Super Netball 2025: Vixens coach Simone McKinnis to coach her 200th match at national league level

After 199 matches as a head coach, Simone McKinnis still holds the same passion for netball coaching and is not going to let contract talks distract from another Melbourne Vixens’ title tilt.

Melbourne Vixens coach Simone McKinnis says she still holds the same passion for the job as when she first started at the club, but has brushed aside talk over her contract as she focused on her team’s title tilt this season.

Ahead of her 200th game as coach in a match named in her honour against the New South Wales Swifts, McKinnis said her drive remained as strong as ever to lead the Vixens – 13 years after taking on the role.

The Vixens have been regular finalists under the guidance of the former Diamond and champion wing defence, winning two premierships and finishing runners-up in two others in her time at the helm.

While McKinnis admitted the job had shared its challenges, she said her love for coaching the Vixens group had not diminished.

McKinnis is preparing to coach her 200th national league match. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

“It’s had its ups and downs, but it’s been good fun,” McKinnis said.

“I feel really lucky and have had some amazing experiences working with amazing people and I still have that strong drive.

“Each year is different and you can’t do it if you don’t have that drive and hunger for it.

“I have had some incredible athletes that I have been able to work with and people that I have had to work with.

“It has its challenges, but it’s super rewarding as well, especially seeing athletes achieve what they want to achieve.”

Out of contract at the end of this year, McKinnis did not want to buy into discussion about her coaching future, preferring to focus on her team’s campaign to bounce back from last year’s grand final heartache.

“To be honest, I don’t think (about that) … I am just worrying about this year and now. It is so full on each season,” McKinnis said.

“I am just focusing on what we are doing now and doing the best we can as a group and as I can as a coach and Netball Vic that can be worked out from their side of things.

“I just keep my focus on what I’m doing each day and what I can control.

The Vixens suffered their second grand final loss in the past three years when they fell to the Adelaide Thunderbirds by two goals in last year’s decider.

McKinnis does not want to buy into her coaching future. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

Despite a “rockier” start to the Super Netball season than McKinnis would have hoped for, she was confident the team could again challenge for this year’s crown.

The fifth-placed Vixens take a 2-2 record into Sunday’s clash against the ladder-leading Swifts at Ken Rosewall Arena where they will battle for the Sargeant-McKinnis Cup.

“I do believe we can (challenge again),” McKinnis said.

“It’s just so close this competition and we have had probably a rockier start to the season than we would have liked.

“But it’s an experienced group and we know what we need to do.

“I think we saw signs of getting back to our best last week and everyone is really excited and everyone believes that we can get there again.”

The Vixens are the current holders of Sargeant-McKinnis Cup. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

McKinnis won her first premiership coaching the Vixens in 2014 and had to wait another six years for her second in 2020.

Reflecting on her coaching record at the club, McKinnis admitted there were some chances that got away, but said she preferred not to dwell on the lost opportunities.

“We are our own worst taskmasters,” McKinnis said.

“You always look back and think, ‘We could have won that’. I look back on last year and you think you could have won that.

“But you also can’t hang onto that because it’s just about moving forward.

Simone McKinnis embraces Vixens captain Bianca Chatfield after the 2014 premiership win. Pic: Michael Klein

“I feel like sometimes there might have been ones that got away, but I think that we have maintained some pretty good standards over the years and we work really hard at it.”

McKinnis said the Vixens remained in dialogue with goal keeper Emily Mannix, who is on parental leave after the birth of her first child in January, but could not shed any light on whether there was any chance of a return to the court this year.

“We just support Emily and what she needs at the moment,” McKinnis said.

“Excited for (replacement player) Maggie (Caris) and Emily is as excited for Maggie as anybody. She has been around us for three or four years as a training partner so she is super supportive of the girls that are there and the opportunity for Maggie.

“She is progressing at her pace and what she needs to do for herself and we support that.

“She is still an important part and an important voice and support and leader around the group.”

Originally published as Super Netball 2025: Vixens coach Simone McKinnis to coach her 200th match at national league level