Fever were able to capitalise on an extended pre-season, with match play against the Australian Diamonds, England Netball, Collingwood Magpies, GIANTS Netball, NSW Swifts and Queensland Firebirds.
The match play has prepared the team well, according to midcourter Ingrid Colyer, who said, “for us it’s been a little bit easier, as we have had a bit more match play this season compared to last year. The pre-season doesn’t feel as long for us, but we are ready for round one that’s for sure,” she said.
“Being over here in the west, we are a little bit further away from everyone. To be able to have some quality match play in the lead up to round one has been really good for us.
“The team is looking good, we have certainly improved statistically a lot since last year. We wont really know until we see how we go in round one, but we are all very excited and can’t wait for the hit out.”
Fever have been bolstered by the return of defender Shannon Eagland, after a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in Round 4 last year.
“Shannon did so much hard work in her rehab from her knee injury, so to see the way she has been performing in the last few weeks in our training environment has been awesome,” said Colyer.
The team from the west recruited Jamaican sharp shooter Jhaniele Fowler, who topped the trans-Tasman netball league for most goals scored in 2016. Fowler is a force in the shooting circle, a tall target with pinpoint accuracy.
The Jamaican has a steely resolve, never one to crumble to pressure. Colyer said “to have Jhaniele in the team is so amazing, she is such a cool, calm and collected girl and a real asset to our team.”
Fever face the Thunderbirds, who have made wholesale changes in their recruitment for Season 2, leaving them as a bit of an unknown.
“It’s hard to tell what to expect, they only have two players from when we played them last year,” said Colyer. “We certainly are not taking them lightly at all.
“The first quarter might be a bit erratic, but we will stick to our own brand of netball that we’ve been doing for the last six months. We are confident that will be able to get us over the line.”
Adelaide Thunderbirds host West Coast Fever at 12.30pm ACST Sunday 29 April. Secure your seat, or watch on Telstra TV and Netball Live, and Channel 9 in Adelaide.
