Birthday bash for rivals
MELBOURNE Vixens and the Magpies will face off in a Queen’s Birthday blockbuster for the first time in Super Netball next year.
The June 10 derby at Melbourne Arena is one of the highlights of the 2019 fixture for the third season of Super Netball, which will launch on April 27.
Melbourne Vixens and the Magpies will kick off the season in a Round 1 double-header at Melbourne Arena.
The Vixens will battle the Firebirds on April 27 before Magpies recruits Geva Mentor and Kelsey Browne face off against their former team and defending champions Sunshine Coast Lightning.
The Queen’s Birthday clash will have added spice for Vixens’ returning star Caitlin Thwaites as the goal shooter comes up against her former Magpies teammates for the first time.
The Vixens and Magpies will also close out the season in a final-round derby at Melbourne Arena in late August.
Vixens captain Kate Moloney was thrilled they will play on Queen’s Birthday.
“It’s great for netball in Melbourne and hopefully we can get a big crowd there,’’ Moloney said.
“Having two teams and cre- ating that rivalry has been great. It’s one of those games that you look forward to in the calendar. We’ve had the edge over them the last couple of times we’ve played them and we know that they want to beat us and they are going to come out firing when we play them in Round 7.’’
Magpies midcourter Ash Brazill said the rivalry between the two sides continued to build.
“We all get along, we’re all mates, but on the court it’s a different story,’’ she said.
“Hopefully we get a win … we haven’t beaten them yet.’’
The Vixens and Magpies will feature in a second doubleheader in Round 10 at Melbourne Arena on July 28.
In other highlights, the Lightning and West Coast Fever will play in a Round 2 Grand Final rematch in Perth on May 5.
The Magpies will take two of their home games on the road — hosting the Fever at Bendigo Stadium in Round 5 and the Swifts at the Silverdome in Launceston in Round 13.
Netball Australia announced last month the Super Netball season would take a four-week break in July to accommodate the Netball World Cup in Liverpool in July.
The Magpies and Firebirds will play in the last game before the break on June 23. Matches will resume on July 27.