2024 season review: Fever

By Stephanie Smarrelli

The West Coast Fever started their season on an undefeated trot winning six games straight. 

But a midseason slump interrupted the Fever dream. 

And it was a case of déjà vu for Dan Ryan and his group. Despite a change in personnel ahead of the 2024 season, the Fever only managed to finish third, for the second season in a row. Ultimately, they went on to miss out on a Grand Final appearance by the skin of their teeth, one goal keeping them out of another big dance. 

For the most part, Fever’s season was a huge success but the Preliminary Final ‘what ifs?’ will keep the side up at night for another year. 
 

BEST WIN 

Fever were dominant throughout the year, while some may have written them off in the pre-season with the number of changes to their lineup, the side cemented their position among the league’s top teams early. 

A 25-goal win against a star-studded Sunshine Coast Lightning put the entire competition on edge. 

But things really hit Fever pitch for the green army in Round 5 against the Firebirds. 

Fever defeated the Queensland-based team by a jaw-dropping 36 goals. 

The usual suspect, Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard led the way in the goal circle with 62 goals at 97 per cent accuracy. 

Alice Teague-Neeld called the shots in the midcourt while the side’s defensive unit ignited RAC Arena every time they gained ball in defence. 

Twenty-one times to be exact. 

It was a full four-quarter performance from Fever who sent the Firebirds home with plenty of lessons to look back on.  

MVP 
 
There were a handful of Fever players vying for position of MVP with Sunday Aryang and Kadie-Ann Dehaney’s prolific seasons almost stealing them the coveted position. 

And Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard controlled the shots as usual. 

But it was Alice Teague-Neeld whose dynamic movements and pinpoint feeds enabled Fowler-Nembhard to slot goal after goal and connected the defence to the attack. 

This is the second year in a row, we’re naming ATN as MVP for the Fever, poised and controlled when the side lost their way Teague-Neeld was there to steady the ship. 

Second in the league for goal assists and feeds, Teague-Neeld was consistently best-place on the circle edge. 

Not only did she control the outside of the goal circle but when tapped on the shoulder by head coach Dan Ryan she swung into her other position of goal attack. 

Her season caught the attention of Origin Diamonds head coach Stacey Marinkovich who called Teague-Neeld into the Diamonds camp as an invitee. 
 

FOCUS AREAS 

Fever had a lot going for them in 2024, they scored the most goals of any team and topped the league for Nissan Net Points, but their midseason slump cost them a spot in the top two and potentially a Grand Final appearance as did a third quarter slump in the Preliminary Final. 

It feels a bit tough to call a side out for losing three games in a season of 14, particularly when the top two finished their season on the same number of losses but that’s the reality of how tight the competition is. 

If they’d been able to rally just one more win, they would’ve been in prime position to go through to the Grand Final and avoided the dreaded Preliminary Final. 

But they found themselves fighting for their life in a do-or-die match at the last hurdle for the second year in a row and lost by the same narrow margin. 

Every moment mattered against the Vixens in the Preliminary Final, Fever finished the match with an extra two general play turnovers that will haunt them. 

The side will need to take a close look at those losses, particularly their loss to the Firebirds who they defeated by 36 goals a month prior to determine why their performance dropped so much. 

Fever are very much in a premiership window and if the side can work on withstanding the heat of a tight match and keeping their form consistent throughout the season then 2025 might be their year.