By Matt Fotia
Arguably the game's best defender has left, a club legend has changed codes and three others have traded Perth for Melbourne, but have the West Coast Fever improved their list ahead of season 2024?
The Fever made six changes to their contracted ten during the course of an action-packed signing period, with just Jess Anstiss, Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard, Sunday Aryang and Alice Teague-Neeld remaining in green.
Whether or not they create the connections they need to be a force in 2024 is a key topic of conversation.
Here’s a brief run through on Fever’s signing period.
Ins
Kelsey Browne (Collingwood Magpies)
Fran Williams (England)
Shanice Beckford (Jamaica)
Kadie-Ann Dehaney (Jamaica)
Jordan Cransberg (Elevated Training Partner)
Olivia Wilkinson (Elevated Training Partner - Victoria)
Outs
Courtney Bruce (Sunshine Coast Lightning)
Rudi Ellis (Melbourne Vixens)
Sasha Glasgow (Melbourne Mavericks)
Kim Jenner (Melbourne Mavericks)
Verity Simmons (Retired)
Emma Cosh (Not offered a contract)
2024 Squad
Shooters
Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard
Shanice Beckford
Olivia Wilkinson
Midcourters
Jess Anstiss
Alice Teague-Neeld
Kelsey Browne
Jordan Cransberg
Defenders
Sunday Aryang
Fran Williams
Kadie-Ann Dehaney
Kelsey Browne joins the Fever in 2024, replacing the retiring Verity Simmons.Predicted Starting Seven
GS: Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard
GA: Shanice Beckford
WA: Alice Teague-Neeld
C: Jess Anstiss
WD: Sunday Aryang
GD: Fran Williams
GK: Kadie-Ann Dehaney
Even with the losses of the reigning Liz Ellis Diamond in Courtney Bruce, veteran mid-courter Verity Simmons and super shot starlet Sasha Glasgow, it’s been a productive signing window for the Fever, who have addressed some of their needs and used their somewhat blank canvas to reshape their make-up.
Sometimes unwilling to call upon their bench to change games was a potential roadblock for Dan Ryan and his cohort in 2023. But that could change this season.
The signing of Kadie-Ann Dehaney in a quasi-swap deal with the Lightning is shrewd business, with the Sunshine Girl able to fill the aggressive hunting goalkeeper role well, while the inclusion of Williams will add some clarity and calm to their defensive circle.
It also frees up Sunday Aryang to make the wing defence position her own and add some more dynamism to the Fever’s mid court while still providing the ultimate cover for both Dehaney and Williams.
Added dynamism is a good way to describe Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard’s new shooting partner. Jamaican teammate Shanice Beckford will bring a much different approach to the goal attack than her predecessor, with speed and flair her trump cards.
Goal attack Shanice Beckford will join Jamaican teammate and five-time SSN MVP Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard at the Fever.She might not be as comfortable shooting from the two-point range as Glasgow was, but Fowler-Nembhard has shown willingness to take on more two-point shots, whilst youngster Wilkinson is highly regarded from long distance and could fill a Sophie Fawns-like role for the Fever as the season – and her confidence at the level – grows.
Anstiss could spend more time in centre for Fever in 2024, replacing Verity Simmons, while Teague-Neeld will line up in wing attack fresh off a career best season in 2023 where she led the competition for centre pass receives and was second for feeds into the circle.
Jordan Cransberg is ultra deserving of her upgrade to the contracted ten and is more than capable in all three mid court positions, giving Ryan much more mid-court depth and versatility than his defender heavy squad did in 2023.
But the addition of Kelsey Browne to the midcourt mix is the most interesting of the six new signings for the 2022 premiers.
Browne sat right behind Teague-Neeld for centre pass receives in 2023 and was fourth for feeds into the circle for a lowly ranked Collingwood outfit.
While she will have to earn a starting wing attack role, Browne – like Beckford – adds speed to the Fever, something they lacked at times through the mid court in 2023. Browne’s inclusion also gives Dan Ryan the ability to change gears and game styles on the fly.
There’s no doubt some very big names have departed the west coast, but it could well be a blessing in disguise for the West Coast Fever, who suddenly find themselves with a much more balanced list ahead of season 2024.
