Vixens snatch thriller

The Melbourne Vixens have pulled off a stunning comeback to secure a one-goal victory over the NSW Swifts and punch their ticket to the Grand Final.  

Despite trailing by 10 goals late in the third quarter, the Vixens held their nerve and mounted a spirited fightback, sealing a dramatic 61–60 win in a thriller at Qudos Bank Arena. 

The Vixens were the first to strike on the board, but it was the Swifts with a strong rebound from Sarah Klau sparking a 5-2 run in the opening minutes. The visitors soon settled, levelling the scores by the 10-minute mark and beginning to expose cracks in the Swifts’ second-phase play. 

Paige Hadley’s return provided a welcome boost for the home side, offering much-needed leadership, but the Swifts struggled to convert attacking opportunities. 

As the Vixens pushed out to a four-goal lead heading into the final minutes, Briony Akle called a tactical timeout, urging Helen Housby to lift and challenging her frontline to break open the Vixens’ defensive wall for Nweke. 

A couple of misses from Nweke allowed the Vixens to capitalise, giving the visitors a 17-14 advantage at quarter time. 
 
The Swifts came out with renewed energy in the second quarter, shifting momentum and quickly levelling the scores. Sarah Klau continued to cause headaches for Sophie Garbin under the post, while Sharni Lambden turned up the pressure in midcourt, effectively shutting down Zara Walters. 

The Swifts’ dominance forced the Vixens into an early tactical timeout, but it did little to halt the surge as the home side stormed ahead with a six-goal run, taking a five-goal lead midway through the term. Despite Hadley appearing uncomfortable on her return from injury, her presence was vital in steering the Swifts’ attack. 

Lambden’s relentless pressure eventually saw the Vixens make a change, with debutant Tara Watson entering the game to replace Walters. The visitors' timeout finally paid off as they responded with a four-goal streak of their own to cut the margin back to two. 

Kiera Austin landed the first super shot of the match, only for Helen Housby to respond in kind. A scrappy finish rounded out a high-intensity term, with the Swifts taking a narrow 34-32 lead into half-time.  
 
The home side carried their momentum into the second half with a confident start, stretching their lead as Klau continued to dominate her match-up against Garbin, who found herself out-positioned and exposed under the post.  

Rudi Ellis starred at the back for the Vixens, racking up five gains, two intercepts and four deflections in a standout defensive performance. In an effort to shift momentum, the Vixens swapped Jo Weston and Kate Eddy. 

But the Swifts side kept their foot on the pedal, pulling nine goals clear heading into the Power Five. Vixens introduced Lily Graham in a bid to find some spark from long range, but continued to be denied second chances, with Maddy Turner collecting three rebounds. 
 
Despite their efforts, the visitors couldn’t close the gap, with the Swifts taking a 51-41 lead into the final quarter. 

The Swifts continued to show grit in the final quarter, with Hadley delivering a massive performance despite visibly struggling. Grace Whyte stepped up in a big way, notching 34 gains and 34 feeds and maintaining a strong connection with Nweke under the post. 

Despite goals flowing for the Vixens, the Swifts responded each time, keeping the margin steady. But as the clock ticked down, the Vixens found their rhythm.  

Garbin lifted, and with just two and a half minutes remaining, the visitors remarkably levelled the scores. 

In a composed final passage, the Vixens drained the clock and completed one of the great comebacks to win by a single goal to book their spot in the Grand Final. 

Vixens coach Simone McKinnis admitted her side struggled to find their rhythm but praised their resilience after a gruelling run to the grand final.

"I think we lacked a bit of dynamic movement, and punching attack at times," said McKinnis.

"When changing in the defensive structures, we didn't adapt well all the time. We've got to take what we have to out of this because when you're up against Fever, you don't get a second chance or a look, they don't give you much chance.

"It's been a long, hard slog to get here. It was a slower start to the season, and we were needing to win week in week out - every game was critical.

"It's been three weeks in a row on the road, and we're feeling the pinch from that I bit. I'm super impressed with the way the girls have gone about it and they've well and truly earned the right to be competing in this grand final."