By Rosie Gale
In an exciting Suncorp Super Netball season opener, the West Coast Fever stormed to a commanding victory over the GIANTS, marking their largest win against their rivals to date.
Dominating from start to finish, the Fever showcased exceptional patience and precision, while the GIANTS fell short in their defensive efforts, resulting in a convincing 84-65 victory for the visitors.
The last time these two sides came up against each other both teams battled fiercely for crucial competition points in Round 13 2023 at RAC Arena, where Fever surged ahead, outscoring the GIANTS 21-15, ultimately clinching an impressive 11-goal win.
The GIANTS struggled to get the game on their terms against a dogged Fever outfit, with the away team setting the tone for the 2024 Super Netball campaign.
“We are sending a message and we are going to take it a game at a time,” Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard said post-match.
Despite big roster changes in the off-season, key players such as Fowler-Nembhard, Sunday Aryang, and Jess Anstiss were standout performers for the team in green.
While securing the services of Jodi-Ann Ward was expected to be a big bonus for the GIANTS side, as one of the most dynamic and lethal defenders in the game, she failed to make an impact.
In a thrilling opening quarter, the Fever displayed exceptional patience right from the get-go, while the GIANTS applied relentless pressure through the middle. Star shooter Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard wasted no time in making her mark, kicking off the 2024 season with the first point on the board.
Despite the clean play from the Fever, GIANTs’ Jamie-Lee Price and Sam Winders managed to snatch a turnover three minutes into the game, giving the visitors an early break. The GIANTS showcased some impressive attacking plays, with Jo Harten leading the charge in the circle. But a crucial turnover, courtesy of a wayward pass from Harten, provided an opportunity for the Fever to capitalise.
The visitors continued to exhibit patience and precision in their ball movement and young gun defender Sunday Aryang's solid defensive pressure further shifted the momentum in favour of the Fever, earning them crucial possession.
Alice Teague-Neeld was also a standout– her pressure on the second phase was impressive and she snagged 27.5 Nissan Net Points, with 16 feeds, six centre pass receives and 11 goal assists in the first term alone.
Fever looked in control as GIANTS coach Julie Fitzgerald called a strategic timeout just before the Power Five interval. Sophie Dwyer's accuracy from the Super Shot line (sinking four Super Shots) helped the GIANTS narrow the gap but the Fever held strong with a 26-21 lead at quarter time.
In a pivotal shift, Erin O'Brien stepped onto the court for the GIANTS, adding a fresh dynamic to their defense in the second term, while Tilly McDonnell took a seat on the bench after facing early challenges. Amy Sligar also entered the fray, replacing Winders in WD.
The connection between Harten and Dwyer was exquisite early, however, a miscue between Chelsea Pitman and Harten led to a turnover, exploited by the Fever. Jess Anstiss was excellent, exemplifying leadership through courageous plays, extending the Fever's advantage.
As the Fever surged ahead by ten goals with six minutes remaining, the GIANTS were in need of a spark. Despite Dwyer's precision shooting, helping the GIANTS narrow the gap, the team in green stood firm. Fowler-Nembhard showcased her supremacy, netting her 24th goal flawlessly.
Shanice Beckford, Alice Teague-Neale, Fowler-Nembhard, and Anstiss from the Fever commanded the Nissan Net Points leaderboard, showcasing the undeniable dominance of the Fever players on the court.
Once again, the GIANTS opted for a tactical timeout just shy of the Super Shot buzzer, igniting a fiery response from Co-captain Harten, who rallied her team to intensify their defensive efforts and regain possession. Harten demonstrated aggressive ball movement, while Jamie-Lee Price started to have more of an impact with five feeds and 10 second-quarter goal-assists.
Despite the scoreline, the GIANTS showed resilience, led by Dwyer's precision on the Super Shot, narrowing the deficit. A missed opportunity from Fowler-Nembhard then opened the door for the GIANTS to capitalise, but they fell short.
With under three minutes left on the clock, the Fever took a tactical timeout. Newcomer Jordan Cransberg entered the fray for the Fever, injecting fresh energy into the Center position.
While Sunday Aryang remained relatively quiet statistically, her defensive pressure contributed to wearing down Dwyer, a key player for the GIANTS.
The Fever's efficiency was evident, with only one turnover compared to the GIANTS' seven at the end of the second term.
Even with Harten's impressive Super Shot, the GIANTS found themselves trailing by a ten-point margin. Although Dywer missed her shot, she salvaged one point for her team but the Fever continued to assert their dominance, maintaining a solid lead of 45-34.
In the third term, a strategic shift in the defensive lineup saw Jodi-Ann Ward move from GD to WD and Winders was relocated to WA to inject fresh energy into the lineup. But the Fever continued their relentless march forward, establishing a commanding 17-goal lead just before the Power Five interval.
Despite a somewhat quiet performance, Ward's hustle in defence paid dividends as she snagged a pivotal intercept, but the GIANTS were again unable to capitalise. Meanwhile it seemed Dwyer began to tire, as she struggled to make an impact for the GIANTS in the second half.
A tactical timeout from the Fever just before the Power 5 break aimed to recalibrate their strategy and maintain their momentum.
Amy Sligar's impactful performance upon entering the court added another dimension to the GIANTS' attack, fueling their comeback efforts. But the Fever remained resilient, setting themselves up for a strong finish in the final quarter with a scoreline of 50-66.
As the final quarter unfolded, Anstiss emerged as a defensive force, effortlessly plucking intercepts out of thin air, leaving the GIANTS floundering. And despite the GIANTS' persistent efforts to chip away at the deficit, the Fever captain delivered another blow for the GIANTS.
A glimmer of hope emerged for the GIANTS with a turnover and prompt conversion by Harten under the post. However, the Fever swiftly dashed any hopes of a comeback with consecutive goals, solidifying their insurmountable lead.
Olivia Wilkinson made her debut, sinking her first super shots in Suncorp Super Netball. This was followed by another from Dwyer, narrowing the margin to 20 points. Harten responded again for the home team with another trademark Super Shot of her own.
Despite the lopsided scoreline, the GIANTS' defensive efforts kept the Fever's center pass conversion rate to a commendable 62% in the final quarter. Sligar's defensive pressure in the WD position was also particularly noteworthy for the home side.
The West Coast Fever emerged triumphant away from home with a commanding 65-84 victory, marking their largest win against the GIANTS to date and their 8th victory against them.
