With round one starting at 3pm on Saturday for the Melbourne Vixens, here’s everything you need to know in the lead-up to the first whistle.
The Team – Squad
Tegan Philip (GA, GS), Kate Moloney (WD, C), Liz Watson (C, WA), Jo Weston (GK, GD, WD), Emily Mannix (GK, GD), Chloe Watson (GD, WD), Emma Ryde (GA, GS), Kadie-Ann Dehaney (GK, GS), Mwai Kumwenda (GA, GS), Khao Watts (WD, C, WA)
Training Partners
Lara Dunkley (WD, C, WA), Tayla Honey (C, WA), Jacqui Newton (GK, GD), Rahi Samason (GA, GS)
2017 Sharelle McMahon Medalist top five
- Liz Watson – 54 votes
- Emily Mannix – 44 votes
- Mwai Kumwenda – 41 votes
- Kate Moloney – 41 votes
- Tegan Philip – 35 votes
Injury list
Emma Ryde has been ruled out for the Suncorp Super Netball season with a fracture of the right knee.
Who they play
Melbourne has a major test in round one against the Magpies, a minor semi-finalist from last year, which could help determine whether the Vixens are a legitimate grand final threat. They have winnable games early against the Swifts, the Firebirds and Thunderbirds to follow so it will be important they get off to a good start. Before taking on the reigning premiers Sunshine Coast Lightning, in the Vixens one Saturday night match in their schedule.
Keep an eye on…
Reigning Sharelle McMahon medallist, Liz Watson will be one to watch this season, coming off the season of her career and a Commonwealth Games silver medal, Watson will be aiming to hit an even better patch of form in 2018. Jo Weston will be looking to put up a wall in defence for the Vixens this season, and if she continues playing like she did for Australia at Gold Coast 2018, then teams will find it tough to score against her. Mwai Kumwenda was instrumental for her country Malawi at the Commonwealth Games. Registering 41 goals in Malawi’s upset victory over New Zealand. She was the fourth highest goal scorer in the 2017 competition and will again be looking to shoot at 92 per cent accuracy, or above, in 2018.
