Vixens earn ultimate revenge, end Thunderbirds' Super Netball three-peat hopes
With the teams barely separated for 60 minutes, it was a super shot shoot out between Georgie Horjus and Kiera Austin that decided the game, with superior composure from MVP Austin in the clutch moments that gave her side the win.
Austin spoke about the feeling she had heading into the game, as well as the shot that sealed the deal.
'It was the most relaxed I have felt in a while, I wanted to be in the moment,' she said.
'I have some great teammates around me who believe I could make the shot.'
Kate Moloney passes for the Vixens. Picture: Getty Images
With the game in the balance, Matilda Garrett was forced from the court with injury.
In the time out that followed, Tania Obst was direct to her star shooter Horjus.
'Georgie, you are going to have to be brave mate,' said Obst, as she was tasked with bringing the game home for them.
Despite her two super shots, it was a miss that landed in the hands of the Vixens that gave them the chance to then play possession netball and come away with a hard fought win.
The Vixens were handed a minor complication before the first whistle, with starting goal keeper Rudi Ellis copping a stray elbow from teammate Jo Weston that left a nasty cut requiring some quick attention from the medical staff. It didn't perturb Ellis, who was quick into the action and working hard to disrupt the ball into Romelda Aiken-George.
Romelda Aiken-George has been on-target for the Thunderbirds all season. Picture: Getty Images
Kate Eddy was tasked with containing reigning season MVP Georgie Horjus, and did so with ease. She finished the game with three gains and only five penalties while forcing Horjus into an uncharacteristic two turnovers.
As the lead started to push out, Thunderbirds were quick to pull their super sub and move Georgie Horjus into goal attack and it didn't take long for her to hit her first two super shots and draw the margin back to three heading into the main break.
The Thunderbirds defensive duo were kept relatively quiet, with the ball speed and patience from the Vixens limiting their ability to win any ball finishing with only three gains between them.
The battle between Latanya Wilson and Austin was tipped to decide the game, with Austin dominating in the first half as she moved around the court with ease and wasn't put off by Wilson's lengthy reach.
Becoming increasingly frustrated by her inability to win ball, Wilson's penalties increased to 16, ahead of her season average of 14.2 per game.
The victory marks the first time in four matches that the Vixens have toppled the 2024 premiers, and sets them up for yet another do or die clash with either the West Coast Fever or NSW Swifts next weekend to earn a place in the grand final.
It also provides the chance for the Vixens to send head coach Simone McKinnis out on the ultimate high, as she is set to step down from her role at season's end.
Thunderbirds wing defence Sophie Casey looks to pass. Picture: Getty Images
MIGHTY MCKINNIS
Melbourne Vixens head coach Simone McKinnis announced mid-season that this would be her last at the helm of the Victorian powerhouse club.
She took over the reins 13 years ago, and in that time has guided the club to two premierships, two additional grand final appearances and three minor premierships.
Having coached over 200 games of elite netball, she is one of the most respected coaches in the game and is responsible for the development of a raft of current and former Diamonds players.
MATILDA'S MILESTONE
Thunderbirds defender Matilda Garrett notched up her 100th national league game in the side's loss to the Vixens.
She moved to the club in 2021after three years at the now defunct Collingwood Magpies and has since become one of Australia's leading defenders.
Often the quiet achiever alongside Jamaican superstars Shamera Sterling-Humphrey and Latanya Wilson, this year she has stepped into her own with 35 gains and 48 deflections to her name to earn her third consecutive Diamonds call up.
FEVER THRASH THE SWIFTS
West Coast Fever have continued their march through a record breaking season, with a relentless 77 to 45 point victory over the NSW Swifts to book their place in the 2025 Super Netball grand final.
Finishing as minor premiers for the first time in the club's history, Fever have also recorded an historic 13 wins on the trot in a record finals' margin that left Swifts struggling for answers.
Unable to wipe the smile off his face post match, an elated coach Dan Ryan said to the near capacity crowd, 'Get your flights to Melbourne - we will see you there!'
West Coast star Fran Williams. Picture: Getty Images
Battling injuries to key personnel, the long trip west to Fever's fortress and the raucous Green Army, the match proved to be mission impossible for the Swifts, after they were annihilated by 32 points.
They will face the Melbourne Vixens in next weekend's elimination final, a tough comedown after going undefeated through their first eight matches.
While exciting defender Teigan O'Shannassy remains out with a back issue, the Swifts will be hoping their ever-reliable captain Paige Hadley will be available after sitting out two matches with a foot injury.
Nerves played a role at the start, as Fever tore out to an early 8-2 lead following two offensive penalties from Swifts' star shooter Grace Nweke, who was caught pushing off her opponent.
In a clinical display, Fever gave away just 15 turnovers and also pounced on the Swifts' 30 as Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard delivered a master shooting class at the other end.
Fever trio Shanice Beckford, Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard and Sunday Aryang high five at the half time break. Picture: Getty Images
The ice cool Jamaican queen shot a outdid her own finals' record with 66/68 at 97 percent accuracy despite enormous defensive pressure from Diamonds' defender Sarah Klau.
Swifts slumped to a nine point deficit at the end of the first quarter, with goal attack Helen Housby kept under tight wraps by defenders Sunday Aryang, Kadie-Ann Dehaney and Fran Williams during the two point period.
With the lead blowing out further, Swifts' coach Briony Akle had little option but to go to supershots to reduce the deficit, benching Nweke for Sophie Fawns, leaving two mobile shooters in the circle.
Grace Nweke was benched as the Swifts turned to the super shot to salvage the semi final. Picture: Getty Images
While their radar was on, both were starved of opportunity under smothering defensive work as Fever continued to build their lead.
Akle continued to rotate her young troops, but coming up with just seven gains to Fever's 18, and a 61 percent centre pass conversion rate compared to Fever's 81, was never going to be enough to make inroads.
New Diamonds' squad member Alice Teague-Neeld was in blistering MVP form, while Aryang finished with seven gains as she dominated her opponents.
TEIGAN TURNS UP THE HEAT
Despite missing finals with a back injury, Swifts' defender Teigan O'Shannassy has been rewarded with a Diamonds' invitee berth for her great form this season.
National coach Stacey Marinkovich described O'Shannassy as one of the best defenders in the league for 'coming off her own player and getting intercepts'.
'She's hard, courageous to the ball, and has a loud voice at the back at key moments in the game, so that really grabbed our attention,' she said.
NET POINT NOUS
Across the season, the four players with the highest average Net Point scores all come from the Fever and Swifts. Leading the pack is Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard on 114.6, followed by Grace Nweke on 90.5, Alice Teague-Neeld on 87.3 and Paige Hadley on 86. The loss of the ever-reliable Hadley through a foot injury is a particular blow to the Swifts during today's match.
Read related topics: Adelaide
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News.com.au
13 minutes ago
- News.com.au
Emerging forward joins Buddy Franklin in epic 19yr first as Lions outclass Collingwood
A potent Brisbane outfit has shot the lights out against Collingwood in an MCG epic on Saturday night, defeating the 2023 premiers by 27 points. The Lions led at every interval in the Round 21 blockbuster, returning serve on the Magpies' second-term surge to win 14.8 (92) over the home side's 10.5 (65). FOX FOOTY, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every match of every round in the 2025 Toyota AFL Premiership Season LIVE in 4K, with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer. Second-year emerging star Logan Morris bagged a career-high six goals in the clash, with three in each half pulverising the Collingwood defence all night long to suddenly resurrect their hopes of a double chance this upcoming finals series. Morris' career-best is the first time that any Lions player has kicked half a dozen goals in a game at the 'G since Jonathan Brown all the way back in Round 19, 2007. Additionally, he's the youngest player since Lance Franklin in 2006 to kick six at the 'Sporting Colosseum'. The Pies threatened a final-term comeback through super sub Bobby Hill in his return to AFL football, but it was star Zac Bailey who sealed the game's fate with just over three-and a-half-minutes to play. For Collingwood, Nick Daicos was monumental in the first half with 17 disposals, four inside 50s, two goal assists and a major before the main break, but slowed down as the Lions took control once more. Inclusions Jordan de Goey (tactically subbed in third quarter) and Bobby Hill (starting substitute) importantly looked to get through the match unscathed. Brisbane key defender Ryan Lester was unfortunately not as lucky, and was subbed out with concussion before quarter time. '(That was) definitely one of the better wins I've been involved with since I've been at the club,' Lions premiership coach Chris Fagan told Fox Footy's Super Saturday Live post-game. 'I loved the way we attacked the game tonight, we played bold footy ... every time that they came at us, we were able to respond and stay steady.' Logan Morris was the front man, and Henry Smith was his unlikely companion, combining for nine goals. Morris kicked two goals in the opening quarter and could have had a third; threatening in the early stages. Then it was Smith's turn to assert himself as a key-position target ahead of the ball, booting his first and second career goals in the space of just over three minutes. Hugh McCluggage was the one for Brisbane orchestrating the side's threatening forward chains, recording three score involvements with nine disposals and two clearances in the first term. 'McCluggage has been outstanding in this first quarter. He's had a year and a half. I tell you what, if he's not All-Australian this year, you would be horribly surprised,' Lyon said on quarter-time. The Lions capitalised with three goals from turnover to Collingwood's none in the opening 30 minutes — but their defence suffered a key blow. Reliable stopper Ryan Lester was subbed out of the game early in the second quarter with concussion, as Bruce Reville entered the action earlier than anticipated. 'It was late in the third quarter, he went up into a marking contest and he just copped a little bit of a stray elbow from (Dan) McStay,' Geelong great Cameron Mooney reported from the boundary line. 'It really looks like there wasn't much in it, but it was enough obviously for the Brisbane Lions to make sure that he wasn't going to come back on.' Meanwhile, incredibly, Smith kicked his third goal of the night — again a dead-straight set shot — halfway through the second term, presenting as an unlikely sparkplug for the raring Lions. Henry Smith gets his first goal in the AFL and is swamped by his teammates ðŸ'� ðŸ'° Watch #AFLPiesLions on Ch.504 or stream on Kayo: âœ�ï¸� BLOG ðŸ'¢ MATCH CENTRE — Fox Footy (@FOXFOOTY) August 2, 2025 'This is an amazing win,' Dunstall said of Smith's eye-opening return in just his fifth career AFL game and first of this season. But the Lions then had to withstand the Pies' pressure, which went up a notch from halfway through the second quarter, as the visitors' ball movement game stalled at the hands of the league's stingiest defence. 'Coming out of the back half now, the pressure is great (from Collingwood), I understand that. But they've got to find a way to use the ball short, break it up, and try and get some run back through the corridor. Banging it long to Cameron, Moore, whoever else, isn't working,' Lyon said. It was a five-goal-to-two second stanza from the Pies, who narrowed Brisbane's lead to one single point at the main change. Zac Bailey bends it through to seal a big victory for the Lions ðŸ'Š ðŸ'° Watch #AFLPiesLions on Ch.504 or stream on Kayo: âœ�ï¸� BLOG ðŸ'¢ MATCH CENTRE — Fox Footy (@FOXFOOTY) August 2, 2025 Triple Richmond premiership star Jack Riewoldt sang the praises of Brisbane's emerging duo. 'They've been held together by a couple of young key forwards; Logan Morris and Henry Smith have both kicked three to throw the Collingwood backline a few curveballs,' he said. Morris booted his fourth and fifth goals of the evening early in the third, both with snaps. For the third time this season, Morris had five majors to his name. It was a four-goal-to-one premiership quarter by the Lions, who took a handy 19-point lead into the final change. 'A lot of talk has been about 'do the Lions miss Joe Daniher?' Well, young Logan Morris said 'hold my drinks, everybody, I've just snagged five at three-quarter-time',' Mooney said at three-quarter-time. 'One or two more, and this man might drag his team over the line.' It'd been an 18-year wait for another Brisbane Lions player to kick six goals on the MCG since 2007 when Brown did it — but cometh the moment, cometh the Morris. The 38-gamer snapped home his sixth, on his left foot, at the 13-minute mark to extend the Lions' buffer to a game-high 27-point lead. Lachie Neale and McCluggage wound up combining for a whopping 70 disposals, 19 clearances and 12 score involvements.
ABC News
43 minutes ago
- ABC News
Pallister claims silver in 'race of the century' as McEvoy and McKeown become world champions
Australia's Olympic stars have delivered at the swimming world championships in Singapore, with gold medals to freestyle sprinter Cameron McEvoy and backstroke superstar Kaylee McKeown. Alexandria Perkins and Lani Pallister claimed silver. Pallister won silver in a thrilling final of the women's 800m freestyle in a race that has already been described by swimming pundits as the "race of the century". The gold was won by US superstar Katie Ledecky by just 0.36 seconds with Canadian sensation Summer McIntosh 1.31 seconds behind Pallister. Ledecky's time of 8:05.62 is the fourth fastest time in history, while Pallister now slots in at sixth. The three women swam in a virtual straight line through the gripping final, with less than a second separating the trio at every change. The crowd was deafening, realising that they were witnessing one of the great distance swimming races in history. Ledecky kicked in the final 50m, but Pallister stuck doggedly to her way as McIntosh dropped marginally back. The American's gold is her 23rd world championship and her seventh in the 800m alone, 12 years after she won her first. Pallister dropped an astonishing five seconds from her personal best and 10 seconds this year. "Coming home with a silver behind the greatest distance swimmer of all time [Ledecky] is wicked," Pallister said. "Turning with them was so surreal. "I didn't really feel I was in it — I feel like I was watching them two go about their business and I was like on the side going, oh, who's going to win?" Ledecky said it was not the first time she had been involved in a "race of the century". "It was really fun to be part of it," Ledecky said. "Yeah I mean, I think I've been a part of a race of the century maybe six times in the last decade. "It's up to you guys to say what is the race of the century." Pallister said she had been inspired by Ledecky at the start of her career. "To be at the point where it's this exciting and it can be that close for an 800 I think is just incredible for the sport," Pallister said. Ledecky paid tribute to Pallister and her improvement over the past year. "I think just moving forward it's going to be an amazing few years. I can't wait to see what she can do, can't wait to see what Ariarne [Titmus] can do," Ledecky said. "I think there's just a high level of respect we have for each other." McIntosh, who had hoped to win five individual gold medals at these world championships, was bitterly disappointed at coming third. "I hate losing more than I like winning and I think that's a mentality that I've carried with myself throughout my entire career," she said. "The feeling right now is something that I never want to feel again." McEvoy reacted fastest and extended his lead throughout to win the men's 50m freestyle final — the same event he won at the Paris Olympics. McEvoy's time of 21.14 was the fastest this year, beating the 21.30 he recorded in the semifinals and the Australian swimming trials. His win caps off a momentous few weeks, after his wife Maddi gave birth to a baby boy, Harley, last month. McEvoy has spoken openly about his quest for the perfect 50m, as he seeks to break the world record of 20.91 set by Brazilian Cesar Cielo Filho in 2009, during the super suit era. "That's my third quickest time ever, for the prep, exceptional, I'm super happy with that," McEvoy said. He was visibly delighted at his win, punching the water in joy after he finished. He said he was looking forward to some time out of the pool and with his wife and newborn. "I'm going straight to the newborn trenches," he said. "I'll start to do the night routines, learn about Harley more, help Maddi do what she has to do and enjoy the bubble — not rush it." Fresh from qualifying for the final of the men's 50m backstroke final, Australian Isaac Cooper paid tribute to McEvoy. "I've never idolised anybody on the team and I've never said it to his face either, but if there was one person I was going to, it would be Cam," Cooper said. "He's consistently proven that he's the greatest sprint freestyler probably ever and has consistently been on or around world record times. It's quite unbelievable." Minutes after McEvoy's win, McKeown delivered a superb come-from-behind swim to defeat her US rival Regan Smith in the 100m backstroke with a championship record time of 2:03.33. McKeown has now claimed the 100m-200m double, repeating her efforts of the past two Olympics. Smith was 0.03 seconds ahead of McKeown at the 150m mark, but the Australian was brilliant in the final 50m to win by just under a second. After she finished, she looked visibly spent from her exertions as she gasped for air on the lane rope and at one point looked nauseous. "I really wasn't feeling too great heading in you know," she said. "Bit of illness and stuff going around, dealing with a bit of a shoulder, so I just think I had to put my best foot forward tonight and I dug really deep. "I'm really happy with the time that I posted." McKeown and Smith almost invariably swim next to each other in lanes four and five but tonight was a rare exception with Smith in two, and McKeown in six. McKeown said the four lane gap between the rivals worked in her favour. "Something that my coach and I have really been working on is focusing on my own race and I think it really helps being on the outside lane, not seeing the other girls around me and just really focusing on what I've been working on," McKeown said. Australia's Alexandria Perkins set a personal best time to win silver in the women's 50m butterfly, which was won by American Gretchen Walsh. Walsh won in 24.83 seconds, almost half a second ahead of Perkins. Another Australian, Lily Price, came sixth. America is on top of the swimming medal table with eight golds and 26 medals overall. Australia is in second with seven golds, four silvers and six bronze medals.
News.com.au
43 minutes ago
- News.com.au
‘Disgraceful': Rugby rocked by foul play by Lions captain as Wallaby concussed
British and Irish Lions star Dan Sheehan has been cited for a 'disgraceful' act of foul play during the Wallabies' big win on Saturday night in Sydney. The acting Lions captain will be forced to front an Independent Foul Play Review Committee (FPRC) hearing on Sunday after an ugly clean-out left Wallabies fly-half Tom Lynagh concussed. It was a sad end to a hard-fought engrossing series as the Wallabies showed impressive courage to win 22-12 in a chaotic third Test interrupted by lightning. However, the win has been soured somewhat by the ugly scenes of Lynagh failing his head injury assessment (HIA) following a shoulder to the head from Sheehan. Commentators, including Wallabies great Tim Horan, and fans were left flummoxed that the cleanout from Lions player Dan Sheehan that led to Lynagh's injury went unpunished. Many were stunned the incident was not looked at by the Television Match Official (TMO). Leading Irish rugby journalist Rúaidhrí O'Connor wrote on X: 'Dan Sheehan is incredibly lucky this wasn't a red card'. Aussie sport journalist Mark Gotlieb posted it was 'unforgivable by the TMO'. The Times rugby reporter Will Kelleher pondered if it was a 'dodgy clearout'. Rugby journalist Tom Decent wrote: 'Disgrace. Red card every day of the week. So dangerous. 'You can see Lynagh brace as he knows it's coming.' Veteran rugby reporter Iain Payten posted: 'Match officials do nothing. Ya kidding at this point'. Incredibly, Lynagh remained on the field for several more minutes before he was called off to undergo the HIA. Irish hooker Sheehan faces a potential suspension. World Rugby said in a statement: 'British & Irish Lions player Dan Sheehan will have a citing complaint reviewed by an Independent Foul Play Review Committee (FPRC) after being cited by the independent citing commissioner Adrien Menez for an act of foul play'. In bouts of torrential rain at Sydney's Stadium Australia, the hosts went to the break with an 8-0 lead after an eighth-minute try before showing steely nerve to finish the job. Dylan Pietsch and Max Jorgensen both dotted down to put them 15-0 clear. The Wallabies had thrown away an 18-point advantage to lose the second Test in heartbreaking fashion last week, but learned their lesson. They largely controlled the contest in front of 80,312 fans, swift at the breakdown and with plenty of attacking flair despite atrocious conditions. 'It was a disappointing week after such a tough loss,' Wallabies captain Harry Wilson said. 'To bounce back the way we did, I'm so proud of everyone. To get the win was so special.' The teams were forced from the field two minutes into the second half because of a lightning warning, with play suspended for 35 minutes. 'We spoke about that before the game, that it could happen,' Wilson said. 'We had a few plans in place. We just wanted this game so badly, whatever we had to do we were going to do.' Victory ensured the Lions' six-week visit ended in disappointment after winning all eight previous tour games. 'Our goal before the series was to try to win 3-0,' said Sheehan, who was the Lions acting captain after skipper Maro Itoje went off concussed. 'We gave it everything under harsh circumstances. The Wallabies have been in every Test and I thought they deserved the win. 'It was a bit disappointing on our end to finish with this.' The Lions won the first Test comfortably 27-19 in Brisbane before clinching a controversial 29-26 series-winning victory in the last minute last week in Melbourne. That loss was gut-wrenching for Joe Scmhidt's Australia, the head coach rallied his injury-hit troops to bank the biggest win of his tenure. In doing so, they denied the Lions a first unbeaten series since 1974 and gained some much-needed confidence heading into the Rugby Championship this month.
