Fever defender taking nothing for granted

By Stephanie Smarrelli

As a training partner in the world's best netball league, opportunities are hard to come by. 

You never know when that opportunity might come. 

Not once but twice 20-year-old West Coast Fever training partner Ruth Aryang has walked out of head coach Dan Ryan's office in total disbelief this year. 

After a two-year stint on the sidelines the defender could not have dreamed of the news she would be delivered at the start of this season. 

Being named as the side's eleventh player wasn't a possibility she ever considered.  
 
“This year was going to be a year for me to really get myself back into it. I was still finding my way as a training partner so hearing the news from Dan really shocked me,” Aryang said. 

It would be the first of two pinch yourself moments for Aryang who made her SSN debut against the Queensland Firebirds in Round 5. 

Returning to Ryan's office for what she thought was another check-in meeting, Aryang walked out ecstatic, given the heads up she would be named in the game day squad replacing Kelsey Browne.  
 
“Hearing those words come out of his mouth I looked at him and started laughing. I was in shock,” she said. 

“I'd been wanting it for a long time and hearing that after coming back from injury was surreal.” 

As Fever's eleventh player Aryang was finally rewarded for all the work she does on and off the court while juggling her time between Fever, her work as a disability support worker and other netball gigs with the West Coast Fever Reserves and Fremantle Sharks. 

Aryang made the most of her time on court with an impactful three gains, one intercept and two rebounds.  

Reflecting on her debut Aryang was thrilled to have the support of Fever's Green Army.  

"Hearing the clapping and cheering for me as I ran out, I couldn't stop grinning," she said. 

Aryang's debut was made even more special due to her connection with older sister Sunday who has become a staple in the Fever lineup over the past few seasons. 

With a four-year age gap between the two, taking the court for Fever marked the first time they had ever played alongside each other. 

 “I feel a lot more comfortable knowing I've got Sunday to go to if I have any questions. As a defender it makes it easy to talk to her because she understands my role,” Aryang said.  

"Growing up, we weren't really in teams together but that's why it's special we are together at Fever now.” 

Having made her SSN debut, the 20-year-old admits it's hard to be a training partner and not know when your next opportunity might arise.  
 
“It's hard but I'm very lucky to get communication from Dan throughout the season, he's open and transparent with what's going to happen,” she said. 

As Fever's eleventh player, she does much of the same groundwork the contracted squad of 10 does weekly. This includes match reviews, gym sessions, on court training, match previews and cultural experiences. 
 
The biggest lesson she's learned during her first few seasons in the green kit is to not take anything for granted. 

“Being a training partner is quite a hard role because you don't get the opportunities every week like the other girls in the team so when you get the opportunity you take it with two hands like it's your last,” she said.   

As the West Coast Fever gears up for a run at finals the defender is mentally preparing herself for the possibility, she'll get a call up. 

“My season with Fever Reserves and Fremantle Sharks is done but I am not fully finished, staying 100 per cent invested with Fever is important,” she said. 

“I'm still doing my one percenters, getting my recovery sleep and staying in the mindset of ‘I might get picked’ is really important to be locked in and focused.” 

Ahead of Sunday's Minor Semi Final, Aryang is confident the team will put all their training sessions and lessons learned into action. 

“We're in a really good place, we know what we want to do and how to get the job done,” she said.  

Looking further down the netball pipeline, Aryang hopes to one day line up alongside her sister in Fever green week in, week out and the Origin Diamonds. 

“It would be amazing to play alongside Sunday for the West Coast Fever in the contracted 10 one day but long term hopefully I'll debut for the Origin Diamonds.”