Melbourne Vixens’ exciting squad to challenge Magpies, Super Netball favourites
SMART recruiting has Melbourne Vixens quietly confident of challenging Super Netball premiership favourite Magpies in 2017. ULTIMATE PREVIEW
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MELBOURNE Vixens coach Simone McKinnis knew the recruiting period last year for the new Suncorp Super Netball league was going to be a tough one.
While the assault on her stars from rival expansion teams was inevitable, the priority for the 2014 premiership coach was to keep the bulk of her exciting young talent together.
She succeeded.
SCROLL DOWN FOR PROFILES OF EVERY VIXENS PLAYER PLUS FIXTURE
The Vixens might have said goodbye to former captain Madi Robinson (Magpies) and veteran goal keeper Geva Mentor (Sunshine Coast), but the team will welcome back new captain Kate Moloney, Liz Watson, Jo Weston, Emily Mannix, Emma Ryde and Chloe Watson from last season, alongside seasoned goal attack Tegan Philip.
“My focus was really about keeping those young ones there, that core group,’’ McKinnis said.
“To be honest that was a really tough time, across the different clubs that was a really tough time recruitment wise.
“But when you have players like Lizzy and Kate and Tegan saying right from the word go, ‘We’re in, we’re here, we’re here for the long haul’, that made it all right for me. I knew we were going to be OK.
“That was important and that was great support for me.’’
The Vixens boast one of the youngest — and promising — lists in the competition, with seven players aged 24 and under, so there is plenty of upside for McKinnis and her coaching panel.
Alongside the seven returning players from 2016, Malawi’s star goal shooter Mwai Kumwenda is the key addition for the Vixens. The team has also added former Thunderbirds midcourter Khao Watts and young Jamaican defender Kadie-Ann Dehaney.
One of the most exciting goalers in international netball, Kumwenda will bring flair and energy in a dynamic pairing with Philip, who returns after missing last season following a knee reconstruction. The towering Ryde, at 197cm, provides the Vixens’ tall shooting option.
McKinnis admitted to being a long-time fan of Kumwenda and said snaring the goaler had also been a recruiting priority.
“We obviously knew ‘MJ’ from when she was playing state league here in Victoria. I’ve always loved the way that she has played the game,” McKinnis said.
“You can just tell talking to her she just has that fire, that competitiveness ... she wants the ball, ‘Give it to me, I’ll shoot it, give it to me’.’’
While the Vixens’ new cross-town rivals the Magpies have already attracted the tag of premiership favourite for the new eight-team league, McKinnis is backing her team to make an impact.
“We’re not selling ourselves short at all,’’ McKinnis said.
“We’re going into it full-on and making sure we’re going to be hard to beat if we’re going to get beaten.’’
The Vixens have new leadership for 2017, with Moloney stepping into the captaincy after Robinson’s departure and Philip and Liz Watson assuming deputy duties.
Moloney said she was happy for the external pressure to fall on the Magpies, but knew what her team was capable of this season.
“If everyone wants to put them in as favourites then we are happy just to keep sailing through and hopefully be there at the end of the last game of the season,’’ Moloney said.
“We’re ready to go and we can’t wait to play them round one and show not only Melbourne, but in Australia, that we’re ready.’’
MELBOURNE VIXENS
Coach: Simone McKinnis
Captain: Kate Moloney
Premiership odds: $6.50 (TAB)
In: Mwai Kumwenda, Kadie-Ann Dehaney, Khao Watts
Out: Madi Robinson, Geva Mentor, Kelsey Browne, Alice Teague-Neeld, Karyn Bailey
THE SQUAD
MWAI KUMWENDA (MALAWI)
Age: 27
Last year: Mainland Tactix (NZ)
Position: GS, GA
One of international netball’s shooting stars, the spring-heeled Kumwenda has a dynamic game that is sure to make her a fan favourite.
KADIE-ANN DEHANEY (JAMAICA)
Age: 20
Last year: Molynes United (Jam)
Position: GK, GD
The 192cm defender is one of two imports on the Vixens’ list, making her debut for Jamaica at the 2015 World Cup.
EMILY MANNIX
Age: 22
Last year: Vixens
Position: GK, GD
After the departure of long-time goal keeper Geva Mentor, Mannix is the next in line to take over her mantle in the defensive goal circle.
KATE MOLONEY
Age: 24
Last year: Vixens
Position: WD, C
In her fifth season with the Vixens, the athletic wing defence steps up to take on the captaincy after the departure of Madi Robinson.
TEGAN PHILIP
Age: 28
Last year: Vixens
Position: GA, GS
Missed all of last season after injuring her ACL in a practice game, but is back to headline a new-look attack after the departures of Karyn Bailey and Alice Teague-Neeld.
EMMA RYDE
Age: 20
Last year: Vixens
Position: GS
In her second season with the Vixens, Ryde looms as a shooting weapon as one of the tallest players in the league at 197cm.
LIZ WATSON
Age: 22
Last year: Vixens
Position: C, WA
Coming into her fourth season with the Vixens, Watson is the engine of the Vixens’ midcourt and will divide her time between centre and wing attack.
JO WESTON
Age: 23
Last year: Vixens
Position: GD, GK, WD
Weston stepped into the goal defence role full-time last year after the retirement of Bianca Chatfield and will now be the most experienced head in a young defence after Mentor’s departure.
CHLOE WATSON
Age: 22
Last year: Vixens
Position: GD, WD
Coming into her third season at the Vixens, Watson’s opportunities have so far been limited largely to stints off the bench, but she is sure to see more action this year.
KHAO WATTS
Age: 28
Last year: Thunderbirds
Position: WA, C, WD
Watts arrives at the Vixens after stints at the Thunderbirds, Fever and Magic and adds experience and versatility to the midcourt.
VIXENS DRAW
1 Sat February 18 v Magpies Hisense Arena
2 Sun February 26 v Sun Coast Lightning 1pm Uni of Sunshine Coast
3 Sat March 4 v NSW Swifts 8.45pm Hisense Arena
4 Sat March 11 v West Coast Fever 7pm Margaret Court Arena
5 Sat March 18 v Qld Firebirds 7pm Brisbane Entertainment Centre
6 Sat March 25 v Giants 7pm Hisense Arena
7 Sun April 2 v Magpies 3pm Hisense Arena
8 Sat April 8 v Adelaide Thunderbirds 8.45pm Priceline Stadium
9 Sun April 23 v NSW Swifts 3pm Qudos Bank Arena
10 Fri April 28 v Sun Coast Lightning 7.30pm Margaret Court
11 Sat May 6 v Qld Firebirds 7pm Hisense Arena
12 Sun May 14 v Giants 1pm AIS Arena
13 Sun May 21 v Adelaide Thunderbiards 3pm Margaret Court Arena
14 Sat May 27 v West Coast Fever 8.45pm Perth Arena
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