Vixens beat Swifts by one goal to reach grand final

The Swifts were in pole position to reach the decider after building a 10-goal lead at the final break of their preliminary final at Qudos Bank Arena on Sunday.

But the Vixens, determined to extend retiring coach Simone McKinnis's reign by one more week, sprung to life and built a 65-64 lead.

Swifts star Grace Nweke levelled the scores at 65-65, before Vixens goalshooter Sophie Garbin returned serve to restore the visitors' one-goal lead.

Housby then had the chance to send the game into extra time when she received the ball in the circle in the dying seconds, but sent it over.

The Vixens face West Coast in Saturday's grand final and will enjoy home-court advantage at Rod Laver Arena under Super Netball's controversial policy of selling hosting rights for the decider.

"They threw everything at it and they backed themselves," McKinnis said.

"All you need to do is get one little look in, one ball or turnover, and that just helped spark them."

Vixens shooter Garbin was on song with 46 goals from 47 attempts, while captain Kate Moloney finished with 24 goal assists and 35 feeds.

The result is a sucker punch for the Swifts, who were searching for redemption after a disastrous 77-45 semi-final mauling to West Coast.

"Mentally, the team have copped it all week. They know that they should have been better," Swifts coach Briony Akle said.

"They've had to dig deep mentally to pull themselves out and turn up today.

"Whilst they can be hard on themselves around those last two minutes, the 58 minutes leading into that from being 32 goals down against Fever last week is an extraordinary turnaround that shouldn't be taken lightly."

Swifts centre and co-captain Paige Hadley's impact was immediately felt on return from a foot injury, as Nweke rediscovered her form in attack with 53 goals from 58 attempts.

The visitors were cleaner and took their chances better in a frantic opening term to establish a 15-12 lead at the first break.

But the home side wrestled back momentum when Nweke pulled off seven consecutive goals, launching the Swifts ahead 31-29 in the second quarter.

Nweke's attacking work was complemented by wing defence Sharni Lambden, who worked hard to nullify her opponent Zara Walters.

Vixens coach McKinnis was forced to turn to the bench in a bid to free up their attack, handing Tara Watson her Super Netball debut in place of Walters.

McKinnis again shifted the magnets when the Swifts burst to a six-goal lead midway through the third term, moving Diamonds star Jo Weston into wing defence and bringing Kate Eddy into goal defence.

But NSW rolled with the punches and broke out to a 51-41 lead, before the Vixens came home in a flurry.

Australian Associated Press