Geva Mentor left Melbourne for the Sunshine Coast and a longer contract once the personal consequences of the Vixens' youth-focused intentions became clear. On Saturday night, the veteran defender nominated by rival coach Julie Fitzgerald as "the form player of the competition" will lead the Lightning into the inaugural Super Netball grand final against the rampaging Giants in Brisbane.
So much for the fairytale of the young establishment team upstaging the expansion clubs and defying the pre-season pessimism to sweep to glory.
Julie Fitzgerald's Giants are just one win away from a Super Netball grand final against Sunshine Coast.
Veteran Giants defender Bec Bulley is chasing a netball championship with a fourth club.
Vixens legends Sharelle McMahon and Bianca Chatfield have backed the minor premiers to bounce back in their preliminary final against the Giants on Saturday.
This weekend the Vixens meet the Giants for a place in the grand final. The danger for the Vixens is they have been exposed as not having enough big-game players to take charge in pressure situations.
The Giants have produced an extraordinary final assault to overcome Collingwood Magpies 52-51 in a Super Netball minor semi-final nailbiter on Saturday night.
Sunshine Coast are through to the Super Netball grand final after upsetting minor premiers Melbourne Vixens with a 56-55 win at Margaret Court Arena.
As the Magpies prepare for a Super Netball semi-final showdown with the Giants, Shae Brown reflects on her journey from midcourt to the goal circle.
The Giants expect the Magpies to bring their best in Saturday's Super Netball elimination final.
The first of just two losses this season for the Melbourne Vixens on their way to the minor premiership became a critical signpost in the pursuit of the Super Netball championship now within sight. It was round two, away, against the Sunshine Coast Lightning, and a six-goal defeat that vice-captain Liz Watson regards as the catalyst for much of what has followed.
Kristina Brice has been a second-half superstar for the Giants en route to Saturday's elimination final against the Magpies.
The only numbers that concern Madi Robinson on Super Netball's inaugural semi-final weekend are the scoreboard digits she hopes will be sufficient to extend the Magpies' season for at least another week.
They consistently score more goals than anyone else. They consistently score more goals from their centre pass. They consistently punish teams who cough up possession. But can they win the Championship?
Swifts coach Rob Wright has turned his attention to retaining his playing roster after their season ended on Saturday.
Collingwood have survived a big second-half scare to down the Adelaide Thunderbirds 49-47 in a Super Netball thriller at Titanium Security Arena.
Melbourne Vixens have claimed the inaugural Super Netball minor premiership with a 68-42 thrashing of West Coast Fever at Perth Arena.
The Giants will play the Magpies next weekend in an elimination final after losing by a point to Sunshine Coast.
The Queensland Firebirds have made it two wins in two weeks in Sydney after downing the Swifts by 19 points.
EON sports, the digital 24-7 sports radio network, has been forced to abandon local programming due to cost issues.