Recently crowned Suncorp Super Netball champions the Melbourne Vixens have secured the signatures of experienced trio, captain Kate Moloney, and star defenders Jo Weston and Kate Eddy, completing their 2026 roster.
All products of the Victorian pathway, Moloney, Weston and Eddy have played a combined 462 national league matches. They were the top three athletes in the league for minutes played this season, with Moloney and Weston also selected in the 2025-26 Australian Diamonds squad.
The re-signings confirm the Victorian powerhouse will enter season 2026 as reigning champions with an enviable blend of experience and emerging talent, and established connections all over the court.
The announcement also confirms the return of defender Emily Mannix, who sat out the 2025 season following the birth of her daughter Mabel in January, and whose return will mark the only change to the team that claimed a thrilling one-goal Grand Final win in front of a record-breaking 15,000-strong crowd at Rod Laver Arena on Saturday night.
Mannix remained heavily involved with the team throughout the season and has confirmed her intention to return to the court in 2026, further bolstering a defensive unit littered with international-calibre talent.
Midcourter Moloney made her national league debut for the Vixens in 2013 and has become synonymous with the Vixens brand across a decorated career in the navy dress. The 32-year-old had an outstanding season in 2025, ranked first in the league for pickups and claiming her third national league title – her first as sole captain.
Known for her consistency, work rate, and leadership qualities, Moloney has captained or co-captained the club since 2017 and has played a crucial role in establishing the culture of excellence that has seen the Vixens compete in four grand finals in the past six seasons.
Following her debut for the Vixens in 2014, in 2025 Weston became just the second athlete to play 150 games for the club, after Moloney achieved the milestone in 2023. The 31-year-old is a stalwart of the Vixens’ defensive unit, and has demonstrated her versatility across all three defensive positions this season.
Famed for her relentless tagging style, Weston has also starred at international level, including winning gold at the Commonwealth Games in 2022 and Netball World Cup in 2023.
Eddy has found career-best form in 2025, following a 2024 campaign hampered by injury. Having made the wing defence position her own since joining the Vixens ahead of the 2020 season, Eddy’s versatility has proven invaluable with the ability to swing into goal defence and shut down holding or moving attacking styles.
The 28-year-old fan favourite was a Vixens training partner in 2017, before making the move to Sydney for a two-year stint at the NSW Swifts and ultimately returning home to Melbourne to take up a contract with the Vixens.
“We’re thrilled to have retained the services of three of our most experienced athletes in Kate, Jo and Keddy,” said General Manager, High Performance & Pathways Sharelle McMahon.
“What these three bring to our club is so much more than on-court talent – though they each have that in spades. Kate, Jo and Keddy offer invaluable leadership qualities, and a commitment to supporting every member of the team to perform at their best.
“Coming through our Victorian pathway, these athletes are all fantastic examples of what investing in local talent can achieve. We’re really proud to continue building a team around Victorian talent, with exciting young names like Zara Walters and Lily Graham coming through as well.
“As we move into a new era at the Vixens with a new head coach to be announced in the coming weeks, having stability in our squad and retaining such experienced and high calibre athletes was a key priority for us.
“The loyalty and love for the club that athletes like Kate, Jo and Keddy show is so important to us maintaining the Vixens culture that has been established over many years.
“There’s a unique opportunity for our incoming coach to build on a championship year heading into 2026 and beyond – we have a world-class high performance program, a list bursting with talent and established connections, and a group of athletes who live the Vixens ethos we’re so proud of.”
“I’m so proud of what this group has achieved together this year, and I’m excited and grateful to have the opportunity to keep building on it,” said Kate Moloney.
“Leading this team is an incredible privilege I never take for granted – our club is built on amazing people supporting each other to be the best they can be, and I can’t imagine playing netball anywhere else.”
“This has been one of the most incredible years of my career, and while we’re sadly farewelling Simone [McKinnis], I feel very lucky to get to continue on the journey with this team,” said Jo Weston.
“It’s a very special experience to be part of a club with such a strong culture and proud history, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to work in an environment that’s so well set up, and really supports us as athletes to get the best out of ourselves.”
“It’s so special for me to have re-signed as part of this team, and to know we have the chance to keep growing together as a group and see what else we can achieve together,” said Kate Eddy.
“I’m really proud to pull on the Vixens dress every week, and after such an incredible season this year and achieving the fairytale finish for Simone, to know we get to keep pushing ourselves to be even better again next year is really exciting.”
2026 MELBOURNE VIXENS SQUAD
Kiera Austin
Kate Eddy
Rudi Ellis
Sophie Garbin
Lily Graham
Emily Mannix
Kate Moloney
Hannah Mundy
Zara Walters
Jo Weston
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