Sophie Garbin reveals how the Vixens got back to playing the netball that took them to last year’s grand final

The Vixens’ early season outings haven’t been of the quality that got them to last year’s grand final, but their Melbourne derby victory was a sign the spark is still there. Sophie Garbin says an old fashion attacking talk has got them back on track.

Sophie Garbin has revealed how a frank attacking talk sparked a return to her core strength in the circle to help get the Vixens back to the netball that took them to a grand final ahead of a showdown against ladder-leaders NSW Swifts this week.

The 2024 Liz Ellis Diamond winner was a standout in the Vixens’ win over cross-town Super Netball rivals Melbourne Mavericks on Sunday as they bounced back from a heavy loss to the West Coast Fever.

Garbin said the Vixens had strayed from their individual strengths in previous games and some soul searching during the week had helped the group find “clarity” about their roles.

“We probably went away from what we do best in the last couple of weeks. Working on that variety, it is good to be unpredictable, but I think we went away too much from our individual strengths,” Garbin said.

Think you’re a sports fanatic? Take the test. Play daily trivia for FREE on CODE Sports. Sign up here

Sophie Garbin says frank attacking talk gave the Vixens the clarity they needed to perform. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

“This week we really just refined it, we had a really good attack meeting during the week just to get some real clarity about our roles and I thought everyone really went out and it felt so free and felt like we were just playing our game.

“It kind of felt a bit more like last year and how we did it. I think for us we went to a grand final last year playing that way, so just reminding ourselves what we’re good at and getting back to that.”

Garbin fired 45 goals from 52 attempts in an MVP performance after playing just 34 minutes the previous round against the Fever.

While the Diamonds’ goaler acknowledged her strength in the goal circle, she said her ability to move outside in a more dynamic attack could be a “get out of jail free card” for the Vixens – and a key point of difference from the teams with holding shooters.

“I’m trying not to come out too much because I know that my strength is in the circle and I’ve got some great middies and Kip (Kiera Austin) out the front of me to bring the ball to circle edge,” Garbin said.

“But I think a lot of teams have that tall holding shooter that they can (hurl) the ball into, so I think for us our little get out of jail free card is that shooter coming out for that second phase.

“Not doing it too much, but I think keeping that unpredictability makes it harder for a defender as well, they don’t know if I’m going to stay in and hold, or if I’m going to come out.”

The Vixens are looking to return to their grand final form of last season. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

After squaring up their ledger to a 2-2 record after their win over the Mavs, the Vixens now face their toughest assignment of the year against the undefeated Swifts in Sydney.

Garbin said the Vixens could not afford to allow the Swifts off the leash early with the major threat of Grace Nweke under the post.

“(We cannot let) them get a big lead at the start of the game because obviously that gives them the confidence to just throw that ball in,” Garbin said.

“I think for us just keep working on our strengths and our concentration for the full 60 minutes

“And for us being disciplined in the next couple of weeks, if we have got any sort of lead, just making sure that we’re converting and getting on with it and not letting people back into the game just from lack of concentration.”

Originally published as Sophie Garbin reveals how the Vixens got back to playing the netball that took them to last year’s grand final