Weston stars as Vixens make big step towards Super Netball glory
Melbourne Vixens coach Simone McKinnis hailed a thrilling win over the NSW Swifts as a “significant step” for her team after holding off the former Super Netball ladder leaders.
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Melbourne Vixens coach Simone McKinnis hailed a thrilling win over the NSW Swifts as a “significant step” for her team after holding off the ladder leaders to claim their first top-four scalp of the season in a boost to their finals ambitions.
Storming to their fourth consecutive win, the Vixens defied a flurry of late super shots from Swifts goal attack Helen Housby to inflict the second loss of the season on the table-topping team with their 70-68 victory at John Cain Arena on Sunday.
The win put the Vixens back in fourth spot on the ladder ahead of the Thunderbirds, who they are battling for a finals berth.
Last season’s runners-up to Adelaide, the Vixens have found their groove after a shaky start to their campaign when they struggled to find consistency and even had McKinnis suggest a trip to the pub was needed to inject life into their “flat” game.
The Vixens led throughout the match – and by as much as 11 goals in the third quarter – but the Swifts stormed home and threatened to steal the game off the back of some superb super shot shooting from Housby and a lift in defensive intensity.
Vixens goal defence Jo Weston was named player of the match as the back-court stalwart finished with three deflections and two long-range goal assists from midcourt.
Weston worked overtime with goal keeper Rudi Ellis to restrict the impact of Swifts’ star import Grace Nweke (40 from 43) and Housby (11/13).
At the other end, goalers Sophie Garbin (47/49) and Kiera Austin (20/23, including three of four two-pointers) also starred with their connection in the circle back to its best.
The victory was the Vixens’ first win of the season against a team in the top four after earlier losses to the Thunderbirds, West Coast Fever, Swifts and Lightning, who they face again next round on the road.
McKinnis, in her last season as Vixens’ coach, said the win against a top-four opponent was an important breakthrough, but the team could not yet afford to look any further ahead than its next battle.
“I’m really pleased, super happy. I thought they did an amazing job taking the game on from the start,” McKinnis said.
“I thought it was important for us to be able to get that win, we haven’t had one over a team that’s in the (top) four. I thought it was a significant step for us, but super proud of the girls.
“We have got Sunshine Coast Lightning next week and we had a poor game against them earlier in the year, so we want to put out a good game next week.
“It is just that shift now to Lightning … what’s going to give us the best opportunity to have the best result that we can get next Saturday night?
“Things are in our hands, but we just have to keep that focus on the here and now.”
Swifts’ goal shooter Sophie Fawns, who replaced Nweke in the power play periods, missed her final two-point attempt with just over 30 seconds left to play in the match, which would have drawn the scores.
The Swifts retain top spot on the ladder by percentage only over the Fever, but Swifts coach Briony Akle was pragmatic after the loss.
“I thought when we had that shot at the end, maybe we should have gone for a one-pointer, but it is what it is,” Akle said.
“If we got the goal, it would have been great, but we didn’t and that’s sport.
“I never like to lose, but I feel like Vixens are a top side and I thought they were amazing tonight in their attack.
“I expected a really hard game and they just came out and we didn’t have answers. Disappointed but moving forward.”
WESTON WIND-UP
McKinnis was able to have a laugh about the trademark Weston wind-up after her pair of goal assists from centre court, but praised the “outstanding” defensive leadership of the
Diamonds’ defender.
“You can see it coming because you watch her and you go, ‘Oh, here we go’,” McKinnis said.
“But I thought Jo was outstanding today. Just the workrate and the leadership for those around her has just been so good. So I’ll let her have a couple of goal assists.
“The discipline is something that we have spoken about, we have been highly penalised and that decision-making and staying in play.
“Jo is so competitive, she would be one of the most competitive people I know. But for her to be able manage that, the decision-making and keep the pressure on … and just the support she shows to Rudi as well.
“The whole attack end of Swifts is a tough attack end, it’s just that mindset which Jo has to keep persevering and just keep at it.”
CONSECUTIVE LOSSES
The Swifts stormed into premiership favouritism after a blistering start to the season when they won their opening eight matches.
With their blockbuster off-season signing, Silver Ferns star Nweke dominating under the post, many had considered the Swifts an early lock for this year’s crown.
But consecutive losses in the past two rounds have shown they are not bulletproof.
The Fever flexed their flag credentials last round with an 11-goal win over the Swifts in Sydney before the Vixens handed them their first loss on the road.
“It’s just reality checks around accountability and working as a unit,” Akle said.
“As any coach would, we will go back and have a look at the footage and delve deeply into that and what that means for us moving forward, but I haven’t lost any faith.”
The Swifts face the Giants in a Sydney derby next round.
SUPER SHOT STAR
Housby did her best to almost single-handedly drag the Swifts over the line in the final quarter with an almost flawless performance from two-point range.
The English international nailed eight of nine two-point attempts for the match, including four in the final power play period.
“It is not easy shooting those super shots under pressure when you are 10 down and the whole team relying on you,” Akle said.
“I thought Sophie (four from seven two-pointers) came on and supported her beautifully in that role tonight. She hasn’t had a lot of court time obviously, but the minutes she had I thought she was extremely valuable and helped Helen out and just released that pressure valve for her as well.”
GIANTS SHOCK LIGHTNING
The maligned Giants have clawed their way off the bottom of the Super Netball ladder with a performance that has thrown genuine doubt over the Sunshine Coast Lightning’s premiership credentials.
The Giants out-muscled, out-enthused and simply outplayed the Lightning to win 78-68 in by far their best performance of the season.
While they had a drought-breaking win against the Thunderbirds in round 4, it changed little in the first half of the season, with the Sydney-based side losing their next four in a row until their three-goal victory the next time they met the defending premiers.
This time, it seemed to fill their cup with confidence, the victory giving them back-to-back wins for the first time in two years.
The opening stages against the Lightning - a top-four side containing several Diamonds players - were outstanding, with veterans Jo Harten and Casey Kopua not just playing key roles themselves but acting as on-court tutors for those around them at each end of the court.
The Giants pushed out to a six-goal lead at one stage in the first quarter and while the Lightning clawed their way back to within one early in the second, it was an aberration, the home side taking an eight-goal lead to halftime and breaking the elastic when captain Jo Harten converted a super shot late in the third term to push the lead to 20.
The Lightning had no answers in a performance that was their worst of the season, with players and coach Belinda Reynolds rattled at times.
COACHES ON COURT
Given their team’s performance, Giants fans were understandably raucous inside Ken Rosewall Arena.
But in the few quiet moments on court, the voices of Giants veterans Harten and Casey Kopua could be heard directing their younger teammates around the court like traffic cops.
Defenders Erin O’Brien and Amy Sligar were again outstanding - the pair making six and four gains respectively - while Kopua had five herself.
“I think she’s really given so much confidence to our young defenders,” Harten said of former Silver Ferns captain Kopua, who turns 40 in just days.
“And you know, myself in attack, it’s just awesome that we can play free flowing netball and have that confidence.”
Harten’s shooting partner Sophie Dwyer won player of the match honours, the Diamond turning in arguably her best performance of the season with 32 goals and 12 goal assists.
“Jo and I were really happy with our connection last week, and we took a lot of confidence from our shooting circle,” Dwyer said.
“We love playing together and we are having so much fun.”
It was Harten’s first 60-minute effort of the season, with the Giants also having sharpshooter Matisse Letherbarrow on the sidelines.
But the Giants’ three victories have been built on the back of Harten’s incredible smarts and her partnership with Dwyer - one that is now in its fifth Super Netball season - continues to grow.
“Obviously she’s on that hunt for international space with the Diamonds, and she has to put out 60-minute performances,” Harten said of Dwyer.
“I’m doing the best I can to try and partner her the best I can - and not forgetting Tissey (Letherbarrow), who has been an absolute standout for us this year.
“So I think in our shooting circle, we’re just starting to find some rhythm. We’re finding confidence, and we’re really delivering on the things that we said we would and just trying to nail it for our team.”
SLIGAR FORCES CHANGE
Amy Sligar had one of the toughest defensive assignments on the court on Sunday, the young Giants wing defence picking up Liz Watson in the midcourt.
She wore her like a glove too, giving the Diamonds captain no space or time, working the body and at one stage, forcing a change, with Watson switching to centre to - and a clash with Aussie teammate Jamie-Lee Price - just to get a break.
Sligar, who left the court late in the game to address a minor injury in the Giants’ only change of the match, finished with four gains, including three intercepts, in one of the best performances of her career.
A former Giants training partner, she is now a strong member of the starting seven and one of the hardest-working and most underrated players in the league.
STORM AHEAD FOR LIGHTNING?
The Lightning were rated premiership specials when they picked up Diamonds players Watson and defender Courtney Bruce, another Diamonds player.
Injuries cruelled their chances last year, despite them making the top-four, but they have been much more consistent in 2025.
Sunday’s showing against the Giants though was by far their worst of the season.
Poor shooting, a sub-par centre pass conversion rate, plenty of turnovers and a lack of gains made for a tough day for the Queenslanders.
The Lightning headed into Sunday’s match as the best defensive side in the league but struggled to gain ball, something the Giants did easily.
Their shooting options were also poor, with only a strong super shot quarter from Reilley Batcheldor in the final term saving them from a massacre.
Coach Belinda Reynolds, who seemed frustrated with her side at times during the match implored her troops to battle to the end of the match in the final break.
“There’s not too much that we should be proud of today,” she said.
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