Huge Melbourne Derby Awaits

The last time the two met, the Vixens dug deep to overturn a two goal deficit in the final quarter to win the game by one goal and Magpies defender, April Brandley, said that she expects it to be another thrilling match-up this time out.

She said, “The Vixens are in great form at the moment, I have no doubt it’s going to be game on from the first whistle.

“A lot of the games are going right down to the wire like the last time we met, so we’ve got to really have that drive to keep digging to the last minute of the last quarter.”

Here are the stats from their game in round 1:

Samsung Diamonds head coach Lisa Alexander has compared the intensity of the fledgling rivalry between Melbourne’s Suncorp Super Netball clubs to the atmosphere of a State-of-Origin rugby league contest or the AFL’s Adelaide Showdown.

“It has a different atmosphere around it,’’ said Alexander, whose 2018 Commonwealth Games squad included six players involved in this weekend’s high-stakes contest.

“Even in the stands supporters are against each other. It definitely has got that edge, and that’s what makes it great for netball.’’

This time, Alexander is looking forward to the midcourt match-ups of Lizzy Watson versus Ash Brazill, Renae Ingles against her close friend Madi Robinson and Kate Moloney up against Shae Brown or Kim Ravaillion – the latter pair having shared the Pies’ centre duties in recent weeks.

Vixen Emily Mannix, will have a huge task at goal keeper against Diamonds star Caitlin Thwaites, while in-form Jo Weston opposes the coming-into-better-form Erin Bell in what, until the past two games, has been the Magpies’ problem position.

“After that concussion at the start of the year, Emily’s really starting to show her footwork is getting sharper and she’s getting up higher and really confusing the space. She’s just getting better and better,’’ Alexander said.

“And she is coming out of the circle, which always put the feeders at risk with their passes; they’ve got to think about it much more, and I really like that light and shade that Emily has in her game. She’s getting some really good defence over the shot and she pulls those rebounds in. She’s so brave out on court, and she’s a beautiful, calm attacker who really sets the tone for that defence end.

“It’s going to be which team can really knuckle down and implement their game plan for the longest and with the most intensity, and you’d have to say that on the evidence in front of you, on current form, that the Vixens will do that.

“The Magpies will push it all the way, but I think the Vixens will win it by three.’’

The Collingwood Magpies take on the Melbourne Vixens at Margaret Court Arena this Sunday at 1:00pm AEST. (Purchase tickets here).