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The Australian
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Australian
Super Netball: Fever fires to send Vixens into sudden death turmoil, Swifts beat Firebirds
The Melbourne Vixens have a massive task if they are to send coach Simone McKinnis out with a premiership after their 71-60 loss to minor premiers West Coast Fever handed them a trecherous finals run. The Vixens headed into the last Super Netball match of the regular season with their place in the final four already secured. But they needed to beat the Fever at their RAC Arena fortress to tie up third place and a home final. The Thunderbirds secured their own place in the finals with a win over Sunshine Coast Lightning in their playoff showdown and their superior percentage meant anything but a Vixens win in Perth would hand hosting rights to Adelaide. Vixens goal shooter Sophie Garbin passes in traffic. Picture: Getty Images The teams went goal for goal in an opening quarter that promised a close clash but the Fever led by as much as seven points in the second before a pair of Kiera Austin super shots in the closing seconds clawed the margin back to four at halftime. But a consistent Fever performance - their centre pass to goal conversion was 85 per cent for the match - gave them a lead of nine at the final break and the Vixens were unable to make inroads. Down by 10 heading into the super shot period, even their talent from long range was no help, with Fever hero Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard rounding out an 11-point win with a rare super shot conversion. Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard landed a rare super shot in the Fever's win. Picture: Getty Images FEVER DESERVED FAVOURITES The Fever head into the finals as deserved premiership favourites after winning their last 12 matches in succession to stamp themselves as the team to beat. Shooter Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard is in outstanding form and it will take a sublime defensive effort to starve her of ball and then to get an occasional win in the circle. The Fever lost their first two games of the year but it's too easy to say it was just the absence of Fowler-Nembhard and her shooting skill that has been the difference. It's the confidence the champion Jamaican gives the players around her - whether it's midcourters like Alice Teague-Neeld and Jordan Cransberg or defenders like Sunday Aryang, who finished with a massive six gains including four intercepts. Sunday Aryang gets a pass away for the Fever. Picture: Getty Images They head into next weekend's major semi-final against the NSW Swifts as massive favourites and with an average winning margin in Perth of 13 goals, it will be a mammoth task for the NSW Swifts to get over them to seal and grand final berth. Technically it was a dead rubber for the Fever but Aryang said there was a real push to get the job done. 'Leading into this game we had a big focus on finishing the season off well and I think we accomplished what we set out to do,' she said. 'It's always hard coming up against Keira (Austin) she's one of those ones where you have to grind and play that hard one-on-one against her and hopefully get the best of it. 'It was definitely very hard for me but I'm happy with it.' Fran Williams and Olivia Wilkinson share a moment after defeating the Vixens. Picture: Getty Images VIXENS FACING SUDDEN DEATH After falling just short in last year's premiership decider, the Vixens face a grand final rematch in Adelaide on Sunday afternoon, with the loser's year ending. After a disastrous start to the year, the Vixens rediscovered their mojo in conjunction with McKinnis's announcement she would stand down at the end of the year and would love to send the veteran mentor out with a third premiership. While they did not secure the home final they would have loved, they get the chance to atone for last year's premiership loss in the same venue in what should be a classic match. Sophie Garbin takes possesssion for the Vixens. Picture: Getty Images While they did not beat the Fever, they showed enough to suggest they remain in the hunt, especially if Kiera Austin can be on song and their defenders can blunt resurgent T-Birds goaler Romelda Aiken-George. Certainly after the early season signs that they would fall out of finals contention altogether, the Vixens have nothing to lose. Super Netball finals Week one Sunday (All times AEST) Minor semi-final: Thunderbirds v Vixens Adelaide Entertainment Centre, 2pm Major semi-final: Fever v Swifts RAC Arena, Perth, 4pm SWIFTS' EXTRA TIME SHOCK The NSW Swifts will head into the finals on the back of a win but it was hardly the confidence-boosting victory they wanted ahead of the playoffs, needing extra time to get over the top of the Queensland Firebirds 79-75. The Swifts could not be beaten out of second place heading into Sunday's clash against the Firebirds on Sunday but having Briony Akle's side had lost four of their past five games heading into Sunday's clash and were desperate to get their premiership quest back on track. But they had to do it the hard way, needing extra time to get over the top of the competition wooden spooners, who sent the first game of the season to extra time. Unable to lift themselves from the bottom of the ladder regardless of the result, the Firebirds were desperate to break a record run of 11 consecutive losses. Sharni Lambden looks for a Swifts teammate. Picture: Getty Images They seemed set for more of the same after going down by five in the opening term but won the next three terms - by one, three and one point respectively - to level the game and force extra time. Ultimately though, the unforced errors that have blighted the Firebirds' season came back to haunt them. A missed simple shot from debutant Elsa Sif Sandholt - surprisingly injected into extra time for Mary Cholhok - and a poor pass and that turned over ball in their final attack told the tale of the year. Coach Kiri Wills said injecting Sandholt into extra time was a decision she stood by and she and her players had already got around the youngster. Mary Cholhok fired for the Firebirds, who forced extra with the Swifts. Picture: Getty Images 'I just wanted to reiterate to her that I put her out there because I've got a lot of faith in her, and I'd do it again,' Wills said. 'There were errors at the end of the game, but that could have been done by other people on the court as well. 'So I'm happy with my change. Elsa's probably not quite as happy as you would want to be after a debut - it's pretty tough putting a debutant out there under that kind of pressure, but this is this is why we train, and this is what we're here for.' It was a gallant effort from the home side though and one that will give them confidence they can move on from a poor year. Swifts goal attack Helen Housby gets a pass away under pressure. Picture: Getty Images SWIFTS CONFIDENT DESPITE GRIND Like the Firebirds, the Swifts were undermanned, with experienced co-captain Paige Hadley (lower leg injury), and defender Teigan O'Shannassy, who will miss the remainder of the season with a back injury on the sidelines. Hadley did travel to Brisbane and helped warm the shooters up, so is not incapacitated but coach Briony Akle will want her available in the finals as the Swifts push for a third Super Netball title. Without her, the midcourt has been disjoined in recent weeks, with the NSW side struggling to have options to help the ball down the court. But in a grafting win against the Firebirds, they were forced to find a way in an effort that could be a bonus for their finals campaign. Swifts goal shooter Grace Nweke hit 59 of her 66 shots at goal. Picture: Getty Images They head west next weekend, where they will face minor premiers West Coast Fever and have nothing to lose in a game in which the winners will claim a grand final place. But that doesn't daunt Akle or import shooter Helen Housby. 'I feel like as a group, we have definitely gone away and been to the bottom of bottom in terms of our feelings, our highs and lows, and at the end of the day, we were always in second spot,' Akle said. 'So after a few losses, you feel like you know the world's going to end, and the momentum is not with you, but I feel like it's only going to help us moving forward, that we've had the lows, and we're slowly improving and improving at the right time coming into finals.' FIREBIRDS LOOKING AHEAD Round 14 has been one of mass changes across the league, with players making their debuts and others getting their chance off the bench. And with contracts on the line, there's plenty to prove. The Firebirds had two potential debutants in Danielle Taylor, in for injured co-captain Hulita Veve and Elsa Sif Sandholt, who was on the bench for Abi Latu-Meafou. Emily Moore takes a shot at goal despite plenty of pressure. Picture: Getty Images And the Icelandic-born shooter Sandholt became Firebird no.117 just minutes before halftime when she was injected into the game. Taylor then earnt her own number, becoming no.118 when she came on for Allison late in the third term after the England midcourter left the game. Where the Firebirds go from here is now the question for coach Kiri Wills and Firebirds staff, who have several big decisions to make on the futures of stalwarts, needing to change if they are to forge ahead next year. But somehow, their fans have not lost faith. They played in front of a sellout crowd of 4776 on Sunday, taking their season tally to a Nissan Arena record of 31,886 for the season.
Yahoo
06-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Vixens book finals spot as McKinnis signs off in style
The Melbourne Vixens have given long-time coach Simone McKinnis a parting gift by booking a spot in the Super Netball finals with a tense 64-62 win over the Queensland Firebirds. The Vixens (8-5) climbed into third place at John Cain Arena on Sunday, leapfrogging both Adelaide and Sunshine Coast (both 7-6), who meet in the last round of the regular season. It means the Vixens will play finals regardless of the result of their last-round away clash with top team West Coast Fever. Down by five goals at the last change, Queensland rolled the dice late as super shots from Abigail Latu-Meafou and Emily Moore got them back within one. But the Vixens wound down the clock superbly in the final minute and sealed the result through outstanding shooter Sophie Garbin (42/47) in the dying stages. "We got the win but it wasn't enjoyable viewing," McKinnis told Fox Sports after her final home game at the helm before she stands down at the end of the season. "It was tough and I think at times we made it hard for ourselves as well, but I'm happy with the win." McKinnis led the Vixens to national titles in 2014 and 2020, and can now turn her mind to potentially adding a third before her 14-year tenure ends. The former Australian Diamonds star admitted she had to tackle plenty of extra emotion around her last home-court appearance as coach. "In the game not so much because it was just like, 'Come on, get the job done'," McKinnis said. "I've got family here and when I realised that they were all coming today because it was my last game here, it was a bit emotional. "So I think I was mindful of just staying pretty calm." Under pressure to confirm a finals spot, Melbourne dominated the first period and looked as if they would take complete control when they led 18-12 at quarter-time. But the Firebirds didn't read the script, surging back into the contest late in the second quarter to take a 32-31 lead at halftime. McKinnis demanded a greater work rate from her team in the second half and eventually got it. The chase 👌🏼Watch every game live on Kayo Sports, Foxtel and Binge. — Suncorp Super Netball (@SuperNetball) July 6, 2025 A three-goal deficit midway through the third period was turned into a 49-44 lead at the final change on the back of a 15-6 run. The last-placed Firebirds threatened to pull off a major upset in the dying stages but could not complete their comeback attempt. McKinnis welcomed the last-round Fever clash as a chance for the Vixens to make a statement ahead of the finals. "If you're fair dinkum and you want to be going and winning finals, then you've got to be able to beat the best," she said. "I think it's a great game for us to be heading over there."
Yahoo
15-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Housby heroics not enough as Vixens shoot to fourth
The Melbourne Vixens have defied a "lethal" Helen Housby to topple the ladder-leading NSW Swifts and move into Super Netball's top four. Sophie Garbin powered the Vixens' 70-68 win while player-of-the-match Jo Weston dominated defensively to inflict a second-straight defeat on the Swifts. It was party time on Sunday at John Cain Arena when Weston's long-range assist in the third quarter swelled the lead to 11 goals. Centimetre perfect 🤌🏼Watch every game live on Kayo Sports, Foxtel and Binge. — Suncorp Super Netball (@SuperNetball) June 15, 2025 But English star Housby was dealing in pairs, the veteran nailing eight-of-nine super shots to drag her side off the canvas. Her sixth got the margin back to four goals with three minutes to play, Housby then nailing two more on successive plays to make it a two-goal game in the final 30 seconds. From the restart Weston was then called for a held ball, but Swifts replacement shooter Sophie Fawns missed a super shot that would have levelled the game. "I'm happy we got that in the end ... the super-shot shooting from Helen and Sophie is just lethal," Weston said. "It was a real team effort and I was proud of our attack, they were really smart and worked the ball, drew penalties when they needed to and finished it off." A fourth-straight Vixens (6-4) win allowed them jump the Thunderbirds (5-5) into fourth with four regular-season games to play. "Just being really chaotic and having fun out there," Weston said of their intent. "We've been trying to emphasis the work rate and decision making … we weren't seeing the option because we weren't working for each other." Earlier, Garbin (47-of-49 attempts) and Austin (17-of-19 with 26 assists from 28 feeds) had spearheaded the Vixens' charge, the hosts forging clear after scores had been locked at 20-20 early in the second quarter. While assured of a finals berth, the Swifts' (8-2) loss came a week after Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard's 71 goals for the West Coast Fever ended their eight-game winning start to the season.
News.com.au
08-06-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Super Netball results: Melbourne Vixens claim derby bragging rights to keep finals hopes alive
Melbourne Vixens have retained bragging rights over cross-town rivals Melbourne Mavericks to keep their finals push alive after goaler Sophie Garbin spearheaded the team to a big win in their derby at John Cain Arena. In the fourth instalment of the budding rivalry between Victoria's two Super Netball teams, the Vixens powered to a 66-57 victory on Sunday to keep their unbeaten record intact against the league's fledgling franchise. Igniting the win with a powerful start, the Vixens were led by an MVP performance from Diamonds' goaler Garbin, who shot 48 goals from 51 attempts. Vixens' captain Kate Moloney led the charge in the midcourt, while Jo Weston had a game high five deflections in defence. The victory pushed the Vixens – at least momentarily – into the top four as they continue to fight the Thunderbirds for a position in the finals. After their third-straight win, the Vixens face a testing month ahead with matches against the New South Wales Swifts, Sunshine Coast Lightning and Thunderbirds. Shimona Jok (30 from 32) topscored for the Mavs, who rotated their goal circle throughout the match with Sasha Glasgow (8/10) Uneeq Palavi (12/17). The Mavericks remain in sixth position on the ladder and face a big challenge next week against the West Coast Fever. There was an audible sigh around the stadium after Mavericks' goal attack Sasha Glasgow crashed to the court heavily late in the third quarter. Contesting a rebound against Vixens, defenders Weston and Kate Eddy, Glasgow hit the court hard as she crashed out of court. After sitting up and adjusting her hair, Glasgow continued to play and was straight into the action with a deflection in the next passage of play before nailing a super shot with the next score. It was a bruising battle at times with bodies clashing and players hitting the deck. FAST START The Vixens blew the Mavericks away early with a blistering start to the match, racing to a 7-0 lead courtesy of their sharp ball movement and slick work in the goal circle. The Mavericks did not put their first score on the board – via Glasgow – until four and a half minutes into the match. While they eventually got the scoreboard ticking over, the Mavericks were staring at a 19-11 deficit at quarter-time. The Mavericks were able to cut a game-high gap of 12 in the second quarter, their slow start left them with too much ground to make up.
The Advertiser
24-05-2025
- Sport
- The Advertiser
Diamonds star wants golden end to Vixens netball season
The tiny West Australian mining town of Kambalda has unearthed two gems with Diamonds and Vixens netball star Sophie Garbin still shining bright. Garbin is set to play her 100th Super Netball match on Sunday while her older sister Darcee turned out for the Opals before taking her basketball career overseas. Located 60 kilometres from Kalgoorlie and more than 600km from Perth, and with a population of less than 3000, Kambalda amazingly also produced three football players who made it into the AFLW. With sport pretty much all that was on offer and coached by her mum Kym, whom she credits for her athleticism, Garbin said she played both netball and basketball and almost followed her sister's path. "I always grew up wanting to be Lauren Jackson and going to the Olympics, and in a way I have kind of achieved that going to the World Cup with the Diamonds," Garbin told AAP. "I wasn't actually that tall when I was younger and I didn't have very good ball skills - my brother and sister used to watch me play and tease me how I used to do lay-up. "But I probably had more friends in netball and there was probably a little bit of me that didn't want to do the same thing as my sister." The 28-year-old goal shooter proved she made the right choice, winning two Super Netball titles with NSW before moving to Melbourne to join the now-defunct Collingwood. When the Magpies folded she signed with Melbourne Vixens with the team losing a grand final battle to Adelaide last year. Garbin also shone on the international stage and was rewarded with the Liz Ellis Diamond as Australia's best player. This season the Vixens have struggled to find their groove and sit second last with two wins from six matches. But a win in Brisbane over the sixth-ranked Queensland Firebirds could see them jump to fifth, with the top four playing finals. Looking to send departing coach Simone McKinnis out a winner, Garbin said she still felt positive about their 2025 season and had extra motivation with Melbourne hosting the grand final. "We're just not playing our best," she said. "It'd be a bit more disheartening if we felt like we were giving it our all and still losing, but I don't think we've had all 10 of us firing at the same time. "I still feel quite positive, like I've been at many different clubs and have had different seasons, and sometimes successes come later on in the season. "We're two and four, but that doesn't mean the season's over. "Our mindset going into this weekend is just focusing on beating the Firebirds rather than looking too far ahead and looking into finals, but I'm still very much thinking that we're playing finals and we're not out of the race just yet." The tiny West Australian mining town of Kambalda has unearthed two gems with Diamonds and Vixens netball star Sophie Garbin still shining bright. Garbin is set to play her 100th Super Netball match on Sunday while her older sister Darcee turned out for the Opals before taking her basketball career overseas. Located 60 kilometres from Kalgoorlie and more than 600km from Perth, and with a population of less than 3000, Kambalda amazingly also produced three football players who made it into the AFLW. With sport pretty much all that was on offer and coached by her mum Kym, whom she credits for her athleticism, Garbin said she played both netball and basketball and almost followed her sister's path. "I always grew up wanting to be Lauren Jackson and going to the Olympics, and in a way I have kind of achieved that going to the World Cup with the Diamonds," Garbin told AAP. "I wasn't actually that tall when I was younger and I didn't have very good ball skills - my brother and sister used to watch me play and tease me how I used to do lay-up. "But I probably had more friends in netball and there was probably a little bit of me that didn't want to do the same thing as my sister." The 28-year-old goal shooter proved she made the right choice, winning two Super Netball titles with NSW before moving to Melbourne to join the now-defunct Collingwood. When the Magpies folded she signed with Melbourne Vixens with the team losing a grand final battle to Adelaide last year. Garbin also shone on the international stage and was rewarded with the Liz Ellis Diamond as Australia's best player. This season the Vixens have struggled to find their groove and sit second last with two wins from six matches. But a win in Brisbane over the sixth-ranked Queensland Firebirds could see them jump to fifth, with the top four playing finals. Looking to send departing coach Simone McKinnis out a winner, Garbin said she still felt positive about their 2025 season and had extra motivation with Melbourne hosting the grand final. "We're just not playing our best," she said. "It'd be a bit more disheartening if we felt like we were giving it our all and still losing, but I don't think we've had all 10 of us firing at the same time. "I still feel quite positive, like I've been at many different clubs and have had different seasons, and sometimes successes come later on in the season. "We're two and four, but that doesn't mean the season's over. "Our mindset going into this weekend is just focusing on beating the Firebirds rather than looking too far ahead and looking into finals, but I'm still very much thinking that we're playing finals and we're not out of the race just yet." The tiny West Australian mining town of Kambalda has unearthed two gems with Diamonds and Vixens netball star Sophie Garbin still shining bright. Garbin is set to play her 100th Super Netball match on Sunday while her older sister Darcee turned out for the Opals before taking her basketball career overseas. Located 60 kilometres from Kalgoorlie and more than 600km from Perth, and with a population of less than 3000, Kambalda amazingly also produced three football players who made it into the AFLW. With sport pretty much all that was on offer and coached by her mum Kym, whom she credits for her athleticism, Garbin said she played both netball and basketball and almost followed her sister's path. "I always grew up wanting to be Lauren Jackson and going to the Olympics, and in a way I have kind of achieved that going to the World Cup with the Diamonds," Garbin told AAP. "I wasn't actually that tall when I was younger and I didn't have very good ball skills - my brother and sister used to watch me play and tease me how I used to do lay-up. "But I probably had more friends in netball and there was probably a little bit of me that didn't want to do the same thing as my sister." The 28-year-old goal shooter proved she made the right choice, winning two Super Netball titles with NSW before moving to Melbourne to join the now-defunct Collingwood. When the Magpies folded she signed with Melbourne Vixens with the team losing a grand final battle to Adelaide last year. Garbin also shone on the international stage and was rewarded with the Liz Ellis Diamond as Australia's best player. This season the Vixens have struggled to find their groove and sit second last with two wins from six matches. But a win in Brisbane over the sixth-ranked Queensland Firebirds could see them jump to fifth, with the top four playing finals. Looking to send departing coach Simone McKinnis out a winner, Garbin said she still felt positive about their 2025 season and had extra motivation with Melbourne hosting the grand final. "We're just not playing our best," she said. "It'd be a bit more disheartening if we felt like we were giving it our all and still losing, but I don't think we've had all 10 of us firing at the same time. "I still feel quite positive, like I've been at many different clubs and have had different seasons, and sometimes successes come later on in the season. "We're two and four, but that doesn't mean the season's over. "Our mindset going into this weekend is just focusing on beating the Firebirds rather than looking too far ahead and looking into finals, but I'm still very much thinking that we're playing finals and we're not out of the race just yet."
