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The five moments that mattered in the Super Netball preliminary final

In a comeback for the ages, the Vixens clawed their way back from a 10-goal deficit at the final break to earn a spot in the Super Netball grand final. These were the five defining moments.

Swifts star Grace Nweke can't watch as Vixens celebrate.
Swifts star Grace Nweke can't watch as Vixens celebrate.

For the fourth straight season, the Super Netball preliminary final came down to a single goal as teams fought tooth and nail for a place in the premiership decider.

In a comeback for the ages, the Melbourne Vixens clawed their way back from a 10-goal deficit at the final break to earn themselves a spot in Saturday’s grand final against the West Coast Fever.

It ended a Swifts season that started with the team rated the one to beat for the premiership but ended with them just missing the grand final after recovering from a horror clash against the Fever a week earlier.

Here are the moments that made the match and will count heading forward.

DOING IT FOR SIMONE

Vixens coach Simone McKinnis seemed just 15 minutes away from retirement with her team well down at the final break and the Swifts flying in front of a massive home crowd. Where many might panic, attempt to fix issues or give too many instructions, McKinnis gave her team free rein in the final term as they attempted to pull back a 10-point deficit.

The coach who brought us the “maybe we should just go to the pub” comment when her side was struggling earlier this season, again found the perfect words at the perfect moment. “We can do anything we want in this quarter - defenders are having a fly, we’re having a crack, we’re having fun … let the ball go, take the shot. Put that defensive pressure on … We have nothing to lose here except for throwing out best selves at this contest.”

Vixen captain Kate Moloney and coach Simone McKinnis celebrate victory. Picture: Getty Images
Vixen captain Kate Moloney and coach Simone McKinnis celebrate victory. Picture: Getty Images

McKinnis has enormous confidence in her players, who in turn have incredible respect for their mentor and they all but refused to allow her to bow out on Sunday. She’ll again be able to bring out the best in her group next week and will be key in devising a plan that could stop the Fever.

Veteran players like Kate Moloney and Jo Weston, who have played their entire careers under McKinnis will want to send the former Diamond out on a high note and will be doing everything they can to help her to a third title after she led premierships in 2014 and 2020.

HADLEY A BAROMETER FOR SWIFTS

The confidence that Paige Hadley adds for the Swifts can’t be underestimated. It’s slightly simplistic to suggest that her injection alone was responsible for her team’s turnaround but the leadership and communication she adds is enormous. Hadley, who is battling a foot injury, finished with stats that are well below her usual output but her ability to remain on court for 60 minutes was both courageous and necessary. The question now is how quickly she’s able to rebound, with the Diamonds set to play a three-match series against South Africa in October.

Paige Hadley, Swifts head coach Briony Akle and Verity Simmons look dejected after defeat in the Super Netball Preliminary Final. Picture: Getty Images
Paige Hadley, Swifts head coach Briony Akle and Verity Simmons look dejected after defeat in the Super Netball Preliminary Final. Picture: Getty Images

Hadley remains signed to the Swifts next season, with the club likely to move quickly on shoring up their list.

Given the impact Sharni Lambden had in her first year, she’s likely to be re-signed and adding Grace Whyte - the club’s 11th player this season - to the full-time list should be a priority.

The return of Maddy Proud from maternity leave is the big question.

Her addition would give them a middle any team would be happy to have.

GARBIN BRINGS THE ROAR

Coach McKinnis gave them free rein, captain Kate Moloney preached belief in the final huddle but it was Sophie Garbin who roared - literally and figuratively - with her actions in the final term.

The Diamonds goal shooter finished with 46 goals and just a single miss for the match in a pivotal effort.

Swifts’ goalkeeper Sarah Klau competes with Sophie Garbin for the ball. Picture: GettyImages)
Swifts’ goalkeeper Sarah Klau competes with Sophie Garbin for the ball. Picture: GettyImages)

But it was they way she demanded ball in the final term - after being starved of it at times from Vixens feeders who were reticent to let the pass go - executed perfectly and then shouted encouragement to her teammates that was amazing from an athlete that can occasionally get the shooting yips.

In the biggest of moments though - think the 2023 World Cup final for the Diamonds - Garbin is rock solid and gives confidence to those around her.

An amazing 17/17 as well as two goal assists in the final quarter helped the Vixens to their unlikely win.

AUSTIN STANDS TALL

On so many occasions, Kiera Austin has the ball in her hands at the big moments in games. It happened again on Sunday but after a relatively quiet first three quarters and a couple of nervous-looking moments early in the fourth, it seemed it wouldn’t be the Diamonds goal attack’s day, with often under-rated Swifts defender Maddy Turner doing an outstanding job to pressure her all game.

Kiera Austin lines up a shot for the Vixens. Picture: Getty Images
Kiera Austin lines up a shot for the Vixens. Picture: Getty Images

But as the Vixens clawed their way within reach in the final term, it was always likely to come down to Austin’s hot hand from super shot range and she delivered as few in the game can in the moments that mattered.

Austin finished with five turnovers and just 12 goals from 16 attempts on Sunday.

But four of those were super shots and three - coming at 100 per cent - were scored during a huge last quarter where she seemed nerveless in the final five minutes with the match on the line.

LAST WE SEE OF NWEKE?

Grace Nweke rebounded superbly after her worst performance of the season in last week’s semi-final in Perth, finishing with 53 goals at 91 per cent after a slightly shaky start.

But as the Swifts grew in confidence, so did the Ferns shooter, who was reeling in feeds and scoring with ease in the second and third terms as the Swifts dominated.

Did amazingly well to pull in what seemed a wayward feed in the final seconds but dished off to Housby for the final shot - one the Roses goaler had to rush but was makeable - and missed the chance to send the game to extra time.

Should she have steadied and taken the attempt herself? It’s a question she could be asking for a while.

Star Swifts shooter Grace Nweke. Picture: Getty Images
Star Swifts shooter Grace Nweke. Picture: Getty Images

The bigger question though is whether she will be back in the red dress next season.

Nweke has had to give up Silver Ferns eligibility this year to play Super Netball in a bid to improve her game.

There’s little question she has done that and will certainly be better for being constantly tested by the best defenders in the world.

After Netball New Zealand’s announcement last week that they would consider athlete requests to play across the Tasman while retaining national eligibility, has Nweke gained a clearance for 2026?

There’s no doubt she wants to be at the Commonwealth Games, so will not do anything to void her availability for the Kiwis.

But if cleared, she could be back for the Swifts and could be even better in her second stint - a scary thought for opponents.

Originally published as The five moments that mattered in the Super Netball preliminary final

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Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/netball/the-five-moments-that-mattered-in-the-super-netball-preliminary-final/news-story/2fa07283091c7c00dd12357a6e881996