Live: Vixens advance to Super Netball GF after thrilling fightback win over Swifts

Simone McKinnis knew exactly what to say to her team in an emotional speech at the final break to inspire a victory. And after 13 years in charge it makes sense that she knows her players inside and out. It was an 11 goal turnaround. Being down by 10 and winning by one. Crazy stuff. McKinnis has joined the host broadcaster to wrap all the action of the prelim. They’ll be playing at Rod Laver Arena next week in front of their home fans! Can the team get it done  and lift the trophy for her? It’ll be a big task considering they’ve lost both of their meetings with the Fever this season in RD3, 67-57 and in RD14, 71-60.

“It’s just elation, just proud, you just think, how did that happen? I did know that they could do it. I didn’t want them to be fearful of losing. I know that they wanted it and that they worked hard for it … Fever have been almost unbeatable but we can do anything we put our minds to,” McKinnis told Fox Netball.

Again, we can see how tight this match was overall with a 50 per cent share for both teams in possession. The Vixens were heavily penalised, standing aside 24 more times than the Swifts. But they were also hungrier, with three more gains and two more intercepts. What’s really interesting is the turnover stat. Vixens gave away the ball eight more times than Swifts but somehow still managed to win it. Sometimes the numbers just don’t show the full story.

Here on the scoring stats we see the Vixens were better at converting their gains, with 90 per cent of the ball they won back converted by their shooters and leading to a goal. They also had all the momentum at the end, scoring six of the last 10 goals of the match in a one-goal thriller.

Yes, the kiwi is 23 years old and we don’t want to be too harsh. She’s playing in her first season of Super Netball. But she could have put that goal in quickly. Nweke was right in front of the post and that would have sent the game into extra time. Why she felt the need to offload to Housby with about one second on the clock we’ll never know. A big learning curve.

The captain and Vixens centre Kate Moloney remarks on her team’s 25-14 final quarter performance.

“I’m exhausted but so bloody proud,” Moloney told Fox Netball.

“It was three-quarter time and we were down by 10 goals and we found something in that final quarter. The Fever have led the charge, but we’ll give it absolutely everything we’ve got. They beat us by a fair bit a few weeks ago, so we’ll need to work hard and find a way to win.”

WHAT JUST HAPPENED!!

The Vixens are headed to the grand final! They’ve come from fourth spot on the ladder to upset the Thunderbirds and Swifts and will now face the number one team, Fever, for a shot at the title. Simone McKinnis remains as Vixens coach for another week and is very close to a fairytale finish. The emotion boils over for the visiting team as they jump together in a huddle. The crowd is shocked in Sydney. That was the Swifts’ to lose given they were up by 10 leading into the final quarter.

After pinching the lead in the final minute, the Vixens managed to wind the clock down and play a possession style of play. Moving back and forward and holding onto the ball. The Swifts had just enough time left for one more centre pass but with just seconds left, Nweke — right in front of the post — wasted time and passed it off to Housby on the left hand side of the post, who then missed her final shot of the game. As the final whistle went Housby bent over on her knees and was clearly beating herself up. But why did Nweke pass off? That’ll be a huge talking point. The bungled finish. As Swifts bow out of finals in straight sets.

Austin sinks another two-pointer with 1:30 left on the clock and the Vixens are in front for the first time since the start of quarter two.

SCORE: Vixens lead 65-64

With a little over two minutes to play another super shot for the Vixens levels the score.

SCORE: 63-all

The Vixens have capitalised on a couple of the Swifts’ mistakes —including a handling error from Lambden in the midcourt — and scored a two-pointer through Kiera Austin.

SCORE: Swifts lead 62-61

We’re about to enter the final super shot period of the game! Just five minutes to go and the Vixens lead this fourth quarter by six. They’re charging home strong and forging a comeback.

SCORE: Swifts lead 61-56

As the Vixens start to claw the margin back and Ellis injects herself further into the contest, picking off feeds, Akle calls a timeout and has asked Nweke not to move so much. Instead of coming out of the circle every passage of play, she wants her to hold her position closer to the post. She also wants her midcourt attackers to stay disciplined with their passing and focus on the short sharp route to post that was the catalyst for their success in the middle two quarters of the game.

“We’re not protecting the lead. We’ve got to keep attacking, one extra pass onto circle edge. Continue what we’re doing,” Akle said.

SCORE: Swifts lead 58-52

Sophie Garbin is standing up as her team strive to take back the lead in this final quarter, she’s holding well under the post and scoring quickly. In this instance, she performs a beautiful roll off a Swifts defender’s body to find the back space.

SCORE: Swifts lead 55-47

We’ve been waiting to find out why the Vixens are donning black armbands today and have just heard via Fox Netball that Bev O’Donnell passed away during the week. Mother of former Diamond Shelley O’Donnell and the grandmother of Hannah Mundy. Our thoughts are with their family.

Wow, we did not expect this kind of performance from the Swifts. Don’t get us wrong, we knew they were capable of it. But they’ve been so lacklustre in the second half of the season, we just didn’t think they could refind their spark. Happy to be proven wrong in what has been a cracking contest. As the second placed team proves why they’ve sat so high on the ladder for 2025. It was again another strong 15 minutes from the team in red, who won the period 20-12. The Vixens made several changes over the last two quarters, turning to two of their teenage bench players to try and freshen up their play, but to no avail.

“We have nothing to lose here! Except for throwing our best selves as this contest,” Simone McKinnis says as she tries to rev up her troops in the final break of the game. This could be her last game in charge for the Vixens. She’s clearly emotional!

Important to note that McKinnis has gone back to her starting seven line-up. Returning Eddy to WD, Weston to GD, Austin into GA and Garbin to GS. Backing in her original combinations to get the job done.

Kiera Austin has rolled back on into GS replacing Garbin and was trying to use the ball to find some space away from the long arms of Sarah Klau. Instead the umpire has called her for an offensive contact, pushing the ball into the goal keeper. It leads to another goal for the Swifts.

SCORE: Swifts lead 50-41

Simone McKinnis has sent young long-bomb shooter Lily Graham on for her first minutes of the day. Taking the goal attack bib from Kiera Austin, the 19-year-old converts the Vixens’ first and second super shot of the prelim in back-to-back passages of play.

SCORE: Swifts lead 48-41

Another key rebound from Maddy Turner, as Sophie Garbin misses a close shot for Vixens. The Swifts are starting to blow the score out now. This is a much better performance from the team in red. They look like the team that started this season with so much success.

SCORE: Swifts lead 48-37

Ahead of the third super shot period of this preliminary final, the Swifts get an extra opportunity to do damage on the scoreboard. Austin misses an attempt for a regular goal right in front of the post, Turner is quick to jump on the loose ball and the Swifts add another to their tally as the super shot siren sounds.

SCORE: Swifts lead 46-37

In a contest for ball with Walters in the midcourt, Lambden cops a bump to her side and falls onto the court. She’s now grabbing at her ribs. Is continuing to play on, but hopefully that doesn’t hinder Lamden staying out there for the rest of the game.

Sensing the Swifts’ dominance to start this third quarter, Vixens head coach Simone McKinnis has decided to mix it up in defence.

Eddy moves into GD, Weston out to WD. You’ll remember we saw this change in the third quarter last week. Walters also re-enters the game at WA. Let’s see what she’s learned from her time watching from the bench.

SCORE: Swifts lead 40-34

Hadley is really not injecting herself into the contest unless she needs to, allowing her direct opponent and the other captain Moloney to roam free and direct a lot of the Vixens’ play. Hadley looks nowhere near dynamic. Typically she would be playing a huge role in the Swifts’ attack as they enter the goal third but in this game she’s hanging back and letting her teammates do the work as she conserves her energy and looks after her foot. Even so, the Swifts have got on a roll in this third quarter and are setting the tone.

SCORE: Swifts lead 38-32