West Coast Fever coach Dan Ryan reflects on Team Girls Cup win, room for improvement as depth spurs defending premiers

The Fever started their 2023 campaign how they ended last year by claiming the silverware courtesy of a 49-41 win over Adelaide Thunderbirds. The team did have one blemish, a four-goal loss to the NSW Swifts on Friday.

Ryan said that while victory gave him confidence his side was on the right track, there was still plenty of growth to be had ahead of the club’s round one Suncorp Super Netball rematch with the Melbourne Vixens.

“The results on the weekend were great confirmation that we’re doing good things and the right things in a training environment to prepare for the season,” Ryan said.

“I thought our basic skill level at times was nowhere near what it needed to be which resulted in a lot of basic turnovers off our own hand. There’s nothing more important than a high skill level in this competition. We need to be a bit better at that.

“There were a few moments of disconnect and disorganisation which do happen during pre-season, but they’re moments that can get exploited if you don’t sort them out quickly.

“We can’t rest on our laurels. Last year, we only really played brilliant netball in the semi-final and grand final. The rest of our season was a little bit inconsistent. We know internally there’s so much improvement in the way we play the game. You’re never at your very, very best.”

Driving the Fever’s campaign is their considerable squad depth. Jhaniele Fowler and Courtney Bruce have long been stars for West Coast and they have been joined by a reliable core of contributors.

Sasha Glasgow is quickly becoming a big game player after winning another player of the match nod on the weekend, spending more time at goal shooter. Off-season recruit Kim Jenner was a “triple-threat” in defence and three Fever training partners, including Diamonds legend Nat Butler, were on the court when the team won the Team Girls Cup final.

“It’s sky-high,” Ryan said of the Fever’s hunger. “They’re determined to be better than what they were last week, even yesterday. We’ve got such fierce internal competition when it comes to training. It’s brutal, it’s like an SSN court which is fantastic.

“The varying combinations we were able to use across the weekend were really advantageous for what the season might present to us.

“There’s absolutely no complacency.”

The Fever are confident premiership stars Verity Simmons (concussion) and Alice Teague-Neeld (calf) will be ready in time for round one despite sustaining injuries in Queensland. West Coast Fever continue their 2023 preparations this weekend with two pre-season clashes against Adelaide.