The Melbourne Vixens have won their crucial Super Netball clash against cross-town rivals Collingwood Magpies 65-57 at Margaret Court Arena on Sunday.
After too many losses and inconsistencies throughout the season, both clubs came into the showdown facing the real possibility of missing the finals.
Liz Watson of the Vixens (left) and Ashleigh Brazill of the Magpies collide.
Photo: AAP
For the first half Collingwood, with star defender Sharni Layton left on the bench, showed the urgency and attention to detail that made them a pre-season title fancy but in the second half that focus waned and the Vixens pounced.
Throughout their years together the Vixens core have remained in the fight and looked to overcome moments of adversity.
This game had many of those, from hesitant passing in the first half to losing star goalkeeper Emily Mannix to a nasty dislocated little finger in the third term.
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But in her place, seldom used Jamaican import Kadie-Ann Dehaney took her chance and her teammates lifted around her to claim the vital victory.
It will look a comfortable one on the scoreboard yet it was anything but a picnic, especially with a player as important as Mannix sitting courtside with her hand bandaged and immobilised.
Thwaites (49 of 51 shooting) was dominant whenever she had the ball but Dehaney, sporting a bandage on her chin after a training fall midweek, gave her side the momentum pinching a crucial interception in the final term just as the Magpies had pulled within a goal.
Matilda Garrett of the Magpies and Tegan Philip of the Vixens (right).
Photo: AAP
It looks very much like only one Victorian team will have a chance to push into the top four and that remains the Vixens who claimed six points from the win.
The Magpies have mathematic hopes but with six games to play they have yet to show the consistency required to make a run.
“We are just not performing under scoreboard pressure – when we are not under scoreboard pressure we are flying,” Magpies coach Kristy Keppich-Birrell said.
“Thats something we need to keep working on.”
At half-time the Magpies had a 33-28 lead and two bonus points for winning the first two quarters – they did this without Layton who was still a vocal presence from the bench with young gun Matilda Garrett in her place.
“The decision was based on form during the week,” Keppich-Birrell said.
“Garrett is an amazing young athlete, she tired towards the end but her ability to get in the passing lanes and contest hard and cleanly is a beautiful thing to watch.”
Dehaneys interception appeared to turn the momentum with under 10 minutes to play and Vixens goal attack Tegan Philip was brought right into the play by her sides buoyant attacks.
Philip shot 23 of 24 goals complementing the ever-dangerous Mwai Kumwendas 42 of 43 shooting, in contrast the Magpies struggled to take the focus from Thwaites with goal attack Erin Bell shooting eight of 16 attempts.
The Vixens core has runs on the board and it has hardened them for the fight, but Collingwoods all-star lineup hasnt clicked in 2018.
With time together they could still be a force but the problem with signing big names is they always have options elsewhere.
Vixens coach Simone McKinnis praised her sides ability to overcome their struggles.
“Particularly in attack we started making the drives and letting the ball go – the first half there wasnt much movement and we were quite stagnant,” McKinnis said.
“We were playing a quality side fighting for their win and we had to find more and do the work before getting the ball – it was never going to be easy.
“We were really struggling in that first half so I was really happy to see us dig deep, adjust, change and push on in that second half.”
McKinnis said she didn't know if Mannix has further damage to her finger but she liked how Dehaney bounced into the action.
“Kadie just loves playing and she is going to make the most of every opportunity she gets,” McKinnis said.
Taking opportunities will be decisive for both clubs if they want to make the finals.
The Vixens play NSW Swifts in Sydney on Saturday while the Magpies play West Coast Fever at Margaret Court Arena on Saturday at 7pm.
Roy Ward is a Sports writer for The Age.
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