PERTH, Australia, CMC – Head coach Dan Ryan said West Coast Fever is excited about the familiar faces returning and the fresh injection of X-factor players for the next Super Netball League season, starting in April in Australia.
The Fever signed three Jamaicans to complete its contracted list of 10 players for next season during the free agency period from December 13 to 19 after a tumultuous few months sparked by a bitter pay dispute between Netball Australia and the Australia Netball Players’ Association.
Jhaniele Fowler, the current captain and ace goal shooter of the Sunshine Girls, as the Jamaican national team is known, returned to Fever for another two seasons, and international teammates will join her: attacker Shanice Beckford and defender Kadie-Ann Dehaney.
“I’m so excited about what this team can become, and our mission is going to be to become the best team we possibly can be,” Ryan said. “All ten players contributing, playing a role, using their skillsets and weapons to help get us across the line.
“It’s going to be ferocious West Coast Fever like always, but we are going to look a little bit different, and that’s why I’m excited.”
Ryan said the Fever had a clear strategy during recruitment to ensure the team was very versatile.
“I think the most important thing to take out of last season is that it does take a full team of 10 to win the competition, which is what we saw from the Thunderbirds and Swifts,” he said.
“We’ve got a deep squad. We’ve got positional coverage in every position on the court, and we can roll the subs in any position without making too many shuffles across the court.”
He added: “I’m excited by enough continuity that we can keep doing what we’re doing that’s seen us be successful over the past couple of years.
“But we also have some new, exciting players coming into our lineup that can make us change the game, shift our game plan, and shift our strategies, and that unpredictable nature is going to be a bit of a competitive edge for us.”
In addition to the three Sunshine Girls, Fever retained international Jess Anstiss in the mid-court and attacking option Alice Teague-Neeld for three seasons and Ethiopia-born Australia defender Sunday Aryang for a further two seasons.
The club added the experience of Kelsey Browne in the mid-court, while the arrival of England captain Fran Williams will bolster the defense.
The future is also bright for the Fever with the signing for three years each of Jordan Cransberg in the mid-court and attacking option Olivia Wilkinson.
Fever will play their first match next season against hosts Sydney Giants on opening day on Saturday, April 13, at the Ken Rosewall Arena.
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