Our Melbourne Vixens have enjoyed the perfect start to their pre-season with back-to-back wins over the Queensland Firebirds in Brisbane at the weekend.
Inspirational skipper Kate Moloney led the team to a 63-57 victory in game one at the University of Queensland complex. The Firebirds closed to within two goals in the last quarter before the Vixens steadied for a comfortable win.
Game Two was more lopsided with the Melbourne team stamping its authority on the match to run out 62-51 winners.
One of the highlights of the weekend was the improved form of young Goal Shooter Emma Ryde, who managed just one game for the Vixens in 2017 but also made the Australian World Cup Youth Team.
It may have been only the opening salvos in a long campaign ahead for the Vixens but Ryde looks like she’ll be pressing for more court time in 2018.
Lowlight of the weekend was the concussion Emily Mannix sustained from an accidental elbow to the head which forced her from the court in Game Two.
Looking ahead, on Saturday 3 March the Vixens host the 2017 Premiers, Sunshine Coast Lightening at the State Hockey and Netball Centre. The Lightening demolished the Giants by 17 goals in last year’s decider and are likely to be the yardstick team in 2018.
