Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
There’s been no “trip to the pub” but skipper Kate Moloney is confident the Melbourne Vixens can end their form slump in time to book their third-straight Super Netball grand final berth.
The reigning champions have worryingly lost their last four matches, including a thumping 58-44 loss in the major semi-final that allowed the Adelaide Thunderbirds to move straight into the title decider.
The Vixens get a second chance on Saturday night at John Cain Arena against the West Coast Fever, who won the minor semi against the Melbourne Mavericks.
Regardless of the result the grand final will be played at the same venue on July 4, with Netball Australia selling the match.
Last year the Vixens’ win-loss record was 2-4 to sit seventh on the ladder when then coach Simon McKinnis quipped that her team should “go to the pub” for a bonding session.
They did and famously turned around their season to charge into the finals where they beat the Fever in the decider in a one-goal thriller.
Moloney led the Melbourne outfit through that unlikely campaign and the Diamonds midcourter believes the 2026 side has another title in them.
“We didn’t visit the pub this week, but we learnt a lot from last year and how important little things are to try and turn form around,” Moloney said.
“We’ve definitely looked at things and taken from that experience, that’s for sure.
“This is a group who’s really experienced, we’ve got a lot of confidence that we can bring it this weekend and it’s not going to be easy, it’s do or die, but there’s not much more motivation than wanting to play in a grand final so I fully back this squad.”
The Vixens played the Fever in the last regular round of competition with the Perth side winning at home 64-55, with the teams one apiece through the season.
Moloney’s team already had a finals berth locked in, but didn’t want to use complacency as an excuse for their performance.
“I don’t think so personally, I definitely think we haven’t been playing the type of netball that we wanted to play,” she said.
“Early on in the season we were playing some great netball and over the last few weeks we’ve seemed to lose a little bit of that spark, but I’ve seen it in patches.
“I saw it in the first quarter on the weekend, I’ve seen it at training and I’m so confident that the girls can really turn it around this weekend.”
