Melbourne Vixens: History, Titles and Team Profile

The Melbourne Vixens are a professional netball club based in Melbourne, Victoria, in southeast Australia. They represent the state of Victoria and currently compete in Suncorp Super Netball, Australia’s top-tier women’s netball league. Formed from a merger of two earlier Victorian sides, the Vixens have grown into one of the country’s most successful franchises, winning national titles in two different competitions. This guide explains where the club came from, what it has achieved, where it plays and who the key figures are.

Who are the Melbourne Vixens?

The Vixens are the elite representative team run by Netball Victoria. Netball is a fast, non-contact team sport played by two teams of seven, where players are restricted to certain areas of the court by their position. If you are new to the game, our overview of the seven netball positions explains how the roles fit together.

As a full-time professional franchise, the Vixens draw players from across Victoria and beyond, and have supplied many athletes to the Australian national team, known as the Diamonds. The club is known simply by its nickname, the Vixens.

Formation and the ANZ Championship years

The Melbourne Vixens were established in 2007 when Netball Victoria merged its two former Commonwealth Bank Trophy teams, the Melbourne Phoenix and the Melbourne Kestrels. The new franchise debuted in 2008 as a foundation member of the trans-Tasman ANZ Championship, a competition that ran between Australian and New Zealand clubs.

Debut season (2008)

Coached by Julie Hoornweg, the Vixens finished their inaugural campaign in fifth place and narrowly missed the finals. It was a solid start that hinted at the success to come the following year.

First title (2009)

In 2009 the Vixens enjoyed a breakthrough season under Hoornweg. Co-captained by Sharelle McMahon and Bianca Chatfield, they won 12 of their 13 regular-season matches to finish as minor premiers (top of the ladder). They then beat the Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic in the major semi-final before defeating the Adelaide Thunderbirds 54–46 in the grand final to claim their first ANZ Championship crown.

Runners-up and a second crown (2012–2014)

The Vixens remained a regular finalist. In 2012 they again topped the ladder but lost a tight grand final 41–38 to the Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic. In 2013 they reached the finals and finished third. Then, in 2014, under head coach Simone McKinnis, they claimed both the minor premiership and the title, beating the Queensland Firebirds 53–42 in the grand final for their second ANZ Championship. The ANZ Championship concluded after the 2016 season.

The Suncorp Super Netball era

In 2017 the Australian clubs left the trans-Tasman league to form a new domestic competition, Suncorp Super Netball. The Vixens have been a mainstay of the league ever since and are among its most competitive sides. You can read more about the format in our guide to Suncorp Super Netball.

2020 premiership

The Vixens won their first Super Netball title in 2020, defeating the West Coast Fever 66–64 in the grand final. The championship, delivered under Simone McKinnis, confirmed the club’s transition into a genuine title contender in the new competition.

2025 premiership

In 2025 the Vixens produced one of the club’s most memorable seasons. After a shaky start, they surged through the finals and beat the West Coast Fever again — this time 59–58 in a sold-out grand final at Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne. The win was a fitting farewell for Simone McKinnis, who had already announced she would step down after 13 years in charge, and for captain Kate Moloney, who lifted the trophy in her ninth season leading the side.

Recent seasons

The Vixens have reached several grand finals in the Super Netball era, including consecutive appearances into 2026. In the 2026 grand final they fell to the Adelaide Thunderbirds under new head coach Di Honey, who took over the team following McKinnis’s departure. The club remains one of the league’s most consistent finalists.

Home venue

The Vixens play their home games at John Cain Arena, a multi-purpose indoor venue within the Melbourne Park precinct. The arena has been the club’s home base since its 2008 debut and has been known over the years as Hisense Arena and, more recently, Melbourne Arena before adopting its current name. For marquee fixtures and finals the club has also used the larger Rod Laver Arena and, on occasion, the nearby Margaret Court Arena.

Coaches and captains

Three head coaches have shaped the club. Julie Hoornweg led the Vixens from their 2008 debut and guided the 2009 title. Simone McKinnis then oversaw a long and successful era from 2012 to 2025, winning three championships (2014, 2020 and 2025). Di Honey took charge from the 2026 season.

On the leadership side, Sharelle McMahon and Bianca Chatfield co-captained the early sides, with Chatfield continuing as captain into the mid-2010s. Kate Moloney has been a long-serving captain through the Super Netball era, leading the team to the 2020 and 2025 titles.

Notable figures

Sharelle McMahon

McMahon is one of the most celebrated athletes in the club’s history. A goal attack and former Australian captain, she co-captained the Vixens and was central to the 2009 championship. Her playing career was interrupted by a ruptured Achilles tendon in 2011; she returned to the court in 2013 before announcing her retirement that year.

Liz Watson

Watson made her professional debut for the Vixens in 2014 and developed into one of the world’s leading midcourters at wing attack and centre. She was part of the 2020 premiership and later captained the club before departing ahead of the 2024 season. She has since gone on to captain the Australian Diamonds, and remains one of the most prominent players to have come through the Vixens.

Kate Moloney

A versatile midcourt player, Moloney has been an integral part of the Vixens for well over a decade and one of the club’s longest-serving captains. She led the side to its 2020 and 2025 Super Netball titles and has also represented the Australian national team.

Rivalries and community

As one of Australia’s leading clubs, the Vixens have built strong rivalries within Super Netball, with fixtures against sides such as the New South Wales Swifts and the Queensland Firebirds regularly drawing big crowds. Melbourne derbies against the newer Melbourne Mavericks have added a fresh local edge in recent seasons.

Off the court, the club runs programs aimed at growing participation, supporting grassroots netball and connecting with its supporters. Through these initiatives the Vixens actively engage fans and the broader community across Victoria.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

When were the Melbourne Vixens founded?

The franchise was established in 2007 through a merger of the Melbourne Phoenix and Melbourne Kestrels, and made its competitive debut in the 2008 ANZ Championship.

How many premierships have the Melbourne Vixens won?

The Vixens have won four national titles: the ANZ Championship in 2009 and 2014, and Suncorp Super Netball in 2020 and 2025.

Where do the Melbourne Vixens play their home games?

Their main home venue is John Cain Arena at Melbourne Park, which they have used since their debut in 2008. Larger fixtures are sometimes played at Rod Laver Arena.

Who coaches the Melbourne Vixens?

Di Honey took over as head coach from the 2026 season, following Simone McKinnis, who led the club from 2012 to 2025 and won three championships.

Who is the captain of the Melbourne Vixens?

Kate Moloney has been the club’s long-serving captain through the Super Netball era, leading the team to its 2020 and 2025 titles.