A Kiera Austin masterclass ensures Melbourne Vixens remain undefeated against newest rivals, the Mavericks
Melbourne Vixens hammered home their advantage over the Melbourne Mavericks, the Giants and Firebirds could barely be split for the 60 minutes, as they traded blows until the home side edged away and Adelaide Thunderbirds turn tables on West Coast. SUPER NETBALL WRAP
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A complete wrap of all four matches during round nine of the Super Netball season culminating with another big win for the Melbourne Vixens over the Mavericks.
VIXENS REMAIN UNDEFEATED AGAINST NEWEST RIVALS
Kiera Austin’s super shot masterclass guided the Melbourne Vixens to the top of the Super Netball ladder with a 77 to 58 win in the second edition of the Melbourne Match-Up against the Melbourne Mavericks at a sold-out John Cain Arena.
The Vixens won the new rivals’ first meeting by six goals but this time around it was a demolition as their class prevailed after scores had been level.
Austin shot a perfect seven of seven attempts at the two-point shot during the power five to be the highest rated player on the court and put the Vixens a game clear of the West Coast Fever in first.
Austin was similarly deadly in regular time shooting 9 of 12 attempts and the goal attack led the match for goal assists with 21 before heading to the bench during the final quarter to allow 18-year-old Lily Graham – who nailed a super shot of her own – some court time.
“It’s a choice to go out there every week and really put your foot down and work hard, and drive on to the ball,” Austin said.
“I was a bit slow to start as I was finding my feet a bit and then I really wanted to put the foot down.”
The defensive side of Austin’s game was also a standout as she chalked up four deflections and an intercept which she was most pleased with post-game.
“I think I get more satisfaction from an intercept than a super shot,” she said with a laugh. “My sister’s a defender so maybe that’s where I get it from.”
Austin was one of six Vixens along with Sophie Garbin, Hannah Mundy, Kate Moloney, Jo Weston and Emily Mannix (invitee) named in the Diamonds squad during the week, and national honours is working as added motivation for Super Netball success.
“Diamonds (selection) is obviously a bonus,” she said. “This time of year I’m fully focused on Vixens and we’re going every week as it comes and we really have our eyes on winning the premiership this year.
“It was a really nice phone call to get and now it’s back into Vixens plans.”.
The Mavericks brought the intensity early but they fell away badly and it prompted captain Amy Parmenter to dish out a spray to her side during a time-out in the final term.
They had no answers for Austin’s partner-in-crime in the goal circle Garbin who was sensational in shooting 51 goals at 91.1% to be the second highest rated player on the court
Vixens’ mid court duo Kate Moloney and Hannah Mundy racked up 59 feeds and 33 goal assists between them to continue their strong form while goal keeper Rudi Ellis played her best match of the season before leaving the court late with a suspected ankle injury.
ELLIS RESEMBLES FAMOUS NAMESAKE
Vixens fans could be forgiven for thinking Liz Ellis in her prime had donned a navy dress and lined up on Shimona Jok at times in the first half.
Goal keeper Rudi Ellis was the only member of the Vixens starting seven not to be named in the Diamonds squad during the week but the 26-year-old showed higher honours may be in her future as she swung the game in her team’s favour in the second term.
The former West Coast Fever and Queensland Firebirds defender changed tact after quarter time to take front position against Jok and it paid immediate dividends with two intercepts inspiring the Vixens to a five-goal half time lead.
Jok continued her fine form with 38 goals from 40 attempts, but Ellis picked her moments to cut off flatter passes into the circle finishing the game with five deflections and three intercepts.
MAVERICKS’ INTENSITY BACKFIRES
The Mavericks’ desperation to gain a first win against the older sibling led to some overzealous defending.
During the half time break, Mavericks defenders Kim Jenner, Olivia Lewis and Kristiana Manu’a sought clarification from the umpires regarding their bodywork as they gave away 27 penalties between them in the first half.
The number swelled to 46 at full time and as a team the Mavericks conceded 82 penalties – eight more than their opponents.
“This season it’s been interesting to see what’s called and what’s not,” Mavericks captain Amy Parmenter said.
“Sometimes I question ‘what is a contact?’ because sometimes you get away with this and sometimes you get away with that.
“It’s about adjusting in game to what the umpires are calling.”
Their intensity also created errors with their ball movement as they gave up 29 turnovers – 11 more than the Vixens – with mid-courter Maisie Nankivell (eight) the main culprit.
MAVERICKS’ COURAGE
Vixens coach Simone McKinnis expressed her admiration pre-match for the Mavericks’ heart and hunger which was symbolised by wing attack Maisie Nankivell.
Nankivell broke her nose in last week’s win against the Swifts but would not sit out the chance to take on the Mavericks’ biggest rivals instead sporting strapping around her head to keep her nose supported.
The injury ward mounted up when captain Amy Parmenter appeared to dislocate the pinky finger on her right when hunting a loose ball early in the second quarter.
She returned to action after half time but the Vixens opened up a lead when she was off the court as the Mavericks missed her leadership as well that of English star shooter Eleanor Cardwell who was sidelined by a quad injury sustained against the Swifts.
“The resilience side we definitely have down pat but it’s putting two together. We haven’t had two wins a row,” Parmenter said.
“We’ve had the most disjointed season and it seems like every week there’s something. We need to put together a full squad and put together a consistent 60 minutes.”
GIANTS EDGE FIREBIRDS TO CLIMB OUT OF SUPER NETBALL BASEMENT
By Georgia Doyle
The Giants have managed to vacate the basement of the Super Netball ladder, after a thrilling four-point win against the Queensland Firebirds.
Separated by only percentage this season, the teams could barely be split for the 60 minutes, as they traded blows until the Giants edged away in the final quarter to triumph 71-67, giving them their first win over the Firebirds since Round 13, 2022.
Giants had some welcome inclusions, with co-captains Jo Harten and Jamie-Lee Price back in the side following illness and injury respectively last week. Both had immediate impact, and were integral to their side’s win. Harten finished with 35/41, including two supershots, while Price dominated with 21 goal assists and three gains, earning MVP honours.
First year player Erin O’Brien got her first start for the Giants, in the absence of usual goal keeper Tilly McDonell, courtesy of a midweek ankle injury. She had a tough battle against the physical presence of Donnell Wallam, but was able to use her height to disrupt some of the feeds into the circle.
Wallam seemed unperturbed by the reach of O’Brien, nailing 44/48 with three super shots until she was forced from the court for a brief period with an apparent knee injury following a clash with Jodi-Ann Ward.
Giants were first to make a slight break, and in response Firebirds increased their physicality in an attempt to reel in the score. Their penalty count arced up to 61 by the end of the game, while Giants committed a tidier 35. Firebirds midcourters were particularly expensive, with Macy Gardner and Hulita Veve committing more offences than their circle defenders.
The lift in defensive pressure from the Firebirds rattled the Giants, and their accurate long range shooting at the end of the second quarter drew the margin back from six to even at the main break.
Giants pushed out to a four-point lead in the final quarter as the match became increasingly feisty. Head coach Julie Fitzgerald was determined her team would finish the winners, revving her team up with only five minutes to go.
“We have led for most of this game, and we will lead it at the end, we can do this.”
Matched against Diamonds and Giants goal attack Sophie Dwyer, Ruby Bakewell-Doran, dropped from the recently named Australian squad, struggled to replicate last week’s form. She managed only two gains, while Dwyer finished with 26/30, including eight supershots, but gave away eight turnovers.
TIE BREAK TUSSLE
The history between these two teams couldn’t be tighter, since the inception of Super Netball in 2017 they have played each other 15 times for seven wins each plus one draw. Today’s match saw the Giants take the lead in the head-to-head bragging rights, by the narrowest of margins.
DIAMOND DONNELL
Fresh off being named in her third Australian Squad, Donnell Wallam put out a strong performance under the post. Having struggled in the past for consistent court time in the national team, Wallam will be looking for opportunities to stake her claim in the 12.
DEFENSIVE THUNDERBIRDS TURN TABLES ON FEVER
By Jenny Sinclair
After blowing teams away all season, West Coast Fever have had the tables turned on them in a 18 point drubbing by the Adelaide Thunderbirds, suffering their biggest loss since 2019. While just one point separated the two teams in their last encounter, last year’s premiers were too strong all over the court as Fever coach Dan Ryan said they were “tearing his side apart.”
Running out 68 to 50 point winners, Thunderbirds looked a different side to the one who succumbed to the lowly ranked Firebirds last week. Newly minted Diamond squad member Georgie Horjus was back after being out with injury, underlining just how important she is in attack for her side.
However, the Thunderbirds full court defensive pressure proved to be the biggest difference between the two sides, constantly hassling Fever’s attackers and forcing them into multiple errors. Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard’s ball supply dried up, and she looked frustrated as she also contributed to Fever’s woes with offensive penalties.
While Shamera Sterling-Humphrey limited Fowler-Nembhard’s goal scoring capacity, it was her teammate, wing defence Latanya Wilson, who played the most crucial role. In a close marking game, Wilson forced multiple turnovers and finished with nine gains.
Speaking post match, Thunderbirds’ coach Tania Obst applauded her side’s defensive efforts. She said, “The pressure that was happening all the way down court was fantastic. We pushed them into areas they maybe weren’t expecting to go, and we were able to pick up some ball there.”
The contest continued to blow out as Thunderbirds hit the accelerator, finishing 15 points in the clear by half time. Ryan made multiple changes to his side as he spoke of his frustration to broadcast.
“Our turnovers, our ability to not stay on task, and not do the work required and every time we are gaining the ball we are being loose. They are punishing us.”
With a vastly different line up on court in the third quarter, Fever caused a huge momentum shift and were able to eat into the lead, despite inaccuracy from the two point range. However, with their turnover rate and penalty count impressively low, Thunderbirds punished their crumbling opponents to comfortably run out the game.
As she’s done all season, Obst used her full squad, giving them valuable court time ahead of a confirmed finals berth, while Romelda Aiken-George rolled back the clock as she top scored with 50 from 60. Thunderbirds centre Tayla Williams put in a dominant MVP performance with 21 goal assists, two intercepts and only two turnovers.
HOME GROWN HORJUS
After a dearth of home grown players in the national squad recently, the Thunderbirds were delighted to see Georgie Horjus earn her first call up to the 2024/25 Diamonds group. Described by her national coach as a great playmaker with game smarts, the goal attack/wing attack will hopefully earn her first cap later this year. Another local, Lucy Austin, was named as an invitee, while Victorian born Tilly Garrett was re-selected.
SIMPLY THE BEST
Last year’s Super Netball MVP, Shamera Sterling-Humphrey, recorded her 100th domestic national league match, after playing 81 games in Australia and 19 overseas. The superstar, who anchors the defence for both the Thunderbirds and her home nation Jamaica, currently sits first in the league for deflections, equal first for defensive rebounds, and second for intercepts.
STAR RECRUIT RETURNS AS LIGHTNING EDGE SWIFTS
The battle for Super Netball finals has heated up, with Sunshine Coast Lightning sneaking into fourth place on the ladder after a narrow win against the NSW Swifts in Sydney, 66 to 64. The Swifts third consecutive defeat came as their strike shooter, Sam Wallace-Joseph, has been inexplicably absent from Super Netball for the past two games. The club has remained tight-lipped about their star, with a statement released Friday stating only that she was unavailable due to a private matter. “The club is currently working with Wallace-Joseph and her management team on the matter and no further comment will be made at this time.”
Speaking after the game, Swifts’ coach Briony Akle said, “There’s been a lot of pressure in the camp, and to come out today and only lose by two to a team such as Lightning who’ve got amazing players, I’m really proud of the team.”
Other than Wallace-Joseph’s omission, both sides were back to full strength with the Swifts’ co-captain Maddy Proud and Lightning’s Courtney Bruce returning from lengthy injury stints on the sidelines. While the latter was on limited minutes and didn’t take the court till the third quarter, Proud made an immediate impact with her attacking nous and ability to feed the circle.
The match started clinically but was played at a frenetic rate, with errors creeping in whenever teams traded accuracy of passing for speed of ball movement. Sophie Fawns proved to be a pillar of strength under the post in Wallace-Joseph’s absence, finishing with 40 from 49. There was also a strong attack on the super shot by both sides, an aspect that’s been missing from Lightning’s game so far this season. MVP Steph Fretwell had a hot hand, delivering six from long range, in a total of 27/29.
Lightning coach Belinda Reynolds called for her defence to be bold and chaotic, and they delivered, with new Diamond squad member Ash Ervin and Tara Hinchliffe combining for 11 gains. Their heroics saw Lightning push their lead out to seven points at three quarter time.
During a fourth quarter time out, Swifts coach Briony Akle challenged her defence to lift, asking them if they wanted to play finals. Sarah Klau had a hand in everything, finishing with five gains and dragging her side back to within two points with seconds left to play. However, Lightning’s experienced heads handled the pressure cooker, and they ran out winners by two points.
CONTROVERSIAL COMMENTS
It’s not the first time that controversy has swirled around Sam Wallace-Joseph this year. In April, her tweets about the timing of the International Transgender Day of Visibility were seen as inflammatory and subsequently investigated by the Super Netball league under the Social Media Code of Conduct. Wallace-Joseph completed the Proud2Play programme afterwards and committed to encouraging inclusion in sport.
FINALS FRENZY
Champion Data’s Ladder Simulator showed just how much was riding on this match. With the top three Super Netball spots almost sewn up by Fever, Vixens and Thunderbirds, the race for fourth and a coveted place in the finals is still wide open. The simulator shows a 48 per cent chance that Lightning will make it to the semi-finals, a 25 per cent chance that Swifts will, while new kids on the block Mavericks are sitting on 20 per cent.
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