Top Vixen Jo Weston unlikely for new Melbourne derby as Mavericks make final roster calls
The first edition of the Vixens v Mavericks Melbourne derby is unlikely to feature Diamond Jo Weston, while Super Netball’s new club is understood to have finalised its two injury replacement players, a shooter and a defender.
The first edition of Super Netball’s newest Melbourne derby is unlikely to feature the Vixens’ longest-serving defender, with a calf strain tipped to sideline Diamonds star Jo Weston for Sunday afternoon’s debut fixture against the Mavericks.
Weston’s 2023 pre-season was disrupted by a similar problem, thought to be linked to long-term issues with her left ankle. Now, a tweak at training has left the 30-year-old being managed carefully since playing just one game at the pre-season tournament in Ballarat in mid-March.
“I’ve been a bit of a walking cliche — I turned 30 and then shortly after hurt my calf,’’ the close-checking Weston, one of the most important players on the Vixens’ roster, said of an injury common in older athletes.
“In hindsight it is quite funny but in reality, it’s a little bit disappointing. But it’s probably a good thing for me to make sure that I’m being very diligent with everything, so hopefully I’m not far away.’’
Weston conceded she was on the wrong side of “touch and go” to make it out onto John Cain Arena against the depleted Mavs, who are yet to announce their replacements for Sasha Glasgow and Lauren Moore.
Yet CODE Sports understands the new club has chosen South African shooter Rolene Streutker over ex-Pie Shimona Jok and promoted South Australian Jessie Grenvold in defence.
The 132-gamer Weston, the second-most experienced Vixen behind captain Kate Moloney, said the club had taken a cautious approach with her latest setback.
“It’s not really an age thing; just given my injury history and the length of the season as well, it’s so short that you want to make sure you’re fit for the whole of it, rather than just rushing to be there for the beginning,’’ Weston said.
“Unfortunately, I’ve got many years of wear and tear on my ankle joint, so it’s all a contributing factor. The physio’s spending a lot of time with me. Luckily she likes me and every year I get her a Christmas present; I think they’re getting more and more elaborate as the time goes on!’’
While Emily Mannix can be pushed up the court from goal keeper if needed, Weston’s obvious replacement is Kate Eddy, who started her career as a circle defender, before being utilised more on the wing after returning to Victoria at the end of 2019 following a stint with the NSW Swifts.
“I feel like she’s been doing an amazing job,’’ Weston said of the 182cm Eddy, who spent the majority of the pre-season Team Girls Cup at GD.
“I mean, she’s naturally a goal defence anyway and when we won the premiership in 2020, we actually used to do a lot of switching between wing defence and goal defence, depending on the time in the game, just to offer a switch-up.’’
Former co-captain Liz Watson’s defection to the Sunshine Coast Lightning has elevated Hannah Mundy into a starting seven position, while young midcourter Zara Walters has come into the 10 and also impressed at TGC, where Moloney spent some time in her own original position of wing defence.
“I think the development of our midcourt in Zara and Hannah has really given us the flexibility to push Kate back into wing defence, and then Kate Eddy into the ring,’’ Weston said.
“So that’s really our strength this year: I just think we’re very versatile, we’ve had so much growth over our 10th and 11th players, so it’s really exciting for us.’’
The Australian Netball Players’ Association president said the fledgling rivalry with the Mavericks felt a little different to the Vixens’ last derby playmate: the Magpies, who decided in May not to renew their Super Netball licence.
“I feel like when Collingwood came into the competition (in 2017), our captain (Madi Browne) defected and they sort of gathered the creme de la creme of the Diamonds group, so it was a little bit like, ‘Whoa, they’re really trying to make waves’,’’ Weston recalled.
“And I feel like Collingwood’s a very sore point for a lot of sporting fans across Australia and especially in Melbourne; like, I’m an Essendon supporter. So from a personal angle, it was a little bit interesting.
“Obviously the staggered start (to the pre-season) given our CPA issues sort of maybe took a bit of the edge off the team initially, but I feel like Melbourne and Victoria in general has always been Melbourne Vixens territory.
“So there’s always going to be a little bit of hesitation when there’s a new team in, but I think we need two teams in Victoria and Melbourne for the longevity of our game, so it’ll be exciting to see which one of us comes out on top.’’
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