Head coach Julie Hoornweg Main venue Hisense Arena | Captain Bianca Chatfield Wins–losses 10–3 | |
Asst. coach Eloise Southby-Halbish & Simone McKinnis Vice-captains Madison Browne
Chelsey Tregear | ||
The 2012 Melbourne Vixens season is the fifth year that the Melbourne Vixens are contesting the ANZ Championship. After the preseason tournament in early March, the Vixens started their 2012 campaign on 1 April against the Queensland Firebirds in Brisbane. Julie Hoornweg continues her role as head coach of the Vixens, while former international player Eloise Southby-Halbish has joined her as assistant coach. Bianca Chatfield was appointed as captain for the 2012 season, with Madison Browne and Chelsey Tregear as vice-captains. All home games will be held at Hisense Arena in Melbourne.
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Offseason
The Vixens narrowly missed out on a finals spot in their 2011 season, finishing fifth. During the offseason, veteran defender Julie Corletto requested a release from the final year of her contract with the Vixens, with news reports suggesting a possible move to the Queensland Firebirds. Ultimately Corletto's request was denied by Vixens management, and has remained with Melbourne in 2012. The Vixens finalised their 2012 roster by 1 November 2011, with only two changes to their lineup: Renae Hallinan transferred to the Adelaide Thunderbirds and shooter Kathleen Knott was not signed. Coming into the Vixens roster for 2012 is Kara Richards, who returns from a year at the Thunderbirds, and former CBT shooter Karyn Howarth (née Bailey), who makes her ANZ Championship debut in 2012.
Injured co-captain Sharelle McMahon spent the offseason recovering from an Achilles injury, and announced that she was returning in 2012. But before the start of the pre-season tournament, McMahon announced she was pregnant with her first child and withdrew from the team. 2009 player Ashlee Howard was called in to replace McMahon. Julie Hoornweg continues as head coach of the Vixens. She is joined by former international player Eloise Southby-Halbish, who signed on as the team's assistant coach. The Vixens also conducted a review of leadership roles within the team: after sharing the captaincy role with Sharelle McMahon, Bianca Chatfield was named sole captain for the Vixens in 2012, with Madison Browne and Chelsey Tregear as vice-captains.
Pre-season
All ten ANZ Championship teams will compete at the official pre-season tournament, which will be held on 2–4 March at TECT Arena in Tauranga, New Zealand.