The key message from Melbourne Vixens’ coach Simone McKinnis driving Super Netball’s rising star Zara Walters

Melbourne Vixens’ rising star Zara Walters is determined to seize an ‘opportunity of a lifetime’, heeding a key message from coach Simone McKinnis.

Melbourne Vixens young gun Zara Walters is determined to seize her late-season midcourt starting chance with “both hands” as she aims to cash in on her “opportunity of a lifetime” at the club.

In her second year in Super Netball at the Vixens, the 21-year-old has had limited starting opportunities this season, but has stepped up at wing attack the past two weeks in the absence of the injured Hannah Mundy.

Mundy has been ruled out for an extended period with a stress-related foot injury in a blow to the Vixens’ finals charge.

Zara Walters has stepped up in place of the injured Hannah Mundy. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

Hannah Mundy has suffered a foot injury. Picture: Kelly Defina/Getty Images

But, as she did in her rookie season when she was called on to replace an injured Mundy, Walters has impressed in her chances on court.

While she felt for her teammate Mundy, Walters is determined to make an impact in the run towards the Super Netball finals, heeding a key message from coach Simone McKinnis.

“It’s definitely very unfortunate for Hannah and I am very upset for her,” Walters said.

“But I think those things happen in sport and you have got to take those opportunities when you can and I’m definitely going to try and take this one with both hands.

“I was really happy with how I performed. I think the girls have been playing really well and it’s easy to just slot back in the team when they’re playing really well.

“ (McKinnis) has been really awesome with the fact that I am coming into the team to play my role and not trying to be anyone else, just Zara.

“So that has given me a lot of confidence coming in.”

Vixens’ coach Simone McKinnis has instilled confidence in Walters. Picture: Brendon Thorne/Getty Images

Walters’ rookie campaign with the Vixens was impacted by a lower back injury, which kept her out for almost half of the regular season.

But either side of that, the speedy young talent showed she immediately looked at home in Super Netball.

Before Mundy’s recent injury, Walters had only started in one match earlier in the season – in the round three clash against the West Coast Fever.

Walters emerged last week as the highest-ranked Vixen on court in the loss to the Adelaide Thunderbirds when she had 13 goal assists and 32 feeds.

Walters in action against the Adelaide Thunderbirds recently. Picture: Graham Denholm/Getty Images

While at home at wing attack, the Colac player continues to hone her game across all three midcourt positions in training to make sure she can be a triple threat.

“I like the playmaking role of wing attack, but I have been trying wing defence as well and I really want to make sure I can play all three positions,” Walters said.

“As we have seen you never know what is going to happen or who might be injured or things that happen during the game, so being able to play all of those three positions I think is a real asset to the team as well.

“I think (my strengths are) I can just see the court and read the play quite well and I just use my speed as well when I can. I love being in the gym and getting strong so I have been doing a lot of that and have really built on what I was able to do last year as well.”

After being given her Super Netball break by the Vixens, Walters doesn’t want to be anywhere else.

“I love the Vixens, they have given me the opportunity of a lifetime so I would do anything to stay here,” Walter said.

“The ultimate goal would be premiership with the Vixens,”

The third-placed Vixens face the Queensland Firebirds at home on Sunday ahead of a final-round clash against the ladder leading West Coast Fever.

Aiming to bounce back from last week’s loss to the Thunderbirds, Walters said the Vixens – runners-up last season – were capable of anything in the finals.

“Obviously finals is a completely different ball game,” Walter said.

“Everyone goes out there to win obviously and there are not many second chances so it’s a whole new ball game and we are really excited to take it up.

“Obviously it was a disappointing loss last week, but there was a lot to learn from it and I think this week is a real game that we need to take and win to really secure our spot in finals.”