Passionate is an understatement for how Melbourne Vixens' stalwart Kate Moloney, feels about her beloved sport of netball and her club, the Melbourne Vixens.
The 32-year-old doesn’t just wear navy blue, she bleeds it.
The year was 2013, Moloney walked into the Melbourne Vixens as a wide-eyed, fresh-faced teenager with her then-signature bleached-blonde hair.
A product of the Netball Victoria pathway, and a graduate of the City West Falcons (VNL) and the Victorian Fury (ANL), the young midcourter from Diamond Creek was somewhat apprehensive about stepping onto the training court alongside some of the club’s, and indeed game’s, biggest names.
Yet the likes of Bianca Chatfield, Sharelle McMahon, Madi Robinson and Geva Mentor welcomed her with open arms into the “Vixens Sisterhood” and into what quickly became her “second family”.
Vixens' coach Simone McKinnis OAM remembers giving Moloney her first contract in 2013, describing it as “one of the best signings for the club.”
“She always had that competitiveness and the love for the team. That's been there since day one,” McKinnis said.
In her debut year, Moloney was the youngest player, but her leadership qualities were clear.
Only three years after debuting, she was named co-vice-captain and became captain in 2017 following the defection of Robinson and Mentor to cross-town rivals, the Collingwood Magpies.
She flourished in her elevated role, something she’s never taken for granted.
Photo: Kate Moloney on court against West Coast Fever in 2019 (Getty Images).
“It was an absolute huge honour to be named the captain of the Vixens. I’ve loved every minute of it. It’s been one of the most rewarding and challenging things I’ve done and it’s something I continue to try and grow, is that leadership role,” said Moloney.
“I’ve been lucky to have some great leaders around me who I’ve been able to learn from. But you’re put into that position for a reason. That was the message that really carried on to me: you were put in that position for the things that you were already doing. Yes, you want to get better but keep doing what you’re doing.”
“For me, that was always about just trying to lead by example, both on and off the court. It was about trying to bring a group of girls together and get them on the same path and try and achieve something great,” she added.
Moloney won a premiership in her second season with the Vixens in 2014 and then again in 2020 but credits the Vixens’ 2017 season - the team were minor premiers before a disappointing finals series - with her selection for the Australian Diamonds.
“The team just worked really well together that year. I think that team success really helped me in terms of being able to get a go with the Diamonds - which was an absolute dream come true,” said Moloney.
Photo: Kate Moloney on court for the Australian Diamonds, playing New Zealand's Silver Ferns in the 2022 Constellation Cup (Getty Images).
Moloney has been a regular fixture in the Diamonds’ squad since, a highlight being claiming gold at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.
“Being able to put on the green and gold and represent your country is amazing,” she added.
There are few, if any, other players in the sport who typify team as much as Moloney, who in 2023 became the first Vixen to play 150 games for the club. She has no intentions of leaving.
Ever.
In fact, she’d rather retire than play in any other team.
“It’s really special that I’ve had the opportunity to play at the Vixens my whole career. Unless they get rid of me, I don’t want to play anywhere else, that’s for sure. And if they do get rid of me then it might be time to retire, too,” said Moloney.
“The club means so much to me. They’ve given me so many opportunities. They’ve helped me develop in all areas of my life and I couldn’t see myself playing in any other colours.”
“I love wearing the navy blue and representing the Vixens and Victoria every week and, hopefully, I don’t have to go anywhere else. I’d love to stay and be a one-club player.”
“While I can keep adding to the team playing some good netball and enjoying it, hopefully I can play for as long as I can,” she added.
Photo: Kate Moloney in the VIS gym.
The skipper played more than “some good netball” last season.
In actual fact, her 12th professional season in the navy blue was one for the ages, recording more feeds (third in the league, and the most of any predominant centre) and second phase receives (sixth in the league) than any of her previous Super Netball campaigns.
McKinnis said it’s not her that motivates Moloney’s continual growth – those targets are personally set by the captain.
“Kate drives the standards, and she pushes herself,” said McKinnis.
As the Vixens aim to hit back from last year’s Super Netball grand final loss to the Adelaide Thunderbirds, Moloney will continue in her captaincy role for a ninth season and will help usher in the next generation of players as she targets a third premiership.
“We lost the grand final by two goals, which was extremely disappointing, but everyone starts the new season at zero,” Moloney said.
“If we want to be standing up there at the end of the year we need to improve.”
“We have looked at those things closely and will try to change some things up,” she added.
Their 2025 chances?
She rates the current group as strong as any she has played with before at the club.
Photo: 2025 Melbourne Vixens and training partners in the VIS gym with their VIS Physical Preparation Coach, Dave Veli.
“I’ve been lucky enough to have played with some pretty amazing players,” Moloney said.
“I think our attack end is new and it’s fresh and (this group) is right up there with the best teams I’ve played in.”
“We have got some girls who have had lots of finals experience and some with not much and I’m excited to see what they can do. We’ve got so much faith in them and the way they have performed this year, they’ve shown they can take it up against anyone,” she added.
Playing professionally may not have been what motivated Moloney to first pick up a netball as a six-year-old in outer Melbourne.
But those early days on suburban courts fostered a love for the game that continues today.
“There’s no better feeling than team success when you work with a group of people that become like your family. To achieve that success, there is absolutely no better feeling.”
“I love the competitive side of it, but I love being able to do it with a group of like-minded females and hopefully really inspire the next generation as well,” said Moloney.
Her passion on court is legendary and her exceptional leadership, physical endurance and work rate see her continually held in high esteem by teammates and opponents alike.
“If there's something on the line – a game or a ball – Moloney is the one that's going to make it happen,” said McKinnis.
“There's no one more passionate, enthusiastic, and committed to the Vixens and the team than Kate Moloney,” she added.
It wouldn’t be a Vixens' game without the famous Moloney “point and clap” or hearing one of her stirring rev-ups or rousing team talks, her captaincy has lifted her Vixens team through thick and thin, and we’re thrilled to say, the skipper’s here to stay.
By Ashley Gillespie
Victorian Institute of Sport
