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The Melbourne Vixens could be easily be renamed The Comeback Queens, after yesterday’s nail biting win over reigning premiers Queensland Firebirds.
The results saw the Firebirds scratching their heads wondering how they could give up a seven goal lead while the Vixens were ecstatic, extending their perfect season to 5-0.
In a netball game which had the lot plus the cherry on top, and could possibly be returned to as the turning point for both teams, the Vixens again stole the goods from the grasp of the Firebirds’ hands.
While it is the very early stages of a long season, both teams have conjured up some interesting questions for their respective clubs and fans.
First and foremost, where do the Vixens find this inner strength to come back fighting tooth and nail?
Despite being down at one stage of the game by nine goals, the girls from Melbourne have a great tenacity for clawing their way back into the competition. They emerged as victors last week, stealing the win off Magic although being down all game.
The answer lies somewhere between Geva Mentor, Julie Corletto and Bianca Chatfield, who line-up as the Vixens outstanding and relentless defence.
These players epitomise everything that the team values. Their amazing never say die attitude, ability to read the play and putting the team above themselves is something the young generation of Australian netballers should admire.
Goalers do win games, as evident from last week’s hero Tegan Caldwell and this week’s hero Karyn Howarth’s efforts displayed, however it is the netball team’s defence that wins premierships.
Can anyone stop Queensland Firebird Romelda Aiken? In short, the answer would be no. Aiken looks too good, and is only improving.
Standing at an imposing 6’5”, the gun shooter from Jamaica is arguably the closest ANZ Championship netballer to be able to pluck to ball from the clouds of heaven and score from the most impossible of angles.
In an interesting match-up that saw the Vixens’ Mentor play one on one defence upon Aiken, the shooter stuck well to her game plan and strategies, allowing no inch to be given either way.
Aiken was the top scorer of the night, shooting 33 goals from the 36 shots she put up.
Aiken and Medhurst in attack are a potent forward line, complementing each other well. Aiken stands tall, both literally and metaphorically speaking.
She is a constant for the Firebirds, has strong hands and a leg split in the ring that any quality goaler would be jealous of.
So do the Vixens have the depth to win the ANZ Championship title?
It is a complicated question. There is no doubt that both the Vixens and Firebirds have the capacity to make the finals this year given the strength of both the lists, however one injury and the team could fall like dominoes.
Julie Hoornweg was brilliant yesterday, moving her defence around to stop the bleeding of goals. Her coaching decision to put Madison Brown into centre and replace a worn out Tregear for Sarah Wall and also Howarth on for Beveridge saw a much improved Vixens outfit.
However the Vixens saw how an Achilles injury to star goaler Sharelle McMahon severely disrupted their season, as their reliance on McMahon became a big weakness.
Both the Vixens and Firebirds must blood some more kids before the season reaches finals time. It is important not only for the clubs’ wider development but also allowing players to get match awareness could prove the difference come late in the season, where injuries are aplenty.
Where to now for the Firebirds and Vixens?
The Queensland Firebirds have had a very disappointing start to the season with only one win thus far. The club will have some soul searching questions to answer in its preparations for next week’s showdown against runners up Northern Mystics.
The Firebirds need to regroup and try to find the winning formula that saw the team go unbeaten in 2011. The talent is still there but does a premiership hangover loom over the squad?
Should the Firebirds regain their hunger, they may be able to squeeze a finals spot. It’s a big task, but something the Queensland Firebirds of old would definitely rise to.
The Melbourne Vixens are on cloud nine at the moment and while most of the playing group would deny it, they probably can’t believe their luck.
The Vixens had a very tough start to the season, on the road for three rounds before they could play home. They have spectacularly pulled off two thrilling wins back to back and head into their next clash against the lowly Canterbury Tactix confident and, most importantly, unbeaten.
The Vixens have been good but head coach Hoornweg should look to smooth over a couple of errors. One being the Vixens lacklustre start to games and two the goaling partnership in the goal circle.
If all goes to plan, The Vixens should see themselves 6-0 next week, a ladder placing that should guarantee finals.
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