By Matt Fotia
The West Coast Fever will have to win three successive finals to take out the 2024 Suncorp Super Netball premiership after they failed to overtake the Melbourne Vixens on percentage in the final round of the season.
Playing immediately after the Vixens, the Fever needed to defeat the Mavericks, who were chasing victory to land a finals berth of their own, by 24 goals or more to leapfrog the Vixens and finish in the top two.
The 2022 premiers fell five goals short of the target, finishing .52% behind the Vixens, and will instead host the Sunshine Coast Lightning in the Minor Semi Final.
Fever captain Jess Anstiss admitted the team had discussed the calculations required to claim the double chance heading into the game against the Mavericks.
“There was a bit of pressure on the game, and we did speak about it beforehand,” Anstiss said.
“We just wanted to win this game and not worry too much about the score.
“We knew that we had the opportunities in the second quarter to really put our foot down which we were disappointed with.”
Heading into the major break it was the Mavericks who were dreaming of a last-minute ladder change up, having grabbed the momentum in the second quarter to cut the margin to four goals.
The Fever produced a clinical second-half display to end the Mavericks season, winning the second half 42-27, with a 94% centre pass to goal rate and just four general play turnovers.
Dan Ryan said the half time message was clear.
“The message at half time was pretty simple, connect our ends and we’re good to go,” Ryan explained.
“We were doing some really great stuff defensively to give ourselves opportunity and we just weren’t connecting it down the other end of the court.
“Some honest feedback, but it’s a very accountable playing group that knew that’s what they needed to shift, and we got a great response in the second half.”
The Fever will hit the finals in strong form having won their final three home and away fixtures, including an impressive victory against the Vixens.
“We look at today’s performance and know that we’ve done everything that we can within our control,” Ryan said.
“The biggest thing that we take into finals is great momentum and form.
“Momentum is a really important thing going into finals, because to win a premiership you need to win games in succession.
“We’re in a good spot at the moment and we know where our game is at.”
The Fever’s list has evolved dramatically since the 2022 triumph, but still has plenty of finals experience.
Sunday Aryang, Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard, Alice Teague-Neeld and Anstiss remain from their premiership side, whilst midcourter Kelsey Browne was a part of the Sunshine Coast Lightning’s back-to-back glories in 2017 and 2018.
Kelsey Browne was a part of the Sunshine Coast Lightning's 2017 and 2018 premierships.Skipper Anstiss says the side will use that experience to their advantage.
“Very confident with where we are at,” said Anstiss.
“There’s four of us remaining from that premiership team, so we have that experience and there’s others that have experience on the international stage.”
