Taking on the world’s best goal shooter is no easy feat – but a “possessed” Jo Weston and a “like superglue” Rudi Ellis were more than up to the task in Saturday’s thrilling grand final win.
The Melbourne Vixens defensive duo proved game changers for their side in the 59-58 premiership victory on Saturday night.
Ellis and Weston were the only Vixens not to register a single turnover in the high-pressure contest – and they were the only two Vixens to snare intercepts for their side.
Ellis would finish with three gains while Weston was on top of any loose ball, claiming an equal team-high four pickups.
Weston was so impressive, Fox Netball’s Cath Cox described her as appearing “possessed”.
“Jo was just amazing – some of those balls, just seeing it,” Vixens coach Simone McKinnis praised post-match.
“It was like she was possessed.
“It was the loose balls, it was the work rate – I thought she was incredible.”
And there was plenty of praise aimed at Ellis too for her performance to hold Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard to just 51 goals, and force her into three turnovers.
“You can’t accuse Rudi Ellis of doing nothing – she’s on the body, she’s like superglue,” Cox said.
The result meant Ellis spent plenty of time on the floor in a physical tussle, but post-match the defender was all smiles.
“I think she’s a different beast this year – she’s been incredible,” Ellis said of her former Fever teammate Fowler-Nembhard.
“So it was a very tough, tough match against her.
“Just so glad to come away with the win.”
Weston meantime was wiping away tears as she spoke after the win.
“I just feel on top of the world. I can’t believe we won, oh my God,” she told Fox Netball.
“I’m going to start crying.
“After that (win against the Thunderbirds in the do-or-die minor semi final) we had this real belief we could do anything.”
Diamonds coach Stacey Marinkovich was not surprised by Weston’s efforts which would have gone close to MVP honours.
“Joey is a workhorse,” she praised.
“She doesn’t always get the intercepts but she puts the pressure on.
“She’s just this person who yaps at your heels all the time.”
The defensive performance no doubt leaves plenty of questions over why Ellis wasn’t included in the Diamonds squad announced late last month.
Ellis became Diamond 192 last year after she enjoyed a meteoric rise into the Australian ranks.
But in 2025, she’s been overlooked with the likes of young Lightning defender Ash Ervin given the nod for the upcoming international season in October.
Regardless of the Australian honours, Weston and Ellis were at their brutal best as they outfoxed the Fever and Fowler-Nembhard.
Vixens coach Simone McKinnis loved what she saw from her defence end – but admits there was a moment during the week she was unsure how they’d go off the short six-day break.
“We had one training session (heading into the decider) because it was a shorter week for us and we had captain’s run (on Friday),” she revealed.
“I actually was a little bit worried because there was a fair bit that went on Wednesday. That was our one session – it was ‘this is what we’re doing, how we’re doing it’.
“I did leave that session a little bit worried – I felt it was quite a lot of information.
“What I love about the group is they go and digest it, process it in their own ways.
“I knew they felt prepared and had clarity around it – I knew they could do it.
“Ultimately, they believed they could do it as well.
“Yes, I thought Rudi and Jo were outstanding but I also thought the work of Keddy (Kate Eddy), Kate (Moloney) even Kiera (Austin) and Zara (Walters) across that transverse was the key for us.
“At different times of the game I was watching like wow! That’s really good. You could see the pressure. That was one of our objectives – put them under pressure.”
The victory becomes Ellis’ second premiership win – after claiming the 2022 medal with the West Coast Fever, while for Weston it’s title number three (including the Vixens’ 2014 ANZ Championship decider).
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