Wikipedia

Melbourne Vixens

Melbourne Vixens is an Australian professional netball team based in Melbourne, Victoria. Since 2017 they have represented Netball Victoria in Suncorp Super Netball. Between 2008 and 2016, they played in the ANZ Championship. The team was formed in 2007 when Netball Victoria merged its two former Commonwealth Bank Trophy league teams, Melbourne Phoenix and Melbourne Kestrels. Vixens have won three premierships, in 2009, 2014 and 2020.

Melbourne Vixens
Founded2007; 17 years ago (2007)
Based inMelbourne
RegionsVictoria
Home venueJohn Cain Arena
Margaret Court Arena
Head coachSimone McKinnis
CaptainKate Moloney
Vice-captainEmily Mannix
Premierships3 (2009, 2014, 2020)
LeagueSuncorp Super Netball
ANZ Championship
2022 placing1st
Websitemelbournevixens.com.au

Uniform

History

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ANZ Championship

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Between 2008 and 2016, Vixens played in the ANZ Championship. Vixens were formed in late 2007 when Netball Victoria merged its two former Commonwealth Bank Trophy league teams, Melbourne Phoenix and Melbourne Kestrels, in order to enter a single team in the 2008 ANZ Championship. During the ANZ Championship era, Vixens won two premierships, in 2009 and 2014.[1][2] In 2009, with a team co-captained by Bianca Chatfield and Sharelle McMahon, Vixens won 12 of their 13 matches during the regular season and finished as minor premiers. Vixens subsequently defeated Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic 58–43 in the major semi-final and Adelaide Thunderbirds 54–46 in the grand final to finish as overall champions.[3][4]

In 2012, with a team captained by Bianca Chatfield, and featuring Madison Browne, Julie Corletto and Geva Mentor, Vixens finished the season as minor premiers. In the major semi-final they defeated Northern Mystics 56–50. This was the first ever netball match held at Rod Laver Arena. However they lost the grand final 41–38 to Magic and finished the season as runners-up.[5][6]

In 2014, with a team coached by Simone McKinnis, captained by Bianca Chatfield and also featuring Tegan Caldwell, Geva Mentor, Madison Browne and the veteran Catherine Cox, Vixens won both the minor premiership and the overall championship. Vixens defeated Queensland Firebirds in both the major semi-final and the grand final as they won their second premiership.[7][8][9][10]

Regular season statistics
Season Position Won Drawn Lost
2008[11] 4th 9 0 4
2009[3] 1st 12 0 1
2010[12] 7th 6 0 7
2011[13] 5th 8 0 5
2012[6] 1st 10 0 3
2013[14] 2nd 9 0 4
2014[7] 1st 9 0 4
2015[15] 5th 7 0 6
2016[16] 4th 8 0 5

  Premierships
  Runners Up

Suncorp Super Netball

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Since 2017, Vixens have represented Netball Victoria in Suncorp Super Netball.[2] With a team coached by Simone McKinnis and captained by Kate Moloney, Vixens finished the inaugural season as minor premiers. However they subsequently lost both the major semi-final and preliminary final during the Finals Series and finished third overall.[17] Four Vixens players – Mwai Kumwenda, Tegan Philip, Liz Watson and Jo Weston were named in the 2017 Team of the Year.[18][19]

In 2020, with a team coached again by Simone McKinnis and co-captained by Kate Moloney and Liz Watson, Vixens finished the season as both minor premiers and overall champions.[20][21] In the Grand Final they defeated West Coast Fever 66–64.[22][23][24]

Following its championship win in 2020, the Vixens struggled in 2021, finishing last and claiming the wooden spoon for the first time in club history.[25]

Vixens dominated the 2022 regular season before a shock defeat in the major semi-final by the West Coast Fever forced them to reach the Grand Final by winning the preliminary final, winning against GIANTS Netball 55-54.[26] The club was unable to beat the Fever in the Grand Final, losing 70-59 and walking away runners-up.[27]

Regular season statistics
Season Position Won Drawn Lost
2017[17][19] 1st 11 1 2
2018[28] 5th 8 0 6
2019[29] 3rd 8 1 5
2020[20][30] 1st 11 1 2
2021 8th 2 0 12
2022 1st 12 0 2
2023 4th 8 0 6
2024 2nd 11 0 3

  Premierships
  Minor Premiers
  Runners Up

Grand finals

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ANZ Championship
Season Winners Score Runners Up Venue
2009[31][32] Melbourne Vixens 54–46 Adelaide Thunderbirds Hisense Arena
2012[33][34][35] Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic 41–38 Melbourne Vixens Hisense Arena
2014[8][9][36] Melbourne Vixens 53–42 Queensland Firebirds Hisense Arena
Suncorp Super Netball
Season Winners Score Runners Up Venue
2020[22][23][24] Melbourne Vixens 66–64 West Coast Fever Nissan Arena
2022[37][38][39][40] West Coast Fever 70–59 Melbourne Vixens RAC Arena

Home venues

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Vixens main home venue has been John Cain Arena. Between 2008 and 2011 they also played some home games at the State Netball Hockey Centre. Since 2015, Margaret Court Arena has replaced the SNHC as Vixens secondary venue.[41]

Venue Years
John Cain Arena (Note 1) 2008–
State Netball Hockey Centre 2008–2011
Rod Laver Arena[42][43] 2012
Margaret Court Arena[41] 2015–2019
Notes
  • ^1 Previously known as Vodafone Arena, Hisense Arena and Melbourne Arena

Current and notable players

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2025 squad

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2025 Melbourne Vixens roster
Players Coaching staff
Nat. Name Position(s) DoB Height
  Kiera Austin GA, WA,GS (1997-08-26) 26 August 1997 (age 27) 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
  Sophie Garbin GS, GA (1997-04-06) 6 April 1997 (age 27) 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)
  Kate Eddy GD, WD, GK (1996-12-28) 28 December 1996 (age 27) 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)
  Lily Graham GS, GA (2005-09-27) 27 September 2005 (age 19) 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
  Rudi Ellis GK, GD (1997-08-13) 13 August 1997 (age 27) 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)
  Emily Mannix (vc) GK, GD (1994-04-16) 16 April 1994 (age 30) 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
  Kate Moloney (c) C, WD, WA (1993-01-08) 8 January 1993 (age 31) 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)
  Hannah Mundy C, WA, WD (2001-06-10) 10 June 2001 (age 23) 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)
  Zara Walters WA, C (2003-10-23) 23 October 2003 (age 21) 1.76 m (5 ft 9 in)
  Joanna Weston GD, WD, GK (1994-02-14) 14 February 1994 (age 30) 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Head coach
Assistant coach
  •   Di Honey


Notes
  • (c) – Captain
  • (cc) – Co-captain
  • (vc) – Vice-captain
  •   – Injury / maternity leave
  • (TRP) – Temporary Replacement Player
Player profiles: Team website Last updated: 05 October 2024

Internationals

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  Australia
  Australia Fast5
  England
  Jamaica
  Malawi
  South Africa

Captains

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Years
2008–2011 Sharelle McMahon[44]
2008–2015 Bianca Chatfield[45][46]
2016 Madison Browne[47][48]
2020–2023 Liz Watson[49]
2017– Kate Moloney[50][51]

Award winners

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Australian Netball Awards

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Liz Ellis Diamond
Season Winner
2009 Julie Corletto
2012 Madison Browne
2014 Madison Browne
2018 Liz Watson
2022 Liz Watson

Source: [52]

Australian ANZ Championship Player of the Year
Season Winner
2012[5][53][54] Madison Browne

Suncorp Super Netball

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SSN Grand Final MVP
Season Player
2020[20][22] Mwai Kumwenda
SSN Team of the Year
Season Players
2017[18][19] GS : Mwai Kumwenda, GA: Tegan Philip, WA: Liz Watson, GD: Jo Weston
2018[55] WA: Liz Watson
2019[56] WA: Liz Watson, C: Kate Moloney, WD: Renae Ingles
2020[57] WA: Liz Watson, C: Kate Moloney
2022 WA: Liz Watson
2023 WA: Liz Watson

ANZ Championship

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ANZ Championship MVP
Season Player
2016[16][58] Madison Browne (Note 2)
Notes
  • ^2 In 2016 Madison Browne was the MVP player in the Australian Conference and Jhaniele Fowler was the MVP player in the New Zealand Conference.
ANZ Championship Grand Final MVP
Season Player
2009 Sharelle McMahon
2014 Tegan Caldwell

Source: [59]

ANZ Championship All Stars
Season All Stars
2011[60][61] GA: Sharelle McMahon
2012[5][62] WA: Madison Browne, WD: Julie Corletto, GK: Geva Mentor
2013[63][64] WA: Madison Browne, GK: Geva Mentor
2014[65][66] WA: Madison Browne, GK: Geva Mentor

Vixens awards

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Sharelle McMahon Medal

Since 2014 the Vixens' most valuable player of season award has been known as the Sharelle McMahon Medal.

Season Winner Runners Up
2008 Natasha Chokljat Bianca Chatfield
2009 Sharelle McMahon Julie Prendergast, Caitlin Thwaites
2010 Bianca Chatfield
2011 Bianca Chatfield Madison Browne
2012 Geva Mentor
2013 Madison Browne Geva Mentor
2014 Geva Mentor Madison Browne
2015 Geva Mentor, Karyn Bailey Madison Browne, Tegan Philip
2016 Madison Browne Geva Mentor
2017 Liz Watson Emily Mannix
2018 Kate Moloney
2019 Emily Mannix
2020 Kate Moloney Jo Weston, Kate Eddy
2021 Mwai Kumwenda
2022 Liz Watson Kate Moloney
2023 Emily Mannix
2024 Kiera Austin Kate Moloney

Source: [67]

Coaches' Award
Season Winner
2008 Caitlin Thwaites
2009 Bianca Chatfield
2010
2011 Julie Corletto
2012 Chelsey Tregear
2013 Erin Hoare
2014 Kate Moloney
2015
2016 Emily Mannix
2017 Khao Watts
2018 Emily Mannix
2019 Renae Ingles
2020 Caitlin Thwaites
2021 Kate Moloney
2022 Ruby Barkmeyer
2023 Kate Eddy
2024 Zara Walters

Source: [67]

Player of the Finals

Source: [67]

Rookie of the Year
Season Winner
2009 Chelsey Tregear
2010 Tegan Caldwell
2012 Karyn Howarth
2014 Liz Watson
2015 Jo Weston
2016 Alice Teague-Neeld
2018 Kadie-Ann Dehaney
2020 Allie Smith
2021 Hannah Mundy
2024 Zara Walters

Source: [67]

Excellence in Sport and Life Award
Season Winner
2008 Bianca Chatfield
2009 Renae Hallinan
2010 Natasha Chokljat
2011 Chelsey Tregear
2012 Bianca Chatfield
2014 Amy Steel
2015 Bianca Chatfield
2016 Jo Weston
2017 Chloe Watson
2019 Renae Ingles
2020 Jo Weston
2021 Allie Smith
2022 Sharni Lambden
2023 Kiera Austin
2024 Jo Weston

Source: [67]

Head coaches

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Coach Years
Julie Hoornweg[68] 2008–2012
Simone McKinnis[69][70] 2012–

Netball Australia Joyce Browne Coach of the Year Award[71]

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Year Coach
2009 Julie Hoornweg
2012 Julie Hoornweg
2014 Simone McKinnis
2017 Simone McKinnis
2020 Simone McKinnis

Team song

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You want the best, Here we are, We'll give it all right now.
We're here to win, Come with us
We're gonna show you how

Stand up, Be proud, Shout it out loud

We are the Vixens, No one stands in our way, Power together
Stronger in every way, As one

We wear it true, Navy blue, That's what we're all about
Victoria, Feel the pride. And let the fox come out

Power, Power together, Power as one, Power, Power together
Vixens!

One team, One dream, Shout it out loud

We are the Vixens, No one stands in our way, Power together
Stronger in every way, As one

Source: [72]

Victorian Fury

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Main article: Victorian Fury

Victorian Fury are the reserve team of Melbourne Vixens. They play in the Australian Netball League. Fury are the most successful team in the ANL, winning their eighth premiership in 2019.[73][74][75]

Premierships

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Melbourne Vixens.

References

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  67. ^ a b c d e "Sharelle McMahon Medal". Melbourne Vixens. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
  68. ^ "End of an era for Vixens". www.anz-championship.com. 13 August 2012. Retrieved 27 June 2021.
  69. ^ "McKinnis signs on as Vixens new coach". www.anz-championship.com. 17 September 2012. Retrieved 22 August 2020.
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  72. ^ "Team song". melbournevixens.com.au. Retrieved 27 June 2021.
  73. ^ "Deakin University Australian Netball League". melbournevixens.com.au. Archived from the original on 26 June 2020. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
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  75. ^ "Victorian Fury claim eighth Australian Netball League title". draftcentral.com.au. 2 July 2019. Archived from the original on 22 June 2020. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
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