaide has many critics worried the decider will follow a similar path – and see the Thunderbirds become just the second side in Super Netball history to go back-to-back.
But Moloney says her side learnt plenty of lessons from that horror loss just two weeks ago.
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“We know the Thunderbirds are going to bring it from the start and we want to bring a new level of netball that we haven’t seen all year,” Moloney said.
“It’s going to be tough, but we’re looking forward to it.”
STARTING LINE UPS
Thunderbirds: GK Sterling-Humphrey, GD Garrett, WD Wilson, C Williams, WA Horjus, GA Frew, GS Aiken-George
Vixens: GK Ellis, GD Weston, WD Eddy, C Moloney, WA Mundy, GA Austin, GS Garbin
Thunderbirds red hot final favourites | 01:01
The 2024 Super Netball grand final will be held at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre on Saturday.
The first centre pass in the Super Netball grand final is from 7pm AEST.
QUARTER BY QUARTER MATCH REPORT
The Vixens made the first big move of the decider by opting to start in-form goal keeper Emily Mannix on the bench.
Mannix was clearly frustrated in their semi-final loss to the Thunderbirds, with Jo Weston instead given the nod to take on young goal attack Lauren Frew.
It was a horror start for the Thunderbirds who threw away the opening centre pass, and another moments later.
Matilda Garrett and Shamera Sterling-Humphrey had hands on ball early but again the Thunderbirds were wasteful, pushing a pass too wide for Romelda Aiken-George to allow Melbourne out to a five-goal lead.
“They are keeping the ball safe,” Fox Netball’s Cath Cox praised of the Vixens.
“It’s completely undefendable netball.”
“They are playing without any fear,” former Thunderbird Emily Beaton added.
A whopping 18 to 4 circle feed count was hurting the Thunderbirds in the opening 10 minutes.
Tayla Williams headed to the bench with captain Hannah Petty injected earlier than expected as Adelaide started to close.
Kiera Austin landed the first supershot with less than two minutes to play as it as the Vixens who took a 16-13 lead into the first change.
The two sides traded blows in the second term as the Thunderbirds defensive pressure lifted.
A big Latanya Wilson intercept – when the Vixens had a two on one inside the circle – brought the Adelaide crowd to their feet as Simone McKinnis called the timeout.
A costly slip by Kate Moloney ensured scores were levelled with less than four minutes to play.
A tough penalty against Emily Mannix, fresh on court at goal keeper, when the Thunderbirds had thrown it away and then another Vixens turnover saw Adelaide skip ahead to a two-goal buffer.
Austin’s supershot saw scores tied at half time 28-all.
Wilson was again in the thick of the action to start the third as she pulled in a crucial rebound.
With the Thunderbirds up by 2, Austin continued her charge with her 15th goal of the match.
A clean Shamera Sterling-Humphrey intercept saw Adelaide out by four.
But again it was Austin from range to draw her side back.
Just as Melbourne looked set to draw level, Sterling-Humphrey got involved again.
Georgie Horjus shifted to goal attack for the first time in the contest with just two minutes to play in the third.
At the final change, it was Adelaide leading 42-41.
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Source Agencies
