Vixens let golden chance slip but ready for Giants

Emily Mannix admits the Vixens let slip a golden ticket into the inaugural Super Netball grand final.

Lightning’s Caitlin Bassett outmuscles Vixen’s Emily Mannix at the Margaret Court Arena

Defender Emily Mannix admits Melbourne Vixens let slip a golden ticket into the inaugural Super Netball grand final but warns they’ll be prepared for whatever switches the Giants throw at them in Saturday’s preliminary final.

The minor premiers gave up a five-goal lead to go down 56-55 in Melbourne on Saturday night against Sunshine Coast Lightning, who advanced to the grand final in a fortnight’s time in Brisbane.

Mannix said the manner of the loss stung but the Vixens will regroup quickly to prepare for the Sydney-based Giants, who came from six goals down with seven minutes remaining to eliminate the Magpies, 52-51, in Saturday’s other semi-final in Sydney.

They will host the Giants at Hisense Arena in the battle for the remaining grand final berth.

“Last night I thought about (the loss) a little on the drive home to Geelong, I was thinking about what could have been I guess,” said Mannix. “But I think as a team we’re really good at getting past losses and moving on.

“Credit to the Lightning, they did fight back and a couple of errors we made gave them a sniff to come back.

“That’s something that we can’t afford to do against teams like that again, because they will punish us, especially Lightning with (Diamonds shooter Caitlin) Bassett back there, they can score quickly.

“Obviously we’re very disappointed and we could have had that win but we did address our mistakes ... and we’ll focus our attention on the Giants.”

The Giants and Vixens last met in round 12, when the Giants levelled the season ledger at one-all after unveiling a new attacking line-up, using Susan Pettitt in the unusual position of goal shooter, Jo Harten at goal attack and Sarah Wall at wing attack.

“The Giants have a lot of variety especially in their attacking line-up, so that’s something that we will look at,” Mannix said.

“The last time we played they did mix up their attack and maybe threw us off a bit.”

Mannix said the Vixens were the wiser for that experience.

“We’ve got that look-in that that’s something that they can do, put in two moving goalers,” she said. “It is something that we will definitely prepare for.”

The Giants had youngster Kristina Brice at goalshooter when they overcame the Magpies on Saturday, leaving wing attack Pettitt and goal attack Harten to patrol outside the circle.

AAP