Melbourne Vixens downed by Queensland Firebirds in netball preliminary final Melbourne Vixens' Sherelle McMahon hits the floor after a collision with Laura Geitz of the Firebirds during their preliminary final. MELBOURNE Vixens have failed in their bid to reach a second consecutive trans-Tasman grand final after falling short in a spirited final-quarter comeback in Sunday's preliminary final against Queensland Firebirds. After earning the double chance, the Vixens bowed out in consecutive finals games with their 50-46 loss to the Firebirds at the State Netball Hockey Centre. The Firebirds will now play the Thunderbirds in next Sunday's ANZ Championship grand final in Adelaide. After trailing by nine goals late in the third quarter, the Vixens staged a last-quarter fightback to get within one goal before the Firebirds steadied to set up their grand final clash. Champion goaler Sharelle McMahon (13 goals from 17 attempts) played a superb match for the Vixens and waved to the crowd as she carried son Xavier on her hip after the match, raising the question about whether she will play on. Shunted from their normal home venue, Hisense Arena, because of Disney on Ice, there was to be no fairytale for the Vixens this year after their grand final loss to Waikato/Bay of Plenty Magic last season. The Firebirds were led by a dominant shooting display from Romelda Aiken (37 from 42), while captain Laura Geitz was also strong in defence. Karyn Howarth (23/28) top scored for the Vixens before she was taken off late in the third quarter by Tegan Caldwell (10/11), who was strong in the final quarter. The Vixens turned to McMahon at goal attack after just one quarter in last week's major semi-final loss to the Thunderbirds in Adelaide to spark the team after Caldwell was shut down early. Today, McMahon got the starting nod in the position in which she made her name ahead of Caldwell, partnering goal shooter Howarth. With a grand final berth on the line it was a scratchy start from both teams, but McMahon was right in the action early as she created plenty of opportunities for Howarth under the ring. At the other end, goal keeper Geva Mentor worked hard to make a statement against Firebirds' star Romelda Aiken early, eating up any stray passes towards the competition's second-highest goal scorer as the Vixens set up a 13-10 lead at quarter time. The Vixens scored the first goal of the second quarter to stretch their lead to four before Aiken nailed four straight goals to level the contest again. With the Firebirds threatening, a brilliant McMahon lifted her game a gear as she worked tirelessly in attack and defensively through the midcourt to keep up the Vixens' fight. Such was her work rate, she looked exhausted by the end of the quarter. The Firebirds took a one-goal lead into the half-time break, but McMahon's performance prompted a change in the opposition line-up with Jacinta Messer replacing Demelza McCloud at goal defence. It didn't take long for the momentum to swing the Firebirds in the second quarter, with the Vixens space hard to find for the Vixens in attack and Howarth struggling against Firebirds goal keeper Laura Geitz. Down by seven goals late in the quarter, coach Simone McKinnis took Howarth off, moved McMahon into goal shooter and Caldwell on at goal attack in a bid to out-run the Firebirds' defence with their mobile attack. The move worked. After trailing the Firebirds by eight goals at three-quarter time, the Vixens rallied early in the last quarter with Caldwell making an impact and some spirited defence from Mentor and Chatfield slashing the margin. The Firebirds switched up their defence again, bringing McLeod back on, to try and stop the charge. Aiken scored the last three goals of the match to seal the win.