The 2012 Melbourne Vixens season saw Melbourne Vixens compete in the 2012 ANZ Championship. With a team captained by Bianca Chatfield and featuring Madison Browne, Julie Corletto and Geva Mentor, Vixens finished the season as minor premiers. In the major semi-final they defeated Northern Mystics 56âÂÂ50. This was the first ever netball match held at Rod Laver Arena. However they lost the grand final 41âÂÂ38 to Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic and finished the season as runners-up. After five years as head coach of Vixens, Julie Hoornweg announced her retirement at the end of the 2012 season.
On 2, 3 and 4 March, Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic hosted a pre-season tournament at the TECT Arena in Tauranga. For the first time since 2008, all ten ANZ Championship teams competed at the same tournament. The ten teams were divided into two pools of five. Teams within each pool played each other once and the winners qualified for the final. Melbourne Vixens won their pool but subsequently lost the final 50âÂÂ30 to Queensland Firebirds.
Melbourne Vixens finished the regular season as minor premiers. After winning their first six matches, they lost to New South Wales Swifts in Round 7. They then lost three successive matches, another to Swifts and one to Northern Mystics. On 20 May in Round 8, against Mystics, Vixens were undone by Mystics defender Anna Harrison and her Harrison Hoist. Harrison made several vital blocks while being hoisted rugby union lineout-style by her defensive partners, helping Mystics secure a 49âÂÂ45 win. However, Vixens successively claimed the minor premiership with three wins in the final three rounds.
Melbourne Vixens received a bye.