Vixens win it for Victoria in two-point grand final thriller
MELBOURNE Vixens have claimed an emotion-charged victory in the Super Netball decider, withstanding a lastquarter fightback from West Coast Fever to triumph 66-64.
The two-goal victory was a perfect send-off for Australian netball great Caitlin Thwaites and Tegan Philip, who had announced they would retire at the end of the campaign.
The Vixens survived a thrilling finish to clinch their maiden crown at Brisbane’s Nissan Arena.
With the Fever in possession and trailing by one with a minute remaining, Vixens defenders Jo Weston and Emily Mannix pulled down a crucial rebound after goal attack Alice TeagueNeeld missed a shot.
They held possession until the final seconds when grand final MVP Mwai Kumwenda slotted her 47th goal of the match to seal victory.
With senior players Thwaites and Philip retiring and the team dedicating the win to the people of Victoria in their COVID-enforced lockdown, there was plenty of emotion for the Vixens, who won their first premiership since the trans-Tasman trophy of 2014 and their first Super Netball title. Thwaites finished with 16 points, including three super shots.
“I don’t even think it’s sunk in yet but holy crap, that was right down to the wire,” an ecstatic Thwaites said. “I’m just so proud to be a part of this club.
“But we’d played out all those scenarios, we knew exactly what to do.
“We really hope that you guys back home (in Victoria), we’ve brought some light to you guys, we know it’s been really, really hard for you.”
The match was played in front of 2061 fans, who were heavily supporting the Vixens.
Coach Simone McKinnis said: “I feel relieved and I feel exhilarated and I feel everything in between. The Fever were outstanding all game.
“It’s been one of the toughest seasons ... and we wanted to be the toughest competitors in this competition.”
MELBOURNE VIXENS 66 (Kumwenda 47, Thwaites 16, Philip 3) d WEST COAST FEVER
(Fowler 56, Teague-Neeld 8)