Three things we learned about the Melbourne Vixens

THE Vixens made a brilliant start against the Swifts to jump to an eight-goal lead, but let the game escape them.

THE Vixens made a brilliant start against the Swifts to jump to an eight-goal lead, but let the game escape them in disappointing second and third quarters.

1. Playing four quarters has been a catchphrase for Vixens coach Julie Hoornweg this season. The loss to the Swifts reinforced why she has been hammering home that message to her players.

The Vixens made a brilliant start against the Swifts to jump to an eight-goal lead, but let the game escape them in disappointing second and third quarters.

While the Vixens were able to muster thrilling last-quarter fightbacks against the Firebirds and Magic earlier in the season, they weren't able to pull off the same trick in Sydney.

The Vixens' first loss of the season brought an end to an impressive six-game winning streak, although it certainly hasn't put a hole in their championship ambitions.

But consistency is an area that clearly needs to improve if they want to continue to set a standard for the rest of the competition this season.


2. The Vixens have what is regarded as the best defensive combination in the competition, but the loss of captain Bianca Chatfield mid-way through the second quarter, and again in the final quarter, exposed a weakness in the team's backline - the lack of a more specialised back-up wing defence.

With Chatfield off the court, the versatile Julie Corletto moved into the circle at goal defence and Sarah Wall was brought on in her place at wing defence.

While Wall is a quality mid-courter, she is a wing attack or centre, not a wing defence. The Vixens are already one defensive option down off the bench, with Kara Richards sidelined with a foot injury.


3. Vixens goal keeper Geva Mentor has been strong against some of the competition's top goalers this season, but did not have her usual impact against the Swifts.

Standing Susan Prately, Mentor came off second best with the Swifts' goal shooter producing a dominant shooting display to top score for the game with 31 goals.

Vixens coach Julie Hoornweg said Mentor had not adjusted her game for a moving goaler.

"That was the first time she has played a moving goaler, really, so she'll just need to adjust her game,'' she said.

"You need to play it a bit more smartly, you don't play the same game as you play on a holding shooter, you have to play a moving game.''