Liz Watson, Jo Weston, Tegan Philip will have major parts to play in the Vixens’ campaign.
MELBOURNE Vixens coach Simone McKinnis has hailed the “phenomenal” return of star goal attack Tegan Philip as the team had their final pre-season hitout on Sunday ahead of the new Suncorp Super Netball league.
On the comeback trail from a knee reconstruction last year, a super-fit Philip impressed with her movement in her new combination with Malawi recruit Mwai Kumwenda at the State Netball Hockey Centre.
Philip, who injured her knee in a pre-season practice match last year, returns as the oldest player on the Vixens list as part of a new-look goaling division alongside Kumwenda and towering second-year shooter Emma Ryde.
McKinnis said 28-year-old Philip, entering her eighth year with the Vixens, had passed every hurdle in her comeback to date and impressed with her physical conditioning.
“She has been phenomenal in the way that she has gone about things and she’s in fantastic shape,’’ McKinnis said.
“It has been step-by-step for Tegan and building up with that match play and it has been important, particularly in these last couple of weeks, that she’s been playing consecutive quarters because it’s not just the physical, it’s the mental as well, pushing out those quarters.
Tegan Philip missed all of last season with a knee injury.Source:News Corp Australia
“She did that last night and again today and that was really important for us.’’
The Vixens open their season against new cross-town rivals the Magpies on February 18 at Hisense Arena in a blockbuster start to the new eight-team Australian competition.
In their final warm-up games at the weekend against the Adelaide Thunderbirds and NSW Swifts, the Vixens — missing defenders Jo Weston and Emily Mannix on Diamonds’ duty — emerged with two wins from three matches.
They lost their final game against the Swifts on Sunday as McKinnis took the opportunity to mix up her combinations.
“It was a hard weekend for us, in terms of the backing up of the matches,’’ McKinnis said.
“So putting ourselves under those conditions, it really exposes where the weaknesses are, so that was good for us.’’
McKinnis was confident her team would be ready for the Magpies.
“I’m confident that we will have done the best preparation that we possibly could and it’s my job as a coach that the team feels prepared going into that game,’’ she said.
“We’ve got two weeks and we’ve got to make it count in what we do after this weekend.’’
The Vixens are expected to make an announcement on their captaincy this week after the departure of former skipper Madi Robinson to the Magpies.
Last year’s vice-captain Kate Moloney is expected to be in the leadership group mix.
