Why shooting star Sophie Garbin’s arrival has changed the game for Kiera Austin, Melbourne Vixens

Speculation and chatter “behind the scenes” was swirling back home in Australia regarding contracts for the next Super Netball season amid the players’ protracted CPA dispute.

Garbin was searching for a new club after the demise of the Collingwood franchise and she had a simple question for her Australian teammate.

“I remember being in Zimbabwe after the World Cup and that’s when all the movement talk was happening behind the scenes,” Austin said.

“She sent me a message and just said, ‘Where are you playing next year?’

“And I said, ‘At the Vixens. Please come.’

“The fact that it all happened was just really exciting.

“I have admired Soph’s game for such a long time … so I am stoked for her to be getting out there and carving it up for us.”

Whether or not it was Austin’s cheeky two-word pitch that helped sway Garbin, both the goalers are benefiting from the outcome.

The blossoming partnership between goal attack Austin and goal shooter Garbin in the circle has been one of the highlights in the Vixens’ impressive 2024 campaign.

After the Vixens’ Malawian shooter Mwai Kumwenda said she would miss the season after announcing her pregnancy in February, Garbin has slotted in effortlessly at goal shooter and wasted little time in building her connection with Austin.

Now in her third season at the Vixens, Austin felt Garbin and herself complemented one another in the goal circle and were helping each other’s games grow.

“It has been heaps of fun, having Soph back there,” Austin, 26, said.

“I was talking to her the other day and we kind of had similar journeys. We both got signed at relatively the same age and kind of sat behind the superstars and then played out of position a little bit.

“I think for her she is just excited to be where she is quite confident in that goal shooting role.

“She can swing out to goal attack if she needs to but she is such a dominant force in there and you can see how confident she is and just how happy she is playing.

“So it has made my job really easy. I am happy to feed her and then if she is getting doubled for myself to just enter the circle.

“Each week I am learning what I can add to my game and to really bring Sophie’s strengths out and she is doing the exact same thing (for me).

“So, it is not just a one (way) street. You will probably see one week she will be dominating under the post and then the next week I will take a little bit more of the load.

“That has been a really great dynamic in our partnership that we can bring each other’s strengths forward. I think we are just enjoying every game we get to play together.”

The pair was among six Vixens named in the extended 2024-25 Diamonds squad last week, along with captain Kate Moloney, defender Jo Weston, midcourter Hannah Mundy and goal keeper Emily Mannix, who was included as an invitee.

Their connection with the Vixens also augurs well for the national team.

“It helps that way, getting to build that relationship week in and week out, and that applies to Hannah and Kate as well,” Austin said.

“We had a little taste of what it was like to play together at the World Cup (last year) but other than that at Diamonds, we haven’t had a whole bunch of time actually playing games together, mostly in training.

“We are just constantly asking what we need from each other and hopefully it keeps blossoming into a really nice combination.”

Austin, the MVP in last year’s World Cup final against England in Cape Town, believed her own game had thrived since joining the Vixens.

The former Giant is one of the league’s top super shots in third place behind Helen Housby and Sophie Dwyer.

“I have loved my time at the Vixens,” Austin said before the team’s King’s Birthday derby against the Melbourne Mavericks.

“I think (coach) Simone McKinnis has been such an incredible coach for me and (assistant coach) Di Honey in the attack end.

“They are so straight to the point, they will tell you when you are doing things well and then also when you need to have things to work on and as athletes you need to be able to hear that and just take it and run with it.

“I have loved my time here and there is always something new to work on, which is the best thing. You never want to get to a place where you are stagnant and you are not enjoying yourself.

“Every time I come into training there is something new to be excited about, something new to work on and I think the players around me have really encouraged my growth and same with the coaches. They have just been immense in challenging me to get better every week.”

The Vixens have lost just one game this season and Austin has every confidence the team can continue its charge towards the finals to challenge for the Super Netball crown.

“I really believe that this is a year that we can put our foot down and go the whole way,” Austin said.

“My first year at Vixens kind of felt the same way and then we kind of plateaued midway through.

“It has been a real big focus for us to not go too far ahead and only worry about each game as it comes.

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“I think that is such a crucial part of winning premierships. There is no point in wondering who you are playing next week when you are playing the top-of-the-table teams because every team is going to be fierce and want to come out and take it to you.

“We have seen a couple of upsets in the last round, so you never really know what is going to happen in the Super Netball league.

“We would love to go all the way and I think we have got all the players there to do it.”