The Melbourne Vixens completed their fairytale finish for outgoing coach Simone McKinnis, defeating the powerhouse West Coast Fever by a single goal, 59-58, to win the Super Netball grand final – her final game at the helm.
Speaking on stage after receiving her winners’ medal, Melbourne captain Kate Moloney paid tribute to the super coach, who stepped down after 13 years at the helm.
“You’ve taken us to five grand finals, you’ve now won your third premiership – you are an incredible leader,” Moloney said, looking directly at McKinnis.
Vixens win Super Netball Grand Final Credit: Getty Images
“This club would not be the same without you. When you walked in the doors 13 years ago, you taught us how hard we had to work, you showed us some tough love, but most importantly you cared for us, you believed in us, and you nurtured every single athlete that walked through those doors and you made them better.”
Vixens star Jo Weston said it best soon after the final whistle. Almost overcome with a combination of joy and relief, she simply said to Foxtel: “I think we’re going to head to the pub.”
By contrast, shattered Fever skipper Jess Anstiss could only describe the outcome one way: “Pure devastation, to be honest”.
And it’s little wonder. The dominant Fever (12 wins and two losses) finished on top of the ladder, while the Vixens (8-6) only just scraped into fourth. Just last week, the Vixens advanced to the decider after somehow overcoming a 10-goal three-quarter-time deficit in the preliminary final against a red-hot NSW Swifts, while the Fever rode a 13-game winning streak into the season’s final game.
At three-quarter-time of the preliminary final, McKinnis crouched to her knees and beckoned her players to huddle up before her speech inspired them to glory. By her own admission, there was no repeat on Saturday night.
“Honestly, today I didn’t work anything out [to say],” she said to Fox Sports on Saturday night.
“The reason being… it just had to be from the heart, and whatever came to me.
“It was just about going out there again as we have been – that they had to work hard for it… I thought we were the one team that could beat them.”
Melbourne Vixens Kate Eddy and Hannah Mundy of the Vixens celebrate. Credit: Getty Images
In front of a roaring, 15,013-strong Rod Laver Arena crowd, the Vixens took an early lead, with captain Kate Moloney delivering a flawless centre pass, allowing star goal shooter Sophie Garbin to take the opening goal.
The Fever countered quickly, recovering the ball in their front third and delivering quickly to Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard, the competition’s best shooter.
Fever defender Kadie-Ann Dehaney was a formidable obstacle to Garbin, interrupting and intercepting her several times. At the end of the first quarter the Fever had a two-goal lead heading into the super shot period, however the Vixens managed to score with a brilliant long shot.
Both teams upped the momentum in the second quarter, with the Vixens calling a timeout and captain Kate Moloney calling on the team to put their opponents under pressure. The third quarter saw the Vixens pull in front, much to the delight of the roaring Rod Laver Arena crowd.
Play intensified in the fourth, with the Vixens managing to pull ahead. Frustration in the Fever team saw them fumble some crucial passes as the clock ticked down and pressure intensified.
But they continued to target Fowler-Nembhard, and she continued to loom as the heartbreaker for the Vixens until the home side regained their composure in the dying minutes and held on to possession for dear life.
At the final whistle there were smiles, tears and cheers as the Vixens rushed from all corners to embrace each other as I gotta Feeling by the Black Eyed Peas blared across the stadium.
In their third grand final against the Fever since 2020 (with the two sides locked at a win apiece, Melbourne in 2020 and West Coast in 2022), the Vixens won be the slimmest of margins.