Latest news with #KieraAustin
News.com.au
5 days ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
Super Netball semi finals: Vixens earn ultimate revenge, end Thunderbirds' three-peat hopes
Melbourne Vixens enacted the ultimate revenge on the Adelaide Thunderbirds for last year's Super Netball Grand Final defeat, with a 58 to 56 win that quashes the Thunderbirds chance of a historic threepeat. 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.' 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. 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. 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.
News.com.au
06-07-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Super Netball: Vixens seal finals spot in two-point thriller against the Firebirds
The Melbourne Vixens have survived a nail biting final-quarter push from the competition wooden spooners to seal their place in the Super Netball finals. Outstanding long-range shooting from the Queensland Firebirds in the final super shot period allowed the visitors to claw their way within one point with just a minute left in the match but the Vixens weathered the storm to clinch a 64-62 win that sealed them third place heading into the final fixture and a guaranteed place in the finals. In what could have been Simone McKinnis's final match coaching at John Cain Arena - hosting rights for the minor semi-final will be decided in the final round of fixtures - the Vixens raced to a five-goal lead after the first quarter in a performance that seemed to set the tone for a comfortable win. The Queenslanders were unable to move from the bottom of the ladder but had plenty to play for, with just four players so far contracted for next season and were determined to be disruptors. They turned the match on its head in a 19-13 second term that handed them a one-point halftime lead and the promise of a grinding match. The Vixens rebounded again in the third but the game tightened up again when Emily Moore and Abigail Latu-Meafou slotted a combined three super shots in the final term, with the Vixens just getting over the line. 'It was a massive result for us and probably a much better result than how we handled the game last week,' Vixens goaler Kiera Austin said of her side being swamped by the Adelaide Thunderbirds in the final term last week. 'Massive credit to the Firebirds, they came out firing but it was great practice for us to work the ball around in the end and come away with the win.' DOING IT FOR SIMONE McKinnis announced weeks ago she will step down from coaching the club at the end of the season and would prefer there's little fuss around her tenure coming to an end. But the two-time premiership coach admitted there had been nerves and emotion when she arrived at John Cain Arena for what may have been her last game in charge at the venue. 'Surprisingly, I didn't know there was but when I arrived today, there was,' McKinnis said of the emotion that flooded her arriving at a match she knew her family and friends had gathered to watch. 'In the game not so much because I was just like, get the job done.' Vixens captain Kate Moloney said it was important to win not just for the team but for their coach. 'Simone doesn't like us talking about it too much but it is really important for us - it's important for us as a team to win, we want to be the best team we can,' Moloney said. 'And on a side note to that is we want to send Simone off on the best note we can. She's given so much to our club and hopefully we can keep the winning going.' CRUCIAL VIXENS WIN Wins to both the Lightning and Thunderbirds on Saturday put the defending premiers and Sunshine Coast side level on points with the Vixens, who needed to beat the Firebirds to lock up a finals spot. With the Thunderbirds and Lightning playing each other in the final round, one will knock the other out but the Vixens could still lose third place - and hosting rights in the minor semi-final - unless they are able to upset competition favourites West Coast Fever in Perth in the final round. 'It's a massive game for us and really good prep for us to go into finals,' Austin said of the clash. 'Exciting that that solidified us heading into finals but for us, building on that confidence, trusting each other, letting the ball go, you want to start going on that climb now and I think the girls are putting in some really good efforts, so just keep working along.' BIRDIES GALLANT IN DEFEAT The Firebirds extended their unenviable club record run of losses to 11 in a row but there were again promising signs. Macy Gardner one of just four players signed for next season, was among their best, with 11 goal assists, 20 feeds and two gains in her 50th Super Netball match. Captain and defender Ruby Bakewell-Doran and imports, defensive midcourter Imogen Allison and shooter Mary Cholhok are the other players whose futures are guaranteed for 2026, while goal attacks Latu-Meafou and Moore did their best in an effort to prove their worth for new contracts. The Firebirds round out the season with a home match against the NSW Swifts on Sunday.
The Advertiser
21-06-2025
- Sport
- The Advertiser
Vixens make it five straight wins in Super Netball
The Melbourne Vixens have shaken off a slow start to notch their fifth consecutive Super Netball victory, downing Sunshine Coast Lightning 68-65 at UniSC Arena. The Vixens seized control by going 38-24 across the middle two terms on Saturday before surviving a late rally to leapfrog the Lightning into third place on the ladder. "Stoked with how we came out after the first quarter," said Vixens goal attack Kiera Austin, who was named player of the match after racking up 23 goals and 19 assists from 20 feeds. "We adjusted how we were playing and built a really good lead. "Pretty disappointed in the last little bit there, but they're a really classy team, so I'm not surprised that they came back at us." It was all the Lightning early. Captain Steph Fretwell and fellow shooter Reilly Batcheldor - starting in place of injured Cara Koenen (foot) - went at 100 per cent to open up a 20-16 quarter-time lead. Melbourne turned the tables in the second term, emphatically, cutting off Sunshine Coast's attacking options and scoring clinically at the other end. Austin was dynamic in attack, while skipper Kate Moloney controlled the centre as the Vixens won the quarter 21-11 to move ahead 37-31 at half-time. The Lightning rang in the changes to their ragged backcourt to start the second half - including Ash Ervin subbing in for Tara Hinchliffe, who was being toweled up by Austin - but the Vixens continued to find holes through the home side's defence. Jo Weston led a stingy Melbourne defence, while the turnovers continued to mount for Sunshine Coast, who fell behind by 10 with a quarter to play After the fourth period had been goal-for-goal, the Vixens sprinted away 67-55 late before Fretwell went on a solo two-point rampage. She drilled five super shots in just over three minutes to close the contest on an individual 10-1 run, eroding the deficit significantly but never seriously threatening the inevitable result. The Melbourne Vixens have shaken off a slow start to notch their fifth consecutive Super Netball victory, downing Sunshine Coast Lightning 68-65 at UniSC Arena. The Vixens seized control by going 38-24 across the middle two terms on Saturday before surviving a late rally to leapfrog the Lightning into third place on the ladder. "Stoked with how we came out after the first quarter," said Vixens goal attack Kiera Austin, who was named player of the match after racking up 23 goals and 19 assists from 20 feeds. "We adjusted how we were playing and built a really good lead. "Pretty disappointed in the last little bit there, but they're a really classy team, so I'm not surprised that they came back at us." It was all the Lightning early. Captain Steph Fretwell and fellow shooter Reilly Batcheldor - starting in place of injured Cara Koenen (foot) - went at 100 per cent to open up a 20-16 quarter-time lead. Melbourne turned the tables in the second term, emphatically, cutting off Sunshine Coast's attacking options and scoring clinically at the other end. Austin was dynamic in attack, while skipper Kate Moloney controlled the centre as the Vixens won the quarter 21-11 to move ahead 37-31 at half-time. The Lightning rang in the changes to their ragged backcourt to start the second half - including Ash Ervin subbing in for Tara Hinchliffe, who was being toweled up by Austin - but the Vixens continued to find holes through the home side's defence. Jo Weston led a stingy Melbourne defence, while the turnovers continued to mount for Sunshine Coast, who fell behind by 10 with a quarter to play After the fourth period had been goal-for-goal, the Vixens sprinted away 67-55 late before Fretwell went on a solo two-point rampage. She drilled five super shots in just over three minutes to close the contest on an individual 10-1 run, eroding the deficit significantly but never seriously threatening the inevitable result. The Melbourne Vixens have shaken off a slow start to notch their fifth consecutive Super Netball victory, downing Sunshine Coast Lightning 68-65 at UniSC Arena. The Vixens seized control by going 38-24 across the middle two terms on Saturday before surviving a late rally to leapfrog the Lightning into third place on the ladder. "Stoked with how we came out after the first quarter," said Vixens goal attack Kiera Austin, who was named player of the match after racking up 23 goals and 19 assists from 20 feeds. "We adjusted how we were playing and built a really good lead. "Pretty disappointed in the last little bit there, but they're a really classy team, so I'm not surprised that they came back at us." It was all the Lightning early. Captain Steph Fretwell and fellow shooter Reilly Batcheldor - starting in place of injured Cara Koenen (foot) - went at 100 per cent to open up a 20-16 quarter-time lead. Melbourne turned the tables in the second term, emphatically, cutting off Sunshine Coast's attacking options and scoring clinically at the other end. Austin was dynamic in attack, while skipper Kate Moloney controlled the centre as the Vixens won the quarter 21-11 to move ahead 37-31 at half-time. The Lightning rang in the changes to their ragged backcourt to start the second half - including Ash Ervin subbing in for Tara Hinchliffe, who was being toweled up by Austin - but the Vixens continued to find holes through the home side's defence. Jo Weston led a stingy Melbourne defence, while the turnovers continued to mount for Sunshine Coast, who fell behind by 10 with a quarter to play After the fourth period had been goal-for-goal, the Vixens sprinted away 67-55 late before Fretwell went on a solo two-point rampage. She drilled five super shots in just over three minutes to close the contest on an individual 10-1 run, eroding the deficit significantly but never seriously threatening the inevitable result.
News.com.au
01-06-2025
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Super Netball round 8: Melbourne Vixens 71 d. Giants 61
The Kiera Austin-led Melbourne Vixens defied the unlikely return of a netball great and the hot shot of Matisse Letherbarrow to stage a strong fightback against the Giants and propel themselves to the edge of the top four with back-to-back wins. After regaining their mojo last week against the Queensland Firebirds, the Vixens recovered from a shaky start and a six-goal deficit in the second quarter to score a critical 71-61 win at Ken Rosewall Arena. With the spotlight on the shock comeback of 40-year-old former Silver Ferns captain Casey Kopua as an injury replacement for the Giants, the Vixens were led by an MVP performance from goal attack Austin, who finished with 22 goals from 28 attempts, including six from nine from two-point range, alongside her 33 feeds. The Vixens claimed consecutive wins for the first time this season to keep themselves within striking distance of a top four assault and have now drawn level with the fourth-placed Adelaide Thunderbirds on points, but remain just outside of the top four on percentage. The Vixens didn't take the lead in the match until early in the third quarter and managed to find momentum from there as they started to capitalise on turnover ball and stave off the sharpshooting threat of Letherbarrow, who had been on fire in the goal circle for the Giants. 'We probably started a little bit slower than what we would have wanted, but we were able to come out after halftime and hit it hard, which we should have been doing from the get-go,' Austin said. 'They are a really good super-shot threat, so I'm really proud of the defenders, I thought they stayed switched on the whole time. 'I think we probably could have rewarded them a little bit more in the first half, but we're building and it's good things to take from it and lots to look forward to for next week.' Sophie Garbin (43/51) topscored, while captain Kate Moloney and wing attack Hannah Mundy also starred in the midcourt for the Vixens, who face the Mavericks in the Melbourne derby next round. CASEY COMEBACK All eyes were on the comeback of former Silver Ferns captain Casey Kopua after the Giants pulled the biggest selection shock of the season this week. Called on to replace the injured Jodi-Ann Ward, Kopua has been retired since 2019, but was thrust straight into the action at goal keeper on Diamonds' goal shooter Sophie Garbin. Kopua showed she had lost none of her goal-circle smarts, causing trouble for the Vixens' gaolers with her long reach and ability to read the play. Kopua, whose instruction for the Giants' young defenders Erin O'Brien and Amy Sligar out the front was also invaluable, played the full 60 minutes at goal keeper. Pre-game, Giants' coach Julie Fitzgerald defended the decision to bring Kopua in as an injury replacement instead of a pathway player. 'If you look at it we are by far the youngest team in the league,' Fitzgerald said. 'I think the best thing I can do for those young pathway athletes is to put someone out there with a bit of experience and guidance who can lead them around the court a bit.' But Fitzgerald was unable to shed any light on how long the Kopua comeback would last. 'How long she will be here for is a little bit debatable at the moment,' Fitzgerald said. 'But we will see. I asked her on Tuesday, she was on a plane Wednesday and at training on Thursday, which I think is pretty incredible for a mother of three.' While the spotlight was on Kopua, it was Letherbarrow who lit up the goal circle at the other end with her long-range shooting. Letherbarrow, starting at goal shooter, was on fire during the power play period and equalled her own best of nine supershots. The 23-year-old finished with 40 from 50 for the match alongside goal attack Sophie Dwyer (10 from 12).
Yahoo
01-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Vixens pull off big comeback in Super Netball
The Melbourne Vixens remain in touch with the Super Netball top four after a 71-61 win over the Giants at Ken Rosewall Arena. Down by four at quarter-time and still two at the main break, the Vixens clicked into gear in the second half to notch consecutive victories for the first time this season. Despite being anchored to the bottom of the ladder with just one win, the Giants stormed out of the blocks and threatened to derail the Vixens' finals aspirations. But Melbourne pulled away with an 18-10 final quarter, including sinking a super shot on the fulltime buzzer. Goal attack Kiera Austin, who starred by making 16 of her 19 shots while giving off 20 goal assists, described the encounter as "tiring". "The Giants came out really well and credit to them," Austin told Fox Sports. "I think we probably started a bit slower than what we would have wanted, but stoked to have been able to come out at halftime and actually really hit it hard - what we should be doing from the get go. "I'm really proud of our defenders, I thought they stayed switched on the whole time. "We probably could have rewarded them a little bit more in the first half, but we're building so we'll take some good things from it." The Vixens return home for a clash with Melbourne rivals, the Mavericks, next Sunday. Next up for the Giants is a tough road match in Adelaide against the Thunderbirds, who suffered a close defeat to undefeated juggernaut NSW Swifts on Saturday night.
