Fairytale finish for Vixens

By Charlie McKay

Melbourne Vixens have been crowned 2025 Suncorp Super Netball Champions after downing West Coast Fever 59-58 at a sold-out Rod Laver Arena.

The win marks a perfect ending for coach Simone McKinnis, who will depart the club after 13 years at the helm. McKinnis led her side to glory after a shaky start to the season when many had written them off.

But the proud Melbourne club have redeemed themselves after a heartbreaking Grand Final loss to the Adelaide Thunderbirds in 2024.

Minor premiers Fever entered the game heavy favourites off the back of 13 straight wins and a dominant 2025 season. They set the benchmark this year, but never quite found their feet in the most important match, falling short to a polished Vixens side. 

Kiera Austin was named the Flight Centre Player of the Match in a sensational performance that underscored a defining season for the Diamonds' goal attack.

It was an intense and seesawing opening term.

Kadie-Ann Dehaney impacted early in defence, pouncing on a string of Vixens turnovers to give Fever the first break.  

But the home side wasted no time in closing the gap, led by fearless defence from skipper Kate Moloney.

Austin levelled the score with the first super shot, building on recent form that kept the Vixens' season alive. 

A Rudi Ellis intercept gave the Vixens a chance to push ahead, taking a 17-16 lead into quarter time and igniting the Melbourne crowd. 

Fever stalwart and five-time league MVP Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard looked uncharacteristically rattled in the second, fumbling a ball over the sideline and showing frustration with shooting partner Shanice Beckford.

In contrast, Austin and Sophie Garbin combined seamlessly down the other end. The Vixens extended their lead via a clutch Austin super shot, heading into the main break with a 33-31 buffer.

While momentum sat with the home side, it was still anyone's game in the second half. 

Fever came out of the break with intent, lifting defensive pressure and using discipline in attack to level the scores once more. Physicality peaked as the pressure reached fever pitch.

Hannah Mundy was brought on after being sidelined with injury throughout the finals campaign, injecting energy into the team and crowd alike. 

Austin was a weapon in defence, and consistently found the bottom of the net to keep her team in front. A hungry Vixens side charged into the final break with a game-high 48-43 lead.

The contest was far from over, though Fever faced a daunting statistic – no team has ever won the title after being down at three-quarter time.

The final term was the Fever’s best, but it wasn’t enough to topple a firing Vixens outfit.

Dehaney stole a crucial intercept in the dying minutes and Fever converted to get them back within one goal.

But Rudi Ellis snagged a clutch intercept of her own, giving Vixens the edge again. The home side were primed to close out the match, leading by three with two minutes on the clock.

Fowler-Nembhard missed two super shots but costly penalties from Ellis and Jo Weston saw her drain a third attempt, raising the stakes.

But the Vixens held their nerve with a one-goal lead, commanding possession and closing out the match 59-58.

McKinnis was elated after the match.

"It feels amazing," she said.

"I still can't believe we did it."

"She's given everything she can to this club.", captain Moloney said of her coach.

"I'm so grateful that I got to play under Simone."

Fever head coach Dan Ryan expressed disappointment after the loss, but acknowledged the skill of the Vixens to close the game out.

"It wasn't our day today." 

"Huge credit to the Vixens. They had us under pressure from the very first moment to the very last moment."