Melbourne Vixens stun NSW Swifts in preliminary final comeback, grand final vs West Coast Fever
Melbourne Vixens are riding high after a last ditch effort to beat the NSW Swifts by 66 to 65 points, to book their place in the 2025 Super Netball grand final.
They came from behind in the dying seconds of the game, having trailed 51-41 after the third quarter, and will go into next week's match full of confidence having won eight of their last ten games.
Watch every game of the 2025 Suncorp Super Netball season, LIVE on Kayo. New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1.
Standing in their way however, will be the formidable West Coast Fever, who demolished the Swifts by 32 points in last weekend's major semi-final.
Speaking post match captain and MVP Kate Moloney said, 'I'm exhausted but I'm so bloody proud. We were down by ten goals and we found something in that last quarter and they just never stopped fighting.'
Coaching her second last match with the Vixens, Simone McKinnis, added, 'We weren't going to walk away from here afraid to take risks. They saw a glimpse and a hope and away they went.'
It was the greatest preliminary final comeback in Super Netball history, beating the nine-goal market the Vixens set in 2022 against the Giants.
It was a dismal end to the season for Swifts, despite the return of inspirational captain Paige Hadley who has missed the last two rounds with a foot injury. While she provided a calm head and safe pair of hands, the Swifts have been bundled out of the finals in straight sets, after looking untouchable as they went undefeated through the first eight rounds.
Melbourne Vixens players celebrate. (Photo by)
Simone McKinnis inspired her players. (Photo by)
There was immense pressure from the opening whistle, causing fumbles, stray passes and uncharacteristic missed shots. The Swifts were first to take advantage of those errors, going long and high to Grace Nweke in the circle. Despite her athleticism, some balls were sprayed over her head or swatted away by goal keeper Rudi Ellis who finished with six gains, allowing the Vixens to shift gears and take a three point lead into the first break.
The Swifts hit the front in the second quarter as their confidence grew, with Helen Housby raising the bar after a quiet few weeks. Passes started going in more smoothly to the circle, with Nweke lifting her shooting from a subpar 77 percent in the first quarter to a total of 53/58 at 91 percent across the match.
With the Swifts' Sharni Lambden applying enormous pressure at wing defence, Vixens' skipper Moloney did everything she could to pull her side over the line. She had a strong connection with Sophie Garbin under the post, who picked up the slack while the hero of so many victories, Kiera Austin, struggled for influence early on.
The Swifts couldn't believe it. (Photo by Mark)
The Vixens seemed down and out of the contest with the deficit sitting at 11 points and their penalties twice their opponents, until Lily Graham sank consecutive supershots to bring the margin back to single digits.
In an inspirational last quarter Austin finally switched on her radar when it counted, firing in three long range shots to finish with 12/16 including four from five supershots, while her partner Garbin had a solid 46/47. The Vixens found another gear and rolled over the Swifts in highly emotional scenes.
MCKINNIS MAGIC
Simone McKinnis will make her final appearance as Vixens' coach in next weekend's grand final, after 212 games in charge of the club. Across 13 years, she's taken them to two titles, three minor premierships and a further three grand final appearances, and will leave massive shoes to fill.
It looked like it was going to be McKinnis' final game in charge at the end of the third quarter but an inspiration and emotional final address helped inspire the Vixens to life.
'We have nothing to lose here! Except for throwing our best selves as this contest,' McKinnis said.
PAIN FOLLOWS A POINT
Remarkably, the previous three Super Netball preliminary finals have been decided by a solitary point, with the Vixens taking out two of those wins, and the Swifts the other. Despite moving on into the grand final, neither side was then able to steal the ultimate victory.
Originally published as Super Netball stunner as emotional speech sparks all-time Vixens comeback
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Perth Now
an hour ago
- Perth Now
Vixens to exploit home comforts in netball grand final
The Melbourne Vixens are aiming to go full throttle as they enter the dangerous comfort zone of hosting a Super Netball grand final. Vixens coach Simone McKinnis is urging her side to stay hungry as they prepare to take on a formidable West Coast outfit on Saturday at Rod Laver Arena. The Vixens booked their spot in the decider with a stirring comeback over the NSW Swifts, turning around a 10-goal deficit at the final change to win by one in the dying seconds. West Coast finished on top of the table but McKinnis's side avoid the RAC Arena fortress thanks to Super Netball's controversial policy of selling hosting rights for the decider. A hostile environment at RAC Arena went a long way towards helping West Coast undermine top-two side NSW, with the Fever pulling off a 77-45 semi-final mauling. McKinnis won't let her side become too carried away, given the Vixens' season almost ended when the Swifts powered to a 51-41 lead at three quarter-time. "We lacked a bit of dynamic movement and punch and attack at times," McKinnis said. "When changing in the defensive structures, we didn't adapt well all the time. "We've got to take what we have to out of this because up against a Fever, you don't get a second chance or a look. "They don't give you much chance." Vixens captain Kate Moloney, who played in the club's 2020 grand final win at Brisbane venue Nissan Arena during COVID-19, can only imagine the bonus of creating a fortress for a decider. "It hasn't quite sunk in. That game, just the fight that we showed, I'm pretty exhausted right now," Moloney said. "It's amazing that we get to have (a grand final) at home. "The last grand final that we won was in a hub, and we didn't get to share that with our Melbourne Vixens fans. "They've been with us this whole time. They've sold out John Cain Arena each week. "It's an amazing reward for them as well, that we get to go home and we get the opportunity to hopefully go all the way." The NSW Swifts were left lamenting what could've been after suffering straight-sets finals exits. "We probably just looked a bit too far ahead today," Swifts co-captain Maddy Turner said. "We probably saw ourselves already like, that foot in the grand final at three-quarter time, so again, another learning."
Perth Now
an hour ago
- Perth Now
The 'humble freak' St Kilda love and want to keep
St Kilda want Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera to stay "forever" but Saints teammate Hunter Clark says there will be no hard feelings if the matchwinning star returns to South Australia. Wanganeen-Milera wrote himself into St Kilda folklore at Marvel Stadium on Sunday, lifting the Saints to the biggest three-quarter-time comeback - 46 points - in VFL/AFL history. The silky 22-year-old kicked the final two goals in just 14 seconds of game time as St Kilda pinched a remarkable six-point victory over Melbourne. Wanganeen-Milera's soaring mark over Demons forward Bayley Fritsch to set up the game-equalling goal even prompted an emotional reaction of disbelief from usually solemn Saints coach Ross Lyon. Clark, who also produced some important moments late against Melbourne, was in awe at what Wanganeen-Milera achieved. "He's obviously got a really big decision, and he'll do what's best for himself, and there'll be no hard feelings either way," Clark told AAP. "Obviously we'd love him to stay forever; he's going to be, if he's not already, up there for one of the best players in the competition. "He's only 22 so I think his future is going to be so bright and he deserves everything that comes his way." Wanganeen-Milera remains unsigned for next season as he contemplates massive offers from Adelaide and Port Adelaide to play back in his home state. He was drafted with pick 11 out of Glenelg in 2021, playing 82 games for the Saints. St Kilda have also thrown a big contract in front of him as arguably the key player in the club's rebuild and bid for an elusive second premiership. Wanganeen-Milera, who had a game-high 34 disposals alongside his match-winning four goals, was in doubt to play against the Demons due to a stye in his eye. The club doctor called Lyon early on Sunday morning to let him know his best player was in doubt, but Wanganeen-Milera reassured his coach he would be fine. "He's an absolute freak," Clark said of his teammate's skill. "But he's such a good man. "The way he plays, almost you'd expect him to just be this real out there character, like he probably has every right to just strut around. "But he's the most humble bloke you'll come across. "He's an absolute freak of a talent, but he works as hard as anyone. It's not all just what you see on the field. "He's absolute star, and I think he's made for those moments." After just their second win since the start of May, St Kilda can take confidence out of their Marvel miracle into 2026. "If we can just finish the year strong, just keep getting experience into everyone and keep growing," Clark said. "Then just get to work over the summer. "It's not just going to happen in a day. "I see a lot of the teams over the last few years, it can take five or six years until you have gone through s**t, until you get there."
West Australian
an hour ago
- West Australian
Vixens to exploit home comforts in netball grand final
The Melbourne Vixens are aiming to go full throttle as they enter the dangerous comfort zone of hosting a Super Netball grand final. Vixens coach Simone McKinnis is urging her side to stay hungry as they prepare to take on a formidable West Coast outfit on Saturday at Rod Laver Arena. The Vixens booked their spot in the decider with a stirring comeback over the NSW Swifts, turning around a 10-goal deficit at the final change to win by one in the dying seconds. West Coast finished on top of the table but McKinnis's side avoid the RAC Arena fortress thanks to Super Netball's controversial policy of selling hosting rights for the decider. A hostile environment at RAC Arena went a long way towards helping West Coast undermine top-two side NSW, with the Fever pulling off a 77-45 semi-final mauling. McKinnis won't let her side become too carried away, given the Vixens' season almost ended when the Swifts powered to a 51-41 lead at three quarter-time. "We lacked a bit of dynamic movement and punch and attack at times," McKinnis said. "When changing in the defensive structures, we didn't adapt well all the time. "We've got to take what we have to out of this because up against a Fever, you don't get a second chance or a look. "They don't give you much chance." Vixens captain Kate Moloney, who played in the club's 2020 grand final win at Brisbane venue Nissan Arena during COVID-19, can only imagine the bonus of creating a fortress for a decider. "It hasn't quite sunk in. That game, just the fight that we showed, I'm pretty exhausted right now," Moloney said. "It's amazing that we get to have (a grand final) at home. "The last grand final that we won was in a hub, and we didn't get to share that with our Melbourne Vixens fans. "They've been with us this whole time. They've sold out John Cain Arena each week. "It's an amazing reward for them as well, that we get to go home and we get the opportunity to hopefully go all the way." The NSW Swifts were left lamenting what could've been after suffering straight-sets finals exits. "We probably just looked a bit too far ahead today," Swifts co-captain Maddy Turner said. "We probably saw ourselves already like, that foot in the grand final at three-quarter time, so again, another learning."
