How Vixens defender Emily Mannix rebuilt her confidence after falling out of love for the sport

Three years ago Vixens defender Emily Mannix fell out of love with the sport. Since then, the goal keeper has rebuilt her confidence and is shining in the Vixens’ unbeaten start to the season.

It’s a question Melbourne Vixens defender Emily Mannix often gets asked.

Was it still a goal of hers to try and get back into the Diamonds’ squad?

Having recently turned 30, it’s something the long-time Vixen has pondered herself and while she would never turn down a national call-up, Mannix conceded her international playing days were “probably done”.

“I think at the moment I am just content,” Mannix said.

“That is something people asked me a lot if it was still a goal to get back into the Diamonds. It’s obviously something I would not turn down and really valued my time in that environment as it’s such an amazing program to be a part of.

“But I think I am probably done. I don’t think they would potentially consider me again. I’m probably a little bit towards the back-end of my career now and I feel like there are some amazing up and coming defenders coming through that deserve a look in and an opportunity.

“I probably would be overlooked but I’m content with that, but I feel very lucky to have got that opportunity.

“For now, I’m just enjoying the Vixens’ environment and what I can add to that. My focus is on the Vixens, playing my part out on court and just enjoying my netball.”

Emily Mannix has rebuilt her confidence. Picture: Getty Images

The Diamonds’ question is one that no doubt raises its head more often when the dependable defender hits a rich patch of form, as she started the 2024 Super Netball season in.

Mannix made six Test appearances for the Diamonds between 2017 and 2019, but she lost her place in the squad after a challenging 2021 season – for herself and the Vixens – when she struggled with injury and form and “fell out of love with the sport”.

After that difficult campaign, Mannix suffered a crisis of confidence and felt like she was “going downhill”, but now reflects on that season as one which provided more learning opportunities than any other.

The Vixens vice-captain, now in her 10th year at the Melbourne club, has since rebuilt her confidence and love for the game and, having just entered her fourth decade, is playing as well as she ever has.

“I do think sometimes going through those harder seasons and years that you can get more out of it than when you have a super successful year and everything goes to plan,” Mannix reflected on her lessons learnt from her “pretty rough” 2021.

“I feel like it has built a lot of resilience in me. When something comes up now I am able to deal with it and process and talk about it rather than just letting it go for too long.

The Vixens are undefeated so far this season. Picture: Getty Images

“I just fell out of love with the sport a little bit at that time. I struggled after the season feeling valued or feeling that I was adding anything to the game, which was not a great way to feel about it all.

“I’ve been able to rebuild myself back up and I feel like now that’s all coming together a little bit and I’ve been able to just get out there and play and feel confident in my ability.”

The runner-up in last year’s Vixens’ MVP, Mannix has been a key in the Vixens’ unbeaten start to their 2024 campaign, starring in the team’s round three win over the Giants when she picked up 11 gains, six intercepts and seven deflections in a player of the match performance.

The 188cm defender felt her game had reaped the benefits of uninterrupted pre-season preparations in the past two years.

“It must be something with turning 30 as people keep telling me. You get better with age,’ Mannix laughed.

“I think the last couple of years I have just been able to have a really solid pre-season.

“I have had pre-seasons where I have missed a big chunk due to injury and trying to fight to get back into form to be able to start the season … and feeling really underdone.

How will Emily Mannix and the Vixens go for the rest of the season. Picture: Getty Images

“But I feel like the last two seasons I have not missed a session and I feel like that goes such a long way in confidence when you lead into pre-season games and you can run out full games in goal defence and back yourself in that fitness side of things.”

“I feel confident and we have got a really great group and I get a lot of confidence from the rest of the group as well.”

The Vixens are undefeated after four rounds this season, but face a challenging month ahead against the NSW Swifts, Lightning and ladder leaders West Coast Fever.

Mannix was confident the Vixens could be a threat at the pointy end of the season

“I think we probably were a team that was probably overlooked at the start of the year in pre-season, which was fine with me,” Mannix said.

“I had absolute belief in the group that we had and saw everyone training and how hard we worked in pre-season and the personnel that we had, with Sophie (Garbin) coming in and her partnership with ‘Kippa’ (Kiera Austin) and backed our young ones coming up as well.

“I feel like we probably were overlooked a little bit but I feel like we are going along nicely. “It’s obviously only round four, there is a long way to go and a lot can happen in that time but I feel like if we keep getting out there and improving each week and not settling for what we have done so far … I’m excited to see where we can go.

“I have absolute belief we could be there at the end of the year holding up the trophy. I think if we keep going the way we are we are looking good, but we can’t settle for what we have achieved so far.”

ENDS