A frantic finish by the NSW Swifts was not enough to prevent their second loss of the 2025 Suncorp Super Netball season against the Melbourne Vixens at John Cain Arena on Sunday (70-68).
The ladder-leaders, who now have an 8-2 win-loss ratio, were second best for most of the afternoon with a massive second quarter by the hosts providing enough of a buffer to get them home – only just.
The Swifts remain on top of the SSN ladder after eight rounds but now its only by goal percentage ahead of the West Coast Fever who defeated the Melbourne Mavericks at the same venue on Saturday night to also to move to eight wins for the year.
NSW had some consolation in regaining the Sargeant-McKinnis Cup for 2025 (the Vixens needed to win by eight goals or more to retain it after the Swifts’ Round 5 win) but falling to back-to-back losses for the first time means the seven-time Premiers must now regroup ahead of a huge sold-out Derby against the Giants at Ken Rosewall Arena next Sunday.
“I think we need to remind ourselves that we’re still top and that place is earned on what’ve done so far this year,” Akle said afterwards.
“The Vixens were the better team today, no question. Their attack played beautifully, perhaps the best I’ve seen this year, and we didn’t do enough to disrupt them.
“You learn a lot more from a loss than you do a win, but it’s hard work that will turn this around for us.
“We always knew that challenges would come, this is the best league in the world and the margins are very fine – as we saw today.
“Our destiny is in our own hands in the hunt for top spot at the regular season but I want these losses to light a fire in my team.”
The Vixens burst out of the blocks, immediately putting the Swifts on the backfoot.
MVP Vixens attacker Kiera Austin was in good form early while at the other end Jo Weston spearheaded a defensive surge, disrupting the feed into Swifts shooter Grace Nweke. Tight zone pressure saw the ball soaring over the baseline, and the Vixens edged ahead.
An Austin Super Shot was swiftly answered by Helen Housby, keeping NSW in touch, however the home side held an 18–15 lead at quarter-time.
Roared on by a sold-out Melbourne crowd, the Vixens surged ahead in the second term. They were fluent and composed in attack, with Austin and former Swifts Premiership champion Sophie Garbin rediscovering their connection.
In defence the Vixens continued to win crucial ball and stifled the Swifts attack line. By half time the Vixens had stretched their lead to 39–30, leaving NSW with plenty of work to do.
But the visitors responded in the third, chipping away at the margin and setting up a tight finish.
Akle swung the changes, injecting Sophie Fawns to combine with Housby for a potent Super Shot threat.
They claimed the premiership quarter 18–15, but the Vixens still held a six-goal lead heading into the final 15. The Vixens hummed along in the fourth, but alarm bells rang during the Power Five.
Housby sparked a late charge, draining a flurry of Super Shots to drag the Swifts back into contention.
Tension peaked as a crucial turnover cut the margin to two, with the Swifts holding possession.
However Fawns couldn’t convert and was penalised on the rebound for contact. The Vixens clutched possession and ran the clock down to survive and tighten their grip on a Finals spot.
