Melbourne Vixens captain Kate Moloney fired up for preliminary final against New South Wales Swifts
Melbourne Vixens captain Kate Moloney admits she talks a lot on court, but she’s hoping the team’s game will do the talking against the New South Wales Swifts.
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Melbourne Vixens captain Kate Moloney can’t help getting fired up on court.
Always animated and full of voice, the Vixens’ fearless leader admits she is always waging a personal battle between losing her voice and letting her game do the talking.
Ahead of Sunday’s preliminary final against New South Wales Swifts, Moloney hopes to find the perfect balance between both to help propel her team into the Super Netball grand final against the Sunshine Coast Lightning.
“I do talk a lot (on court),” Moloney said.
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“I’m always trying to get that balance between losing my voice and just going out and leading by example as well and that’s one of the things I am continually trying to work on and learn.
“I think I got the balance right last week, so hopefully I can do that again.”
Moloney delivered an MVP performance in the Vixens’ stunning 13-goal win over
Collingwood in the minor semi-final against in-form Magpie centre Ash Brazill.
The win snapped a three-game losing streak for the Vixens and gave the team its first victory against the Magpies this year after losing both matches to them in the home-and-away season.
The Vixens are hoping to repeat the pattern against the Swifts, who they also lost to twice during the regular season — by a total of 16 goals.
“There’s a couple of things we really need to change (from last game against Swifts), but we feel if we can bring the sort of defensive intensity and … workload in attack that we did on the weekend we have a really good chance of shaking it up,” Moloney said.
The Vixens are striving for a maiden Super Netball title after missing the finals last season and bowing out in straight sets in 2017 when they claimed the minor premiership.
“The goal you set at the start of the year is you want to be in that very last game and you want to be playing your absolute best netball in that last game,” Moloney said.
“But we know there’s a lot of work to do before we get there.
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“It’s definitely tunnel vision on the Swifts this weekend because I think if you start to think too far ahead that’s when you can get yourself into a bit of trouble.
“Swifts have been the team to beat all year, they have been the ladder leaders and we know it’s going to be tough, but if we can bring the intensity that we did last weekend we’re going to have a really good shot.”
rebecca.williams@news.com.au
SUPER NETBALL
PRELIMINARY FINAL
NSW SWIFTS v MELBOURNE VIXENS
SYDNEY, SUNDAY 1PM
SWIFTS
GS: Sam Wallace
GA: Helen Housby
WA: Natalie Haythornthwaite
C: Paige Hadley
WD: Katrina Rore
GD: Maddy Turner
GK: Sarah Klau
Bench: Tayla Fraser, Sophie Garbin, Sophie Halpin
VIXENS
GS: Caitlin Thwaites
GA: Tegan Philip
WA: Liz Watson
C: Kate Moloney
WD: Renae Ingles
GD: Jo Weston
GK: Emily Mannix
Bench: Kadie-Ann Dehaney, Mwai Kumwenda, Lara Dunkley
HEAD-TO-HEAD THIS SEASON
R5: Swifts 60 d Vixens 50, Melbourne Arena
R12: Swifts 57 d Vixens 51, Sydney
KEY MATCH UP
Maddy Turner (GD) v Tegan Philip (GA)
Philip was one of the standouts for the Vixens in their semi-final win over cross-town rivals Magpies last weekend with her speed and drive into the goal circle. Philip was held to her lowest score of the season (18 goals) in the Vixens’ Round 5 loss to the Swifts and will be a key if the team is to keep its title hopes alive. Turner is the most likely match-up, but the Swifts also have the option of moving Silver Fern Rore into the goal circle.
REBECCA WILLIAMS SAYS
The Vixens lost both their regular games to the Swifts this season, but their turnaround in form last week against the Magpies was nothing but dramatic after three straight losses. They have lost only one game interstate this season so playing away doesn’t bother them. The Swifts’ momentum was dented with a 10-goal major semi-final loss to the Lightning.
Vixens by 2
Originally published as Melbourne Vixens captain Kate Moloney fired up for preliminary final against New South Wales Swifts