It was almost a grand final for the battling Magpies, who were desperate for a win to keep their fading finals hopes alive. But the Fever were too clinical, too strong defensively and star shooter Jhanielle Fowler was too dominant for Collingwood to press a serious claim.
There were stars all over the court for the visiting side, with Nat Medhurst (30 assists) and Verity Charles (24 assists) providing tremendous service to Fowler (62/66) while Nissan MVP Courtney Bruce was a rock in defence with four intercepts and three rebounds.
The Magpies needed to start with urgency and did, with their ball movement opening up a 6-4 lead while their defensive pressure also forced a turnover off Jhanielle Fowler.
Cracks began to appear, though, with April Brandley missing an intercept opportunity and Erin Bell losing the handle on a pass, which allowed the Fever to turn a two-goal deficit into a two-goal advantage.
It was a window that West Coast seized upon, with the Fever locking down defensively, forcing eight turnovers and closing out the quarter 16-11.
Erin Bell was the big off-season recruit for Collingwood, but she was benched for Alice Teague-Neeld after the first quarter after struggling to retain possession and missing three shots on goal from six attempts.
The Magpies brought pace and a direct attack to their ball movement in the second quarter, which allowed them to keep within reach of the Fever. Midway through the quarter Collingwood had outscored the Fever 8-7 for the term, prompting a West Coast timeout.
It was tough work for the Magpies, though, as every turnover or error was swiftly punished by a well-drilled Fever outfit that was soon back out in front by seven goals – a margin the visitors held until half-time.
The Magpies made a big change to open the third quarter, replacing the in-form Ash Brazill with Shae Brown after Ingrid Colyer terrorised the wing defence in the first half.
Any hopes of that generating an immediate impact quickly vanished as the Fever stormed out on a 6-1 to open the quarter to gain complete control of the match.
The changes came thick and fast for the Magpies as they desperately scrapped to avoid watching the match slide away. But it was the Fever who went into three-quarter time leading 53-40, leaving Collingwood with a mountain to climb.
The Magpies fought hard until the final whistle and denied the Fever a bonus point for the final quarter, but the result was already beyond doubt.
Q1: Magpies 11 v Fever 16
Q2: Magpies 14 v Fever 16
Q3: Magpies 15 v Fever 21
Q4: Magpies 17 v Fever 17
Suncorp Super Netball premiership points
Fever 7
Magpies 0
*No bonus point awarded for drawn third quarter
Magpies shooting statistics
Caitlin Thwaites 43/50
Erin Bell 3/6
Alice Teague-Neeld 11/13
Fever shooting statistics
Jhaniele Fowler 62/66
Nat Medhurst 8/8
Magpies starting seven
GS: Caitlin Thwaites, GA: Erin Bell, WA: Madi Robinson, C: Kim Ravaillion, WD: Ash Brazill, GD: April Brandley, GK: Matilda Garrett
Fever starting seven
GS: Jhaniele Fowler, GA: Nat Medhurst, WA: Ingrid Colyer, C: Verity Charles, WD: Jess Anstiss, GD: Stacey Francis, GK: Courtney Bruce
Nissan MVP: Courtney Bruce
