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Vixens win GF thriller to claim Super Netball title
Melissa Woods, AAP • August 3rd, 2025 6:00 am
The Melbourne Vixens celebrate becoming the 2025 Super Netball champions | Photo: Joel Carrett/AAP
Melbourne Vixens will be heading "back to the pub" as they celebrate sending veteran coach Simone McKinnis out a winner, upsetting the West Coast Fever 59-58 in a thrilling Super Netball grand final.
After her team lost their fourth match from the opening six rounds McKinnis famously quipped "Maybe we should just go to the pub" at a post-match press conference as she searched for a solution to their form slump.
While they did go for a team bonding session, McKinnis believed it was her public announcement after that match that she would be departing at season's end after 13 years at the helm that cleared the air for the side's run to the grand final.
Vixens coach Simone McKinnis is lifted high as she bows out with a title | Photo: Joel Carrett/AAP
"I think once that was out there, that just allowed us to move on," an elated McKinnis said.
"I felt that when we talk about early in the season being flat and lifeless that was a reflection of how I was feeling and so once we spoke as a group about what was happening ... it was just all right.
"I still can't believe that we did it but I'm just extremely proud of the team and the girls, the way they attacked the game and the way they played."
Despite taking the scalps of reigning premiers Adelaide and the highly-fancied NSW Swifts during the finals, the closest the fourth-placed Vixens had got to minor premiers the Fever in two meetings was 10 points, back in round three.
But the Vixens played a fearless brand of netball in front of a record sold-out crowd of 15,013 at Rod Laver Arena on Saturday night to quell the Fever and make amends for last year's grand final loss to the Thunderbirds.
The Vixens' triumph ended a record run of 13 straight victories for the Fever heading into the decider.
Fever coach Dan Ryan said his team were simply outplayed.
"The Vixens were elite in every position of the court and they were relentless in defence and just patient and clinical in attack and had us under pressure from the very first moment to the very last moment," Ryan said.
"Whilst we certainly didn't play our best netball today, I don't think they allowed us."
The first quarter was an arm-wrestle as the fierce rivals felt their way with the Vixens taking the honours 17-16, with a two-point super shot by Kiera Austin helping keep her team in front.
It put the Fever in unfamiliar territory - the last time losing an opening quarter back in round three against the Vixens.
The second quarter ended in similar fashion with the home side in front 33-31 with Austin, who was named player of the grand final, again securing a vital super shot.
Kiera Austin earned player of the match honours with her clutch shooting | Photo: Joel Carrett/AAP
While West Coast's Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard still managed to shoot 27 goals for the half and 50 for the match, she was under plenty of pressure in the circle from Jo Weston, who was a stand-out for the Vixens.
The Fever drew level midway through the third quarter but the Vixens again kicked away after the injection of star wing attack Hannah Mundy, sidelined for the past month with a foot injury, and Melbourne led 48-43 heading into the fiinal term.
Having themselves pegged back an 11-goal deficit in the final quarter to down the Swifts, the Vixens were aware the title was far from won.
The Fever started a late surge and had their chances to level the match.
But Vixens goal-keeper Rudi Ellis managed to keep the ball from the clutches of Fowler-Nembhard before Weston also spoilt their attack to help their side clinch a well-deserved win.
Diamonds star Weston was delighted to get the job done for both her team and the coach.
"It was such an incredible team performance, I can't believe we won," Weston said on court.
"We tried not to think about it being Simone's last match as we didn't want to get too emotional as she's been so influential on so many of us - she's the only coach I've had at the Vixens.
"I'm just so happy we could send her out (a winner), it's very rare you get a fairytale like this."
