Super Netball finals: Vixens goaler Kiera Austin rules out of preliminary final clash with Giants

Melbourne Vixens have suffered a huge blow ahead of their Super Netball preliminary final with a star ruled out due to Covid.

Kiera Austin of the Vixens has been ruled out of the preliminary final against Giants due to Covid-19.

Vixens goaler Kiera Austin will miss Saturday night’s must win preliminary final clash against her former team the Giants due to Covid-19.

Austin, who missed out on taking the court in the Giants finals campaign last year due to tearing her ACL in Round 1, will have to watch her team’s last ditch effort to make the final’s in isolation.

The 24-year-old, named in the Diamonds team bound for the Commonwealth Games earlier this month, was one of the best on court in the Vixens dismal 71-62 loss to West Coast Fever in the first round of finals last weekend.

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Kiera Austin of the Vixens has been ruled out of the preliminary final against Giants due to Covid-19. (Photo by Kelly Defina/Getty Images)

Austin netted 11 of her 15 shots and had 19 centre pass receives.

Vixens confirmed on social media on Thursday that squad member Ruby Barkmeyer would step up to replace Austin.

The Melbourne side, who lost just two games in the regular season to take out the minor premiership, have to beat Giants to earn a spot in the grand final in Perth against Fever.

Originally published as Super Netball finals: Vixens goaler Kiera Austin rules out of preliminary final clash with Giants