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The Queensland Firebirds celebrated their “most satisfying” moment in the trans-Tasman netball league by humiliating Melbourne before promising more to come.
In a performance which rocked the ANZ Championship, the Firebirds completely dominated the defending champions across the court for a 62-41 triumph at Brisbane Convention Centre.
The previously-unbeaten Vixens were pressured into a litany of schoolgirl errors in their worst-ever loss in three seasons of the competition as the home side ran riot.
The 21-goal defeat smashed Melbourne’s previous record loss of 13 to the Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic in Hamilton last year.
Down 37-21, Vixens coach Julie Hoornweg appeared to concede the game over at halftime by benching skipper Sharelle McMahon.
The Australian goal attack was thoroughly outplayed by Clare McMeniman who showed she deserved an international recall with a powerful player-of-the match display.
“I think that’s our most satisfying result because we were so disappointed in going down to them by seven in round two of the competition,” vice-captain McMeniman said.
“I think they will go away and train twice as hard this week and I feel sorry for (the NSW Swifts) who are playing them next week.”
After three straight losses to start the competition, Queensland now sit 3-3 to be in fifth on the ladder and new coach Rose Jencke delivered a warning to rivals they were only just getting into stride.
“I think there’s still more to come, there’s a lot more to come,” Jencke said.
“They worked hard and were creative and even some things out there that I haven’t seen before.”
The Firebirds took McMahon’s halftime benching, in favour of rookie Tegan Caldwell, as a lack of respect but Hoornweg, who missed the drive of the injured Natasha Chokjlat, defended her decision to sub McMahon and rest regular shooter Caitlin Thwaites.
“For us it’s what happens at the end of the season and the more you can give your young ones an opportunity they stand up,” she said.
“It’s a pretty torrid game out there now and some of our athletes have been playing a number of years and we just want to make sure we look after them really well.
“We lost a game last year (against the Magic) and that was the turning point of the season and we can use this to turn ourselves around.”
Beside the dynamic McMeniman, Firebirds goal keeper Laura Geitz was also a tower of strength by making life hell for Kathleen Knott who started ahead of Thwaites.
While their defenders were supreme, Queensland’s star shooting duo of Romelda Aiken and Natalie Medhurst were on fire.
Medhurst (28 goals from 32 attempts) set the tone early by sinking her first attempt from long-range and shot with a sweet touch throughout.
The Firebirds took an 18-13 lead into the first change but blew the game open in the second term by embarrassing the competition heavyweights with a 17-3 run at one stage.