‘Fresh’ Vixens primed for Super Netball premiership tilt, want to ‘go all the way’
The Melbourne Vixens have had a blistering start to the Super Netball season, and their captain says they are primed to go “all the way”
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Few netball pundits predicted the Melbourne Vixens to be premiership contenders in 2024 but captain Kate Moloney says their blistering start to the Super Netball season hasn’t surprised them.
The Vixens have a 7-1 win-loss record and are equal top of the ladder with the West Coast Fever, trailing only on goal difference after eight rounds.
Many expected the Vixens to struggle following the departure of Australian Diamonds captain Liz Watson to the Sunshine Coast Lightning, but they have discovered new-found team chemistry with some new recruits, youngsters and old heads.
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Sophie Garbin is showing what she can do at goal shooter after moving from Collingwood, Hannah Mundy has stepped into Watson’s shoes in the midcourt, while Moloney and defender Emily Mannix are in career best form.
Cath Cox named Garbin, Kiera Austin, Moloney and Mannix in her mid-season Diamonds team based on Super Netball form.
The Vixens won the Super Netball premiership in 2020 and it appears they have the talent and team chemistry to take them all the way once again.
“I don’t think we’ve surprised me,” Moloney told news.com.au.
“We always set out with the goal that we wanted to go all the way in season 2024.
“I’m really excited about the type of netball we’re playing this year. We’ve brought some new players in. There’s been a bit of a change with the way that we’re playing and it’s really exciting to see that grow each week. Hopefully we can keep this momentum going into the second half of the season.
“Without a doubt, losing a player of Lizzy’s calibre is always going to leave a bit of a hole.
“But the great thing about netball in Victoria is how much depth we have. To see the likes of Hannah Mundy step up, Zara Walters who’s even younger into that wing attack position, has been amazing.
“We’ve got new players such as Sophie Garbin and Rudi Ellis, who provide a lot of experience. Emily Mannix and Jo Weston, players who’ve been around for the last 10 years, are playing really good netball as well.
“It just feels really fresh this year. The girls have worked really hard in the off-season and it all seems to be coming together. Hopefully we can keep improving.”
Garbin won a premiership with the Swifts in 2019 but didn’t reach her potential playing at goal attack at Collingwood.
Playing goal shooter in Australia’s World Cup winning team last year has spurred Garbin onto new heights, and she is flourishing under the post in the Vixens GS bib.
“I think the combination of Sophie and Kiera at that front is going to continue to grow,” Moloney said.
“We’ve seen it at Diamonds level and we’re starting to see it really gel together at Vixens as well.
“I was really excited when she signed with the Vixens. I had the opportunity to play a bit with here when we were younger in Australia A teams and in the Diamonds more recently.
“She’s such a strong player out on court. She provides so much to our group both on and off court. What her and Kiera did at the World Cup, they’ve been able to carry that on into the Vixens environment and just keep getting better and better.
“This is something really exciting not just for Vixens, but Diamonds as well. If they can grow that connection and keep getting better, I’m really excited about the combination they can build and the netball they can put out on court.”
Coincidentally, the Vixens’ only loss so far has been a seven-point defeat to Watson’s Lightning in Round 6.
“I haven’t spoken to her about the loss yet,” Moloney laughed when asked if her ex-teammate had sledged her about the result.
“We do speak quite a bit, Lizzy and I, but we try not to speak too much about netball and I definitely didn’t want to talk to her about that loss.
“I would have loved to have beaten her. It was great to see her back at John Cain Arena. We come up against them in a few weeks. We’ll look closely at that game and hopefully get one back when we play her next time.”
The Vixens are the only team to beat the Fever this season, while Watson’s Lightning are in a battle to make finals as the Diamonds skipper, Courtney Bruce, Steph Fretwell and Cara Koenen try to gel together.
West Coast and Vixens appear on a collision course for another premiership battle, after the Fever won the 2022 Grand Final and the Melburnians won two years prior.
The Fever have been another surprise packet this season, exceeding expectations that were lowered due to retirements and several players leaving for other teams.
“Going over to play in Perth is one of the hardest things to do in our competition,” Moloney said.
“They have an incredible stadium, so many fans and the atmosphere is amazing. It’s always a tough one when you fly over to Perth and play them there. We’ve learned a lot from that experience.
“Obviously 2020 we got over them in the premiership and then 2022 they beat us in that grand final. The more players that have finals experience, the better that holds you well come finals time.
“We have some real belief in our group. We know we need to get better if we want to go all the way. We’ll continue to work on that. Fingers crossed, hopefully we’re there in that last game of the year.”
The rivalry between the Vixens and Fever’s green machine has turned into one of the fiercest in Super Netball.
“We’ve always had that rivalry with Fever.” Moloney said.
“I loved the rivalry we had with Collingwood. That cross-town rivalry is great and I hope that builds with the Mavericks over the years.
“I love the games against NSW Swifts as well, the old school Victoria-NSW is great. We have a lot of respect for them.”
The Vixens take on new cross-town rivals the Mavericks in a King’s Birthday clash at John Cain Arena on Monday.
Moloney won gold at the 2022 Commonwealth Games and was part of the extended squad for last year’s World Cup.
The 31-year-old is one of several veterans — along with Watson, Jo Weston and Courtney Bruce — who would love to represent Australia at some more pinnacle events within the next international cycle.
“It’s a boring answer but I am just taking it one Super Netball year at a time,” Moloney said.
“I’ve been really lucky. My body’s held up extremely well over the years. For me, it’s about enjoying my netball, keep improving.
“If I can keep doing my job for the Vixens, the stuff around international netball will happen for itself. I just want to keep playing netball as long as I can and while I’m enjoying it, I’ll keep doing that.”
Moloney is an ambassador for the Woolworths Pick Fresh Play Fresh Netball Grants, with local netball clubs and associations across Australia, who have a Woolworths NetSetGO centre, encouraged to apply to win a share of $100,000.
The popular $20,000 People’s Choice Award returns for the second year, spotlighting the club or association that receives the most votes, encouraging their local members and supporters to get involved.
The grants have been designed to help local clubs and associations encourage young Aussie netballers to eat healthier and be more active. The funds will allow for improvements to facilities and equipment, subsidising registration fees, and purchasing healthy foods for their canteen.
Since 2019, Woolworths has supported grassroots netball in partnership with Netball Australia, having donated over $1.3 million to over 311 clubs.
“Netball Australia and Woolworths have had such a great partnership over the years,” Moloney said.
“This grants program is just so important. It’s all about promoting healthy eating and healthy, active lifestyles. These grants obviously provide funding to held with facilities, training programs, equipment, whatever it might be.
“It’s about trying to inspire more young people to play our game and Woolworths are doing great job.”
Clubs and associations with a Woolworths NetSetGO centre across the country are encouraged to apply via the website, pickfreshplayfresh.com.au, with applications now open until 7 July 2024.
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