The West Coast Fever solidified their standing as strong contenders for the Super Netball title with a decisive 71-60 victory over the Melbourne Vixens on March 15, 2024. This result not only emphasized the Fever’s dominant form but also significantly impacted the Vixens’ chances of reaching the finals.
Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard delivered an outstanding performance, scoring an impressive 61 goals from 63 attempts. The match took place at the RAC Arena in Perth, where a record crowd of 12,813 fans witnessed the Fever’s commanding display. Notably, Fowler-Nembhard’s only two misses came from the two-point super shot range, highlighting her precision and skill.
The consequence of this defeat was substantial for the Vixens, who fell to fourth place in the standings. They now face the challenge of competing against the two-time reigning champions, the Adelaide Thunderbirds, in the minor semi-final next Sunday. Meanwhile, the Fever, riding a wave of momentum with 12 consecutive wins, will host the second-placed NSW Swifts in the major semi-final on the same day.
At halftime, the match was closely contested, with the Fever leading by a narrow margin of 34-30. Fowler-Nembhard had already notched 30 goals by that point. The Fever’s defensive unit, spearheaded by goal defence Sunday Aryang and keeper Kadie-Ann Dehaney, applied significant pressure on the Vixens, forcing them into 20 turnovers throughout the game.
In an effort to regain control, Vixens coach Simone McKinnis made strategic changes to her attacking lineup during the second quarter, substituting Lily Graham for Sophie Garbin. Despite these adjustments, the Fever’s defence proved resilient. Aryang, who was named player of the match for the second consecutive game, expressed satisfaction with her team’s performance.
“I’m very happy. When we got to this game, we had a big focus on finishing the season off well and we accomplished what we set out to do,” Aryang stated to Fox Sports. “It’s always hard work coming up against Kiera [Austin] and it’s one of those ones where you have to grind her and play that one-on-one against her and hope you get the best of it.”
The Fever took a commanding lead in the third quarter, extending their advantage to 52-43, with Fowler-Nembhard contributing another flawless run of 16 from 16 attempts. Alice Teague-Neeld, playing as wing attack, stood out with her dynamic contributions, facilitating the Fever’s offensive strategy.
As the match drew to a close, Fowler-Nembhard capped off her performance with a spectacular two-point super shot in the final seconds, thrilling the crowd. This victory brought the total attendance for the home-and-away season to an unprecedented 343,634, a record for the national league.
The Fever’s ability to maintain their focus and execution throughout the match positions them as formidable opponents in the upcoming finals series, while the Vixens will need to regroup quickly to take on the Thunderbirds in their own quest for a championship.
