Written off? Not yet.

By Stephanie Smarrelli

Melbourne Vixens defender Jo Weston isn't pretending the reigning premiers have cruised into another finals campaign.

After an inconsistent finish to the home-and-away season, the Vixens head into Saturday night's Preliminary Final against West Coast Fever under outside scrutiny.

But Weston isn't questioning is her side's belief.

“It's hasn't been the best lead up to a finals campaign that we've historically had,” Weston said.

“But that really doesn’t dull my faith in our crew and the team we have.

“There’s a variety we can offer out on court, and we’ve been able to win when it really matters in the past so that gives me confidence.”

That belief has been reinforced throughout the week as the Vixens prepare for one of their toughest assignments.

“Strategically, we're going to try and mix things up to combat the attacking lineups of opposition,” she said.

“It's also about execution under pressure and being able to play free and have the belief that we can do it.”

Containing Fever's potent attack will be central to those plans this weekend.

For Weston the defensive work starts well before the ball reaches the goal circle, with the Vixens determined to disrupt Fever's ball movement.

“We’ll definitely be putting a lot of pressure out across that transverse line,” Weston said.

“With Fever having Romelda back there in the goal circle, she’s a really big target for them.

“We need to be applying pressure off the centre pass and across that zone to be able to force the ball long into her so we will hopefully be able to win some ball.”

Weston believes the challenge isn't simply shutting down one player — it's managing the balance between two dangerous scoring options.

"Sasha’s had a really great season,” Weston said.

“She's continued to grow and her partnership with Romelda has been developing across the year.  

“For me it's going to be trying to hedge my bets.

“That's what's so challenging about playing against tall shooters, you're caught in the middle a bit.

“If you double up on a goal shooter someone like Sasha will be able to go to post really easily but that’s what makes it so fun, I'm looking forward to having a good battle out there on the court.”  

The challenge ahead is one Weston is well equipped for.  

The veteran defender is in her 10th finals campaign with three premierships already in the trophy cabinet.

She’s learned plenty of lessons about finals over the years.  

“I'm clocking up the innings,” Weston said.

“Being able to perform and capitalise on opportunities is really important.

“Having a never give up mindset is equally as important and being able to work together and communicate when it is really loud inside John Cain Arena.”

A win this weekend would give the Vixens a chance at back-to-back premierships, but Weston insists the team isn’t getting too far ahead of itself.

“Back-to-back premierships has always been a motivating factor throughout this year,” she said.

“For us it’s about playing one quarter at a time, getting ready for it and being able to hopefully get over the line and into the Grand Final so we can really have a crack at going back-to-back.”

The Vixens’ defensive unit has long been a key part of their success, but Weston believes the group's greatest strength this season has been their adaptability.

"It's the combinations we have,” she said.

"We've had players in different positions this year, being able to change things up to keep oppositions guessing.

“Having Em and Rudi gives us a lot of different looks each time they’re both out on the court.

“Having Em come back from having a baby has given us all a new perspective as well about how limited your time can be out on the court and how much we all sacrifice.

“That's also helped us really relish those opportunities when we have them.”

Mannix's return has also had a deeper impact on the group than simply strengthening the defensive circle.

With Mannix's daughter, Mabel, becoming a familiar face around the club.

“She's the cutest baby ever,” Weston said.

“She's got nine extra mums; we all want to be her favourite.

“It's really special for Em and it's really helped us as a group to have a different lens on things.  

“We've always backed ourselves in to be a family... but to actually have that physical element of family in the environment has been really important.”

Weston has also embraced a new challenge herself this season, spending more time at goal keeper as the Vixens experiment with different defensive combinations.

“It's been hard,” she confessed.

“I played a lot of goal keeper when I was a junior netballer, but I've played more across the wing role if I'm not playing goal defence the last couple of years.  

“It's been an interesting mix up with some of the shorter goal shooters and it gives us more of an opportunity to play Kate Eddy in goal defence as well.  

“She's had such an outstanding year, and I probably play a little bit differently to Em and Rudi, so I’ve been able to offer something different.  

“It's something new to try to learn...it's been fun, I don't know if I've quite mastered it yet but I'm always open to giving it a go.  

“There’s a little bit less running too which is nice.”  

That willingness to embrace different roles is part of the Vixens' defensive identity this season, one built on relentless pressure, but it has also resulted in the Vixens racking up more penalties than any other side.

“It definitely can have an impact,” Weston said.

“Defensively we've always been a team that likes to build pressure and cause turnovers that way.  

“It's been a challenge point for us trying to adjust to the umpires, to adapt and learn what other defenders have been doing because the game is very physical.

“I don't think there's any way around that, we need to stay focused on what we can control and be open to asking questions.  

“When we’re asking and adjusting then hopefully we can continue to be effective out on the court. "

Regardless of what unfolds this weekend, Weston believes the Vixens have already built something to be proud of.

“I’m proud of how we've been able to work as a unit,” she said.

“That’s been really great, having people sub on and sub off and be able to continue to develop those relationships and build the pressure.

“And being able to win games in tight moments, hopefully we can continue to do that in the finals now.”

That unity has been fostered under first-year head coach Di Honey, who Weston has been thrilled to see take up the reins with Honey having served as assistant coach from 2014 to 2025.  

“It's been really nice to see her in a different role and really step up in that leadership position,” she said.

"She's got a very unique coaching way; she's had a lot of years as assistant coach and sometimes it takes a little bit of time, but she's been doing such an incredible job.

“We've got a really great relationship because we've got that depth of knowledge of each other... it's been great to see her take it to the next level and be able to back her in.”

That familiarity has allowed Honey to stamp her own mark on the Vixens without losing the connection she's built over years within the club.

"She's very relatable,” Weston said.

“She’s able to get on people's level quite quickly and that's what helps her build relationships with others.  

“One of her main strengths is that she's not afraid to make changes with players and changes in strategy whilst they're out there on court.”

With Honey leading from the sidelines, the team raring to get out on the court and a place in the Grand Final on the line, Weston has one clear message for the Vixens faithful.

“Get loud,” she said.

“We need your support more than ever and we need you riding every wave.”