‘Up for the challenge’: Vixens’ unbeaten run under threat as Fever seek GF redemption

It’s taken until Round 7, but we finally get the Super Netball grand final rematch as the Melbourne Vixens travel to Perth to take on the West Coast Fever.

The Vixens are sitting pretty at the top of the table, unbeaten after six games in the perfect start to their premiership defence.

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But the Fever are quietly building at 5-1 in third, behind the Adelaide Thunderbirds.

Speaking ahead of Sunday’s crucial match up, Fever coach Dan Ryan said there was no greater challenge than taking on an unbeaten outfit.

“Going up against a team that hasn’t lost yet is a great challenge for any team and we certainly would love to be the first,” Ryan said.

“And I think more than anything, whenever there’s a Vixens or a Fever battle, it brings out the best in both teams and the quality of the game and the skill and the intensity is always very, very high.

“It’s a great moment in the season for us to find our next level and to be really in tune for 60 minutes.

“We’re ready to take that next step and we’re up for the challenge.”

But the Fever could still be without star midcourter Alice Teague-Neeld, who continues to battle back soreness.

Ryan admitted Teague-Neeld was a “day by day” prospect after initially suffering the injury back in Diamonds camp in January.

“Backs are tricky and they can flare up in the most innocuous of moments or occasions,” he said.

“We want to make sure that she’s robust enough and feeling ready … we certainly won’t rush her back if she’s not ready.

“It’s been a tough little one for her to kind of navigate through. But we’ll keep managing her as best we can.

“She’s just got back soreness and stiffness (but) it’s in a different position to where it was initially when she injured it back in January at Diamonds camp. So it’s a tricky one and you really just have to again be very patient with it.

“Day by day has made some good progress since the weekend so hopefully we’re heading in the right direction.”

While the Vixens have their premiership squad intact, the Fever go in without three players from that heartbreaking one-goal grand final defeat – Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard (maternity leave), Sunday Aryang (ACL) and Shanice Beckford.

“We’re a very different team to what we were last year,” Ryan said.

“So it’s club v club, but not necessarily team v team. But there’s always added motivation (against Vixens).

“Playing the Vixens demands the very best of you and I think that’s what we’re up for this weekend.”

The Fever will take on the Vixens in the final match of the round from 4pm AEST on Sunday.

FIREBIRDS SET SIGHTS ON TOP FOUR

The Queensland Firebirds haven’t played in Super Netball finals since 2018 – but they’ve got their sights set on jumping into the top four this weekend.

The Firebirds currently sit one win off the fourth-placed Sunshine Coast Lightning.

Should the Lightning lose to the Thunderbirds Saturday night, that could put the Firebirds into that prized spot with victory over the Melbourne Mavericks on Sunday.

“We can’t get ahead of ourselves when we’ve just had a couple of wins … we’ve still got work to do,” coach Kiri Wills said.

“It’s been a while since we had ourselves in a position where we could be pushing our way into the top four.

“We’re really excited about the opportunity.

“It does show how tight this competition can be.”

The Firebirds have never won a Super Netball final – losing their only chance back in 2018 to rivals the Lightning.

This weekend, they’ll take on a Mavericks outfit hurting from their woeful start in the loss to West Coast Fever.

But Wills says her side is ready for the physicality that the Mavs will bring.

“Mavericks certainly have a brand that they play and an energy and attitude… we can’t wait to get in there and contest against that,” she said.

“I think they lived up to their reputation as the most physical team in the competition… but I have full confidence in the umpires that if anything crosses the line like repetitive infringing, forceful contacts or anything careless that the umpires will take care of that for us. We can get on with having a good, hard skilful game of netball (smiles).”

The Firebirds could welcome back international duo Maddy Gordon and Imogen Allison who both missed the 11-goal win over the NSW Swifts.

“We’ve got to tick off a couple more boxes – they are looking quite good,” Wills said.

The Firebirds will host the Mavericks from 2pm AEST on Sunday.

DERBY STAKES EVEN HIGHER

It’s not often it’s last vs. second-last in a NSW derby, but that’s where both the Swifts and Giants are sitting almost at the halfway point of the 2026 season.

The Swifts have just one win to their name, while the Giants remain the only winless side in the competition – albeit coming close in the thrilling loss to powerhouse Adelaide Thunderbirds.

Swifts coach Briony Akle lamented her side’s ill-discipline in last week’s loss to the Queensland Firebirds.

“The penalty count in the second half… can’t win ball back if we’re out of play,” she said.

“Probably tripled our penalty count in the second half.

“We’ve let ourselves down.”

But Akle refused to believe their season was over in 2026 – after their straight sets finals exit in 2025.

“Just getting that winning feeling back … I think we just need that one win to get over the line for our season to launch,” she said.

“We’ve been training really well … you don’t forget how to play netball week to week. I think it’s a confidence thing and just a discipline thing from our end.

“You can’t take the foot off.

“It’s not an excuse, but we’re missing Helen Housby and Sarah Klau – internationals that probably have 450 games under their belt.

“It is what it is at the moment.

“(But) you don’t walk away – you stick with it and we come back again.”

Statistics show the Swifts have the worst defensive end in the league, coughing up more than 71 goals on average per game this year.

But they are taking on the worst attack, according to the stats, with the Giants averaging just 52 goals a game this year.

The Sydney derby will open Round 7, with the Swifts and Giants going head to head from 5pm AEST on Saturday.