The
Melbourne Vixens are an Australian
netballNetball is a ball sport played between two teams of seven players. Its development, derived from early versions of basketball, began in England in the 1890s. By 1960 international playing rules had been standardised for the game, and the International Federation of Netball and Women's Basketball ...
team in
MelbourneMelbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
that compete in the trans-Tasman
ANZ ChampionshipThe ANZ Championship is the pre-eminent netball league in the world. The competition is held annually between April and July, comprising 69 matches played over 17 weeks. It is contested by ten teams, five from Australia and five from New Zealand...
. The team were formed in 2007 as an amalgamation of the
Melbourne PhoenixThe Melbourne Phoenix were an Australian netball team. They were one of two teams representing the city of Melbourne, Victoria in the national Commonwealth Bank Trophy. They have been replaced by the Melbourne Vixens in the ANZ Championship...
and
Melbourne KestrelsThe Melbourne Kestrels were an Australian netball team. They were based out of the State Netball and Hockey Centre in Melbourne, Victoria and were one of two teams from the city to compete in the national Commonwealth Bank Trophy, alongside the Melbourne Phoenix. The Kestrels were coached by Jane...
from the previous
Commonwealth Bank TrophyThe Commonwealth Bank Trophy was the pre-eminent national netball competition in Australia from 1997 to 2007.It was established in 1997 as a true national league to replace the ailing, state club-based Mobil League. Designed from the beginning to be more marketable to the general public, it saw...
.
Sharelle McMahonSharelle Jane McMahon is an Australian netball player and former captain of the Australian national netball team...
and
Bianca ChatfieldBianca Lee Chatfield is an Australian netball player. In 2001, she was selected for the Australian team to tour three-nations test series against England and New Zealand in the UK. Bianca plays in the positions of GK and GD...
have co-captained the side since 2009, under head coach Julie Hoornweg. Home games are played at Hisense Arena and the
State Netball and Hockey CentreState Netball Hockey Centre is a multipurpose sporting facility located in Melbourne, Australia. It is the home arena of the Melbourne Vixens netball team in the ANZ Championship, and the Melbourne Tigers National Basketball League team. The facility is located in Royal Park, Parkville next to...
, both in Melbourne.
The Vixens finished fourth in their first season of the ANZ Championship, led by a strong international lineup. They retained the core of their team in the 2009 season, which the Vixens won by defeating the Adelaide Thunderbirds 54–46 in the grand final. The following year started strongly for the Vixens, before a mid-season slump saw them finish seventh.
2008: Inaugural season
For the inaugural season, the Vixens were headlined by internationals
Sharelle McMahonSharelle Jane McMahon is an Australian netball player and former captain of the Australian national netball team...
, Julie Corletto,
Bianca ChatfieldBianca Lee Chatfield is an Australian netball player. In 2001, she was selected for the Australian team to tour three-nations test series against England and New Zealand in the UK. Bianca plays in the positions of GK and GD...
,
Natasha ChokljatNatasha Chokljat is an Australian netball player. She has played international netball as a member of the Australian national team, and currently plays in the ANZ Championship for the New Zealand side the Southern Steel....
and
Abby SargentAbby Sargent is a retired Australian netball player. Sargent was also a member of the England national team that played in the 2002 and 2006 Commonwealth Games. She also played for the Melbourne Kestrels and the Melbourne Phoenix in the Commonwealth Bank Trophy...
and talented emerging stars such as
Renae HallinanRenae Hallinan is an Australian international netballer. Primarily a wing-defence and centre player, Hallinan is a member of the Australian national team and plays in the ANZ Championship for the Melbourne Vixens...
,
Caitlin ThwaitesCaitlin Thwaites is an Australian netball and volleyball player. In 2011 Thwaites made the move across the Tasman to join the Central Pulse in the ANZ Championship, and plays in her known position of GS. . Thwaites has also represented Australia in women's volleyball. In 2009, Thwaites played her...
,
Madison BrowneMadison Browne is an Australian international netball player. Browne was included in the Australian national squad in 2007 after the World Championships in November. She debuted in the Commonwealth Bank Trophy in 2006, playing with the Melbourne Kestrels. In 2008, Browne signed with the Melbourne...
, Johannah Curran,
Sharni LaytonSharni Layton is an Australian netball player. Layton was a member of the Australian U21 team from 2006–09, winning gold at the 2009 World Youth Netball Championships in the Cook Islands. In 2008, Layton was signed to play for the Melbourne Vixens in the ANZ Championship...
and
Ashlee HowardAshlee Howard is an Australian netball player in the ANZ Championship, playing for the Melbourne Vixens.Howard came to prominence on the national netball scene in 2007 playing for the Melbourne Kestrels in the Commonwealth Bank Trophy, the preceding competition to the ANZ Championship...
.
At the end of the round-robin matches the Vixens were fourth on the competition ladder, allowing them to progress to the finals stage. They were defeated by the
Adelaide ThunderbirdsThe Adelaide Thunderbirds are an Australian netball team based in Adelaide that currently compete in the trans-Tasman ANZ Championship. The Thunderbirds were formed as one of the foundation teams of the Commonwealth Bank Trophy , previously the premier netball league in Australia, which was...
in the minor semi-final, finishing fourth for the season.
2009: Championship winners
In 2009, the team was headlined by internationals
Sharelle McMahonSharelle Jane McMahon is an Australian netball player and former captain of the Australian national netball team...
, Julie Corletto,
Bianca ChatfieldBianca Lee Chatfield is an Australian netball player. In 2001, she was selected for the Australian team to tour three-nations test series against England and New Zealand in the UK. Bianca plays in the positions of GK and GD...
,
Natasha ChokljatNatasha Chokljat is an Australian netball player. She has played international netball as a member of the Australian national team, and currently plays in the ANZ Championship for the New Zealand side the Southern Steel....
and
Ama AgbezeAma Agbeze is an English international netball player. Agbeze plays in the goal defence and goal keeper positions. She debuted in the England national squad in 2001...
and talented emerging stars such as
Renae HallinanRenae Hallinan is an Australian international netballer. Primarily a wing-defence and centre player, Hallinan is a member of the Australian national team and plays in the ANZ Championship for the Melbourne Vixens...
,
Caitlin ThwaitesCaitlin Thwaites is an Australian netball and volleyball player. In 2011 Thwaites made the move across the Tasman to join the Central Pulse in the ANZ Championship, and plays in her known position of GS. . Thwaites has also represented Australia in women's volleyball. In 2009, Thwaites played her...
, and
Ashlee HowardAshlee Howard is an Australian netball player in the ANZ Championship, playing for the Melbourne Vixens.Howard came to prominence on the national netball scene in 2007 playing for the Melbourne Kestrels in the Commonwealth Bank Trophy, the preceding competition to the ANZ Championship...
. The Vixens finished the 2009 season as champions, defeating the Adelaide Thunderbirds by 54–46.
2010: Title defence
The Vixens start their premiership defence campaign on the 22nd March 2010. Their motto for 2010 is 'Strength to Strength'. The Vixens have introduced a competition first, introducing the Melbourne Vixens Cheer Squad in early march.
In the Vixens' first match against the Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic, they unveiled their premiership flag to their fans, and reflected their near flawless 2009 campaign, which saw them win the 2009 ANZ Championship.
Although the Vixens won their first 5 matches, they lost their next 7, ending their dream of back-to-back premierships. The Vixens broke their losing streak in the last round of the season, beating the championship cellar dwellars,
Central PulseThe Central Pulse are a New Zealand netball team based in Wellington that compete in the trans-Tasman ANZ Championship. The Pulse represent several New Zealand regions in the North and South Islands, from East Cape in the north to Tasman and Marlborough in the south, and were formed as an...
The team was headlined by internationals
Sharelle McMahonSharelle Jane McMahon is an Australian netball player and former captain of the Australian national netball team...
, Julie Corletto,
Bianca ChatfieldBianca Lee Chatfield is an Australian netball player. In 2001, she was selected for the Australian team to tour three-nations test series against England and New Zealand in the UK. Bianca plays in the positions of GK and GD...
,
Natasha ChokljatNatasha Chokljat is an Australian netball player. She has played international netball as a member of the Australian national team, and currently plays in the ANZ Championship for the New Zealand side the Southern Steel....
and
Renae HallinanRenae Hallinan is an Australian international netballer. Primarily a wing-defence and centre player, Hallinan is a member of the Australian national team and plays in the ANZ Championship for the Melbourne Vixens...
and talented emerging stars such as
Caitlin ThwaitesCaitlin Thwaites is an Australian netball and volleyball player. In 2011 Thwaites made the move across the Tasman to join the Central Pulse in the ANZ Championship, and plays in her known position of GS. . Thwaites has also represented Australia in women's volleyball. In 2009, Thwaites played her...
and
Tegan CaldwellTegan Caldwell is an Australian Netball player in the ANZ Championship, playing for the Melbourne Vixens.She has been described as the new Sharelle McMahon because of her agility in the circle, vertical leap and accurate eye.Tegan's career began in the seaside town of Anglesea for the Bellarine...
.
The co-captain, and one of the world's best netballers
Sharelle McMahonSharelle Jane McMahon is an Australian netball player and former captain of the Australian national netball team...
took out the Best and Fairest award.
In August 2010 Vixens Centre Court Player Wendy Jones (nee Jacobsen) announced her retirement from the Vixens.
2011 season
Planning for season 2011 is underway, as the season starts in early 2011. One major move has already been made from the Vixens, signing 193 cm shooter and Australian Diamond
Kate BeveridgeKate Beveridge is an Australian netball player in the ANZ Championship, who played for the Adelaide Thunderbirds from 2008-2010. She move to the melbourne vixens for the 2011 season. Beveridge is known for her long range goal attempts, high arcing shots and very high accuracy rate...
, and also the welcoming back of 2008 Vixen
Madison BrowneMadison Browne is an Australian international netball player. Browne was included in the Australian national squad in 2007 after the World Championships in November. She debuted in the Commonwealth Bank Trophy in 2006, playing with the Melbourne Kestrels. In 2008, Browne signed with the Melbourne...
and 2009 Vixen
Sarah WallSarah Wall is an Australian netball player in the ANZ Championship, playing for the Melbourne Vixens. In 2005 she played her first year of elite netball, for the Melbourne Phoenix in the Commonwealth Bank Trophy. She played three years with the Phoenix until the competition was disbanded in 2007...
. The Vixens also provided the shock signing of the season, signing former
Adelaide ThunderbirdsThe Adelaide Thunderbirds are an Australian netball team based in Adelaide that currently compete in the trans-Tasman ANZ Championship. The Thunderbirds were formed as one of the foundation teams of the Commonwealth Bank Trophy , previously the premier netball league in Australia, which was...
goal keeper and English international
Geva MentorGeva Mentor is an English international netball player. Mentor was selected for the England national team in 2000, debuting the following year against New Zealand...
.
Veteran
Natasha ChokljatNatasha Chokljat is an Australian netball player. She has played international netball as a member of the Australian national team, and currently plays in the ANZ Championship for the New Zealand side the Southern Steel....
and young shooter
Caitlin ThwaitesCaitlin Thwaites is an Australian netball and volleyball player. In 2011 Thwaites made the move across the Tasman to join the Central Pulse in the ANZ Championship, and plays in her known position of GS. . Thwaites has also represented Australia in women's volleyball. In 2009, Thwaites played her...
have left the Vixens. Chokljat has left for the
Southern SteelThe Southern Steel are a New Zealand netball team based in Invercargill that compete in the trans-Tasman ANZ Championship. The franchise was formed as an amalgamation of two teams from the National Bank Cup, the Dunedin-based Otago Rebels and the Invercargill-based Southern Sting...
and Thwaites for the
Central PulseThe Central Pulse are a New Zealand netball team based in Wellington that compete in the trans-Tasman ANZ Championship. The Pulse represent several New Zealand regions in the North and South Islands, from East Cape in the north to Tasman and Marlborough in the south, and were formed as an...
.
The team is headlined by internationals
Sharelle McMahonSharelle Jane McMahon is an Australian netball player and former captain of the Australian national netball team...
, Julie Corletto,
Bianca ChatfieldBianca Lee Chatfield is an Australian netball player. In 2001, she was selected for the Australian team to tour three-nations test series against England and New Zealand in the UK. Bianca plays in the positions of GK and GD...
,
Renae HallinanRenae Hallinan is an Australian international netballer. Primarily a wing-defence and centre player, Hallinan is a member of the Australian national team and plays in the ANZ Championship for the Melbourne Vixens...
,
Madison BrowneMadison Browne is an Australian international netball player. Browne was included in the Australian national squad in 2007 after the World Championships in November. She debuted in the Commonwealth Bank Trophy in 2006, playing with the Melbourne Kestrels. In 2008, Browne signed with the Melbourne...
,
Kate BeveridgeKate Beveridge is an Australian netball player in the ANZ Championship, who played for the Adelaide Thunderbirds from 2008-2010. She move to the melbourne vixens for the 2011 season. Beveridge is known for her long range goal attempts, high arcing shots and very high accuracy rate...
and
Geva MentorGeva Mentor is an English international netball player. Mentor was selected for the England national team in 2000, debuting the following year against New Zealand...
and talented emerging stars such as
Sarah WallSarah Wall is an Australian netball player in the ANZ Championship, playing for the Melbourne Vixens. In 2005 she played her first year of elite netball, for the Melbourne Phoenix in the Commonwealth Bank Trophy. She played three years with the Phoenix until the competition was disbanded in 2007...
,
Micaela WilsonMicaela Wilson is an Australian netball player in the ANZ Championship, playing for the Melbourne Vixens.-External links:*...
and
Tegan CaldwellTegan Caldwell is an Australian Netball player in the ANZ Championship, playing for the Melbourne Vixens.She has been described as the new Sharelle McMahon because of her agility in the circle, vertical leap and accurate eye.Tegan's career began in the seaside town of Anglesea for the Bellarine...
.
During the 8th Round first match the Vixens played Queensland firebirds and Co-Captain Sharelle McMahon went down with a serious ankle injury- ruptured Achilles tendon. She had surgery the following day cutting her out of contention of the Vixens season and the 2011 World Champs. Many members of the State and the nation have joined together in a pursuit to get the star to continue.
2012 season
International
Renae HallinanRenae Hallinan is an Australian international netballer. Primarily a wing-defence and centre player, Hallinan is a member of the Australian national team and plays in the ANZ Championship for the Melbourne Vixens...
has departed to the
Adelaide ThunderbirdsThe Adelaide Thunderbirds are an Australian netball team based in Adelaide that currently compete in the trans-Tasman ANZ Championship. The Thunderbirds were formed as one of the foundation teams of the Commonwealth Bank Trophy , previously the premier netball league in Australia, which was...
and
Kathleen KnottKathleen Knott is an Australian netball player in the ANZ Championship, playing for the Melbourne Vixens. Knott previously played with the Melbourne Kestrels in the Commonwealth Bank Trophy. Knott was a part of the 2009 Vixens premiership side. She was also a part of the tragic Black Saturday...
has also left. Former team member
Kara RichardsKara Richards is an Australian netball player in the ANZ Championship, playing for the Melbourne Vixens.-References:...
returns from the Thunderbirds and talented young Victorian Fury shooter Karyn Bailey makes her debut.
Players
- Karyn Bailey is in the team list as Karyn Howarth as she is marrying in 2012 and will be using her married name.
Naming and colours
The team are known as the Vixens, a play on the word Victoria. Their brand colours are green, crimson, black and navy. The following quote, from the Vixens' website, explains the colour choice:
"The colours of green and crimson were chosen to reflect that of a female, youthful and dynamic team. The colour of black conveys a sense of sophistication, authority and power. The colour of navy blue represents Victoria’s rich history of success at the elite sports level, a State with proud and active communities that will continue to support netball as we pursue our future triumphs."
Like the
Adelaide ThunderbirdsThe Adelaide Thunderbirds are an Australian netball team based in Adelaide that currently compete in the trans-Tasman ANZ Championship. The Thunderbirds were formed as one of the foundation teams of the Commonwealth Bank Trophy , previously the premier netball league in Australia, which was...
, NSW Swifts and the
West Coast FeverThe West Coast Fever are an Australian netball team based in Perth that currently compete in the trans-Tasman ANZ Championship. The franchise was one of the foundation teams of the Commonwealth Bank Trophy, formerly the premier domestic league in Australia. They contested every year of the...
, the Vixens have aligned themselves with an
AFLThe Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
club, in this case
CollingwoodThe Collingwood Football Club, nicknamed The Magpies, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
.
Team song
In 2009, as a way to bond the team, the Vixens created a team song, titled 'We Are The Vixens'. The players came up with the lyrics themselves, with help from a company called Muso Magic.
These are the lyrics:
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
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
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
In 2011 on their first home game against the West Coast Fever the Vixens released their remixed version of the theme song.
Venues
The Vixens play their home games at two Melbourne stadiums: Hisense Arena and the
State Netball and Hockey CentreState Netball Hockey Centre is a multipurpose sporting facility located in Melbourne, Australia. It is the home arena of the Melbourne Vixens netball team in the ANZ Championship, and the Melbourne Tigers National Basketball League team. The facility is located in Royal Park, Parkville next to...
.
Championship record
- 2008: 1st of 10
- 2009: 1st of 10
- 2010: 1st of 10
- 2011: 1st of 10
- 2012: 1st of 10
- 2013: 1st of 10
- 2014: 1st of 10
- 2015: 1st of 10
Awards
BEST & FAIREST
- 2011: Bianca Chatfield
Bianca Lee Chatfield is an Australian netball player. In 2001, she was selected for the Australian team to tour three-nations test series against England and New Zealand in the UK. Bianca plays in the positions of GK and GD...
- 2010: Sharelle McMahon
Sharelle Jane McMahon is an Australian netball player and former captain of the Australian national netball team...
- 2009: Sharelle McMahon
Sharelle Jane McMahon is an Australian netball player and former captain of the Australian national netball team...
- 2008: Sharelle McMahon
Sharelle Jane McMahon is an Australian netball player and former captain of the Australian national netball team...
BEST & FAIREST RUNNER-UP
- 2011: Bianca Chatfield
Bianca Lee Chatfield is an Australian netball player. In 2001, she was selected for the Australian team to tour three-nations test series against England and New Zealand in the UK. Bianca plays in the positions of GK and GD...
- 2010: Bianca Chatfield
Bianca Lee Chatfield is an Australian netball player. In 2001, she was selected for the Australian team to tour three-nations test series against England and New Zealand in the UK. Bianca plays in the positions of GK and GD...
- 2009: Bianca Chatfield
Bianca Lee Chatfield is an Australian netball player. In 2001, she was selected for the Australian team to tour three-nations test series against England and New Zealand in the UK. Bianca plays in the positions of GK and GD...
- 2008: Bianca Chatfield
Bianca Lee Chatfield is an Australian netball player. In 2001, she was selected for the Australian team to tour three-nations test series against England and New Zealand in the UK. Bianca plays in the positions of GK and GD...
BEST CLUB PERSON
- 2011: Sharelle McMahon
- 2010: Sharelle McMahon
- 2009: Sharelle McMahon
- 2008: Sharelle McMahon
EXCELLENCE IN LIFE AND SPORT AWARD
- 2011: Sharelle McMahon
Sharelle Jane McMahon is an Australian netball player and former captain of the Australian national netball team...
- 2010: Sharelle McMahon
Sharelle Jane McMahon is an Australian netball player and former captain of the Australian national netball team...
- 2009: Sharelle McMahon
Sharelle Jane McMahon is an Australian netball player and former captain of the Australian national netball team...
- 2008: Sharelle Mcmahon
Sharelle Jane McMahon is an Australian netball player and former captain of the Australian national netball team...
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
- 2011: Madison Browne
Madison Browne is an Australian international netball player. Browne was included in the Australian national squad in 2007 after the World Championships in November. She debuted in the Commonwealth Bank Trophy in 2006, playing with the Melbourne Kestrels. In 2008, Browne signed with the Melbourne...
- 2010: Madison Browne
Madison Browne is an Australian international netball player. Browne was included in the Australian national squad in 2007 after the World Championships in November. She debuted in the Commonwealth Bank Trophy in 2006, playing with the Melbourne Kestrels. In 2008, Browne signed with the Melbourne...
- 2009: Madison Browne
Madison Browne is an Australian international netball player. Browne was included in the Australian national squad in 2007 after the World Championships in November. She debuted in the Commonwealth Bank Trophy in 2006, playing with the Melbourne Kestrels. In 2008, Browne signed with the Melbourne...
- 2008: Madison Browne
Madison Browne is an Australian international netball player. Browne was included in the Australian national squad in 2007 after the World Championships in November. She debuted in the Commonwealth Bank Trophy in 2006, playing with the Melbourne Kestrels. In 2008, Browne signed with the Melbourne...
COACHES AWARD
- 2011: Sharelle McMahon
Sharelle Jane McMahon is an Australian netball player and former captain of the Australian national netball team...
- 2010: Bianca Chatfield
Bianca Lee Chatfield is an Australian netball player. In 2001, she was selected for the Australian team to tour three-nations test series against England and New Zealand in the UK. Bianca plays in the positions of GK and GD...
- 2009: Bianca Chatfield
Bianca Lee Chatfield is an Australian netball player. In 2001, she was selected for the Australian team to tour three-nations test series against England and New Zealand in the UK. Bianca plays in the positions of GK and GD...
- 2008: Sharelle McMahon
Sharelle Jane McMahon is an Australian netball player and former captain of the Australian national netball team...
PLAYER OF THE FINALS
- 2011: Sharelle McMahon
Sharelle Jane McMahon is an Australian netball player and former captain of the Australian national netball team...
- 2010: Sharelle McMahon
Sharelle Jane McMahon is an Australian netball player and former captain of the Australian national netball team...
- 2009: Bianca Chatfield
Bianca Lee Chatfield is an Australian netball player. In 2001, she was selected for the Australian team to tour three-nations test series against England and New Zealand in the UK. Bianca plays in the positions of GK and GD...
- 2008: Sharelle McMahon
Sharelle Jane McMahon is an Australian netball player and former captain of the Australian national netball team...
External links