Melbourne Vixens


Melbourne Vixens is an Australian professional netball team based in Melbourne, Victoria. Since 2017 [Suncorp Super Netball season|2017] they have represented Netball Victoria in Super Netball. Between 2008 [ANZ Championship season|2008] and 2016, they played in the ANZ Championship. The team was formed in 2007 when Netball Victoria merged its two former Commonwealth Bank Trophy league teams, Melbourne Phoenix and Melbourne Kestrels. Vixens have won four premierships, in 2009, 2014, 2020 Suncorp [Super Netball season|2020], and 2025.
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History

ANZ Championship

Between 2008 and 2016, Vixens played in the ANZ Championship. Vixens were formed in late 2007 when Netball Victoria merged its two former Commonwealth Bank Trophy league teams, Melbourne Phoenix and Melbourne Kestrels, in order to enter a single team in the 2008 ANZ Championship. During the ANZ Championship era, Vixens won two premierships, in 2009 and 2014. In 2009, with a team co-captained by Bianca Chatfield and Sharelle McMahon, Vixens won 12 of their 13 matches during the regular season and finished as minor premiers. Vixens subsequently defeated Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic 58–43 in the major semi-final and Adelaide Thunderbirds 54–46 in the grand final to finish as overall champions.
In 2012, with a team captained by Bianca Chatfield, and featuring Madison Browne, Julie Corletto and Geva Mentor, Vixens finished the season as minor premiers. In the major semi-final they defeated Northern Mystics 56–50. This was the first ever netball match held at Rod Laver Arena. However they lost the grand final 41–38 to Magic and finished the season as runners-up.
In 2014, with a team coached by Simone McKinnis, captained by Bianca Chatfield and also featuring Tegan Caldwell, Geva Mentor, Madison Browne and the veteran Catherine Cox, Vixens won both the minor premiership and the overall championship. Vixens defeated Queensland Firebirds in both the major semi-final and the grand final as they won their second premiership.
;Season results
SeasonPositionWonDrawnLost
20084th904
20091st1201
20107th607
20115th805
20121st1003
20132nd904
20141st904
20155th706
20164th805


Super Netball

Since 2017, Vixens have represented Netball Victoria in Super Netball. With a team coached by Simone McKinnis and captained by Kate Moloney, Vixens finished the inaugural season as minor premiers. However they subsequently lost both the major semi-final and preliminary final during the Finals Series and finished third overall. Four Vixens players – Mwai Kumwenda, Tegan Philip, Liz Watson and Jo Weston were named in the 2017 Team of the Year.
In 2020, with a team coached again by Simone McKinnis and co-captained by Kate Moloney and Liz Watson, Vixens finished the season as both minor premiers and overall champions. In the Grand Final they defeated West Coast Fever 66–64.
Following its championship win in 2020, the Vixens struggled in 2021, finishing last and claiming the wooden spoon for the first time in club history.
Vixens dominated the 2022 regular season before a shock defeat in the major semi-final by the West Coast Fever forced them to reach the Grand Final by winning the preliminary final, winning against GIANTS Netball 55-54. The club was unable to beat the Fever in the Grand Final, losing 70-59 and walking away runners-up.
Vixens began the 2023 season well, sitting in 2nd position on the ladder after Round 10 with a 7-3 record. They then lost 3 of their next 4 matches to finish the regular season with an 8-6 record, qualifying for the finals series as the 4th seed. They lost the minor semi-final to the West Coast Fever 57-64, eliminating them from the finals.
The Vixens sat inside the top 2 of the Suncorp Super Netball ladder for the majority of the 2024 regular season, spending a few weeks as the number 1 seed before finishing the season with an 11-3 record, in second place. They lost the major semi-final to the Adelaide Thunderbirds by 25 goals, 43-68, in what was the second largest defeat for a team in a major semi-final. Vixens then beat the Fever 73-72 in the preliminary final, advancing to the Grand Final. The club was unable to beat the Thunderbirds in the Grand Final, losing 57-59 and walking away as the runners up for the second time in three seasons.
The Vixens had a slow start to the 2025 season, sitting in 6th position with a 2-4 record at the conclusion of their Round 6 match against the Sunshine Coast Lightning, where they lost 50-62. After this match, coach Simone McKinnis announced she would be stepping down as coach of the Vixens at the conclusion of the season. When asked how her side could turn their season around, McKinnis famously stated in her post-match press conference that the Vixens needed to "go to the pub". After this remark, the Vixens went on a 6-2 run to finish the season, including a five match winning streak, to qualify for the finals series as the 4th seed, with an 8-6 record. They beat the Thunderbirds 58-56 in Adelaide, breaking a streak of 5 consecutive losses against the Thunderbirds in Adelaide. They then beat the 2nd placed New South Wales Swifts 66-65 in Sydney, erasing a 10 point deficit at three quarter time to advance to the Grand Final at Rod Laver Arena. In the Grand Final, the Vixens defeated the West Coast Fever 59-58, in front of a record crowd of 15,013 spectators. The Vixens claimed their second Suncorp Super Netball premiership and their 4th national league title overall, becoming only the second team to win a SSN premiership from 4th on the ladder.
;Season results
SeasonPositionWonDrawnLost
20171st1112
20185th806
20193rd815
20201st1112
20218th2012
20221st1202
20234th806
20242nd1103
20254th806


Grand finals

;ANZ Championship
SeasonWinnersScoreRunners upVenue
2009Melbourne Vixens54–46Adelaide ThunderbirdsHisense Arena
2012Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic41–38Melbourne VixensHisense Arena
2014Melbourne Vixens53–42Queensland FirebirdsHisense Arena

;Super Netball
SeasonWinnersScoreRunners upVenue
2020Melbourne Vixens66–64West Coast FeverNissan Arena
2022West Coast Fever70–59Melbourne VixensRAC Arena
2024Adelaide Thunderbirds59–57Melbourne VixensAdelaide Entertainment Centre
2025Melbourne Vixens59–58West Coast FeverRod Laver Arena

Home venues

Vixens main home venue has been John Cain Arena. Between 2008 and 2011 they also played some home games at the State Netball Hockey Centre. Since 2015, Margaret Court Arena has replaced the SNHC as Vixens secondary venue.
VenueYears
John Cain Arena 2008–
State Netball Hockey Centre2008–2011
Rod Laver Arena2012
Margaret Court Arena2015–2019

;Notes

Current and notable players

Internationals

Award winners

Australian Netball Awards

;Liz Ellis Diamond
SeasonWinner
2009Julie Corletto
2012Madison Browne
2014Madison Browne
2018Liz Watson
2022Liz Watson
2024Sophie Garbin

Source:
;Australian ANZ Championship Player of the Year

Super Netball

;SSN Grand Final MVP
;SSN Team of the Year
SeasonPlayers
2017GS : Mwai Kumwenda, GA: Tegan Philip, WA: Liz Watson, GD: Jo Weston
2018WA: Liz Watson
2019WA: Liz Watson, C: Kate Moloney, WD: Renae Ingles
2020WA: Liz Watson, C: Kate Moloney
2022WA: Liz Watson
2023WA : Liz Watson
2024GA: Kiera Austin, C: Kate Moloney, GS : Sophie Garbin

ANZ Championship

;ANZ Championship MVP
SeasonPlayer
2016Madison Browne '

;Notes
  • In 2016 Madison Browne was the MVP player in the Australian Conference and Jhaniele Fowler was the MVP player in the New Zealand Conference.
;ANZ Championship Grand Final MVP
SeasonPlayer
2009Sharelle McMahon
2014Tegan Caldwell

Source:
;ANZ Championship All Stars
SeasonAll Stars
2011GA: Sharelle McMahon
2012WA: Madison Browne, WD: Julie Corletto, GK: Geva Mentor
2013WA: Madison Browne, GK: Geva Mentor
2014WA: Madison Browne, GK''': Geva Mentor

Vixens Awards

;Sharelle McMahon Medal
Since 2014 the Vixens' most valuable player of season award has been known as the Sharelle McMahon Medal.
SeasonWinnerRunners up
2008Natasha ChokljatBianca Chatfield
2009Sharelle McMahonJulie Prendergast, Caitlin Thwaites
2010Sharelle McMahonBianca Chatfield
2011Bianca ChatfieldMadison Browne
2012Geva MentorMadison Browne
2013Madison BrowneGeva Mentor
2014Geva MentorMadison Browne
2015Geva Mentor, Karyn BaileyMadison Browne, Tegan Philip
2016Madison BrowneGeva Mentor
2017Liz WatsonEmily Mannix
2018Liz WatsonKate Moloney
2019Emily MannixKate Moloney
2020Kate MoloneyJo Weston, Kate Eddy
2021Kate MoloneyMwai Kumwenda
2022Liz WatsonKate Moloney
2023Liz WatsonEmily Mannix
2024Kiera AustinKate Moloney
2025Jo WestonKate Moloney

Source:
;Coaches' Award
SeasonWinner
2008Caitlin Thwaites
2009Bianca Chatfield
2010Bianca Chatfield
2011Julie Corletto
2012Chelsey Tregear
2013Erin Hoare
2014Kate Moloney
2015Kate Moloney
2016Emily Mannix
2017Khao Watts
2018Emily Mannix
2019Renae Ingles
2020Caitlin Thwaites
2021Kate Moloney
2022Ruby Barkmeyer
2023Kate Eddy
2024Zara Walters
2025Tara Watson

Source:
;Player of the Finals
SeasonWinner
2009Bianca Chatfield
2012Madison Browne
2013Bianca Chatfield
2014Geva Mentor
2017Jo Weston
2019Emily Mannix
2020Jo Weston
2022Jo Weston
2024Kiera Austin
2025Sophie Garbin

Source:
;Rookie of the Year
SeasonWinner
2009Chelsey Tregear
2010Tegan Caldwell
2012Karyn Howarth
2014Liz Watson
2015Jo Weston
2016Alice Teague-Neeld
2018Kadie-Ann Dehaney
2020Allie Smith
2021Hannah Mundy
2024Zara Walters

Source:
;Excellence in Sport and Life Award
SeasonWinner
2008Bianca Chatfield
2009Renae Hallinan
2010Natasha Chokljat
2011Chelsey Tregear
2012Bianca Chatfield
2014Amy Steel
2015Bianca Chatfield
2016Jo Weston
2017Chloe Watson
2019Renae Ingles
2020Jo Weston
2021Allie Smith
2022Sharni Lambden
2023Kiera Austin
2024Jo Weston
2025Kate Eddy

Source:

Team song


You want the best, Here we are, We'll give it all right now.

We're here to win, Come with us

We're gonna show you how
Stand up, Be proud, Shout it out loud
We are the Vixens, No one stands in our way, Power together

Stronger in every way, As one
We wear it true, Navy blue, That's what we're all about

Victoria, Feel the pride. And let the fox come out
Power, Power together, Power as one, Power, Power together

Vixens!
One team, One dream, Shout it out loud
We are the Vixens, No one stands in our way, Power together

Stronger in every way, As one


Source:

Victorian Fury

Victorian Fury are the reserve team of Melbourne Vixens. They play in the Australian Netball League. Fury are the most successful team in the ANL, winning their eighth premiership in 2019.

Premierships