WITH netball on hold due to the COVID-19 outbreak we take a look back at our interview with up and coming midcourt star Jess Anstiss which appeared in our inaugural magazine.

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The fire still burns for West Coast Fever midcourter, Jess Anstiss after narrowly falling to the Sunshine Coast Lightning in the Suncorp Super Netball grand final last year. The Fever had an outstanding 2018 season rocketing up the ladder after an average 2017 campaign. West Coast were arguably the most dominant team with their accuracy to post, clinical defence and physicality across the court an integral part of their game plan.

Anstiss was a key cog in their finals assault with her defensive work around the circle second to none clogging up the attack end of her opposition. Standing at 171cm the tenacious wing defence is not one to shy away from a fight with her fierce and competitive attitude a key feature of her game.

“I’m a very competitive person so I do really like the competition aspect to it and when you win that feeling and doing it with nine other girls out on court yeah I really enjoy the relationships that you build,” she said.

2018 brought many memorable moments with Anstiss describing the surreal feeling of stepping out onto her home court with the crowd behind her.

“I’ve never really experienced too many grand finals in the past. WA has never really gotten that far and the atmosphere especially playing at RAC Arena was amazing in front of the home crowd. I guess the nerves are different to what just a normal game is and the lead up in the week is all very different but in the end of the day it was a normal game but the hype around it was insane,” she said.

Though her side made it to the big dance they fell agonisingly short and with the memories of the loss still fresh in the mind for the midcourter, she is hoping to make amends come season 2019.

“I guess we are going to try and use that grand final loss in a positive way this year and use it as fire in the belly and really come out. Throughout the pre-season it has been a really big driver for us to go that extra little bit so that we can try and win the grand final this season. It is hard to try and back up such a good season but I know this pre-season has been harder than last and yeah we seem to be stepping forward in the right direction I think,” she said.

The West Coast Fever have maintained a settle line up with the likes of bookends Courtney Bruce and star Jamaican shooter Jhaniele Fowler signing on. Both players offer a great lot of character to the club on and off the court, with Fowler renowned for her relaxed nature, and captain Bruce using her fire to spur the team on.

“Jhaniele is amazing to play with. She’ll catch any ball that you put up and make your pass look good which is great for us centre court. But she also brings character to our team as well, she’s a quiet little assassin back in the shooting. But she brings lots of smiles and confidence to the whole team,” she said.

“Yeah Courts, loves to show her emotion I guess and that’s how she gets firing… she’s our captain so we look up to her and she gets out there and leads by example and comes out and takes those amazing intercepts. So we love Courto for the way that she shows her emotion and the smiles at the umpires make me laugh sometimes,” she said.

Since her introduction at the club Head Coach Stacy Marinkovich, has done wonders for the Fever providing plenty of experience and netball knowledge having played at the highest level for many years.

“Stacy has been an amazing coach for me especially she just seems to be able to bring the team together and works individually with athletes and knows exactly how to give feedback to individuals which is something not all coaches have the ability to do. So yeah she’s been great for the club and is a real big reason behind all of our success,” she said.

Given her dominant season for the Fever with her quick feet, hands over pressure and drive across the court Anstiss was rewarded for her hard work earning Australian selection.

“Yeah it was amazing to be selected into the squad last year. Something that I’ve dreamed of ever since I was a little kid. Yeah to be named amongst some of the best athletes in Australia it was a real honour,” she said.

But the accolades did not stop there for the humble wing defence taking out the Suncorp Super Netball Young Star award and Fever Best and Fairest award in her debut season. Anstiss ended the season with 12 intercepts, 31 deflections and 88 feeds showcasing her work both in defence and attack to provide that last pass into the goal circle.

“Yeah that was a big surprise, I didn’t think that was coming. But I guess individual awards are great but that wouldn’t come without the team playing around me, so I don’t really like getting them,” she said.

But before making it to the grand final and representing her country, Anstiss’ netball journey started at a young age following in the footsteps of her mother.

“I always grew up watching my mum play netball and then I guess it was just a natural thing to go into in primary school. Then mum coached me all throughout primary school and high school. So I guess watching her growing up made me want to play and be like her,” she said.

Anstiss did not always play through the midcourt, with the 22-year-old playing in goal attack for many years through her early stages before making the switch given her shorter stature. Swapping bibs did not seem to hinder the development of the talented netballer who has highlighted her versatility to swing between wing attack, centre and wing defence modelling the likes of New Zealand netball royalty, Laura Langman who has an impressive 151 caps to her name.

“The most prominent that I guess I still even look up to is Laura Langman. But in terms of Australians Nat von Bertouch was another one that I absolutely loved watching,” she said.

“I guess with Laura Langman it is her absolute doggedness and ability to both attack and defend and I guess Laura’s ability to read the play and same with Nat von Bertouch. I guess she was a more attacker player but just the way she knew exactly where to be at the right time,” she said.