Suncorp Super Netball Season Preview: West Coast Fever
THE 2023 Suncorp Super Netball Season is only a matter of weeks away, and in anticipation of the new season we here at Rookie Me Central are going to take an in depth look at each of the sides and preview what this year may have in store for them.
In today’s final team preview, it is time to take a look at the reigning champions the West Coast Fever.
2022 could not have gone much better for the girls in green.
They had a near flawless regular season.
They were one of the teams to beat all year, the second last team to lose their undefeated streak, and never dropped out of the top four all season.
After comfortably defeating the Vixens in the Major Semi Final, they did it again two weeks later in front of their adoring fans to win their first title in not only their club’s history, but the first title by a Perth based franchise in the history of national league netball.
They really were hard to stop last season, and in a daunting prospect for the rest of the competition, they are largely unchanged from last season and after winning the Team Girls Cup they are looking like one of the teams to beat again this season.
There is only one change to the squad of 10 that won the title in 2022, and it is not one of their regular starters from last season who has departed the club.
Kim Jenner has come across from the Firebirds, and will be keen for more court time than she got at the Firebirds, but with the likes of Jess Anstiss and Sunday Aryang in front of her in the pecking order it is certainly going to be a challenge.
Jenner replaces Stacey Francis-Bayman, who decided to retire after a long career, and is now a commentator with the Australian host broadcaster Fox Netball.
With only the one change to last season’s team, and a formidable pair in Courtney Bruce and Jhaniele Fowler bookending the court, and with the well experienced and fearless Verity Simmons to complete the spine of the on court team, it is hard to argue that the girls in green will not be a contender again in 2023.
West Coast Fever 2023 Squad
Alice Teague-Neeld
Courtney Bruce
Emma Cosh
Jess Anstiss
Jhaniele Fowler
Kim Jenner
Rudi Ellis
Sasha Glasgow
Sunday Aryang
Verity Simmons