2024 Super Netball: How West Coast Fever rebuilt their list after mass exodus, losing captain Courtney Bruce

A stable West Coast Fever playing group filled with top-tier stars has been central to their huge success in recent years — but that was completely turned on it’s head this off-season. The WA team made two preliminary final appearances and won a premiership in the past three seasons on the back of a team chemistry that was unmatched in Super Netball. But the Fever have turned over three times as many players as they had in the past two seasons, with captain and household name Courtney Bruce among those who exited. The unprecedented loss of six players from their list this off-season — some out of their control and some who were their decision — was uncharacteristic for the mighty club. They have retained only four players from last season — vice-captain Jess Anstiss, goal-attack Alice Teague-Neeld, Diamonds defender Sunday Aryang and superstar shooter Jhaniele Fowler. While Super Netball and their players were waging war at the negotiation table over the collective player agreement, teams including Fever were trying to navigate the situation while also building a list for 2024. “In any recruitment period you’ve always got to have an open mind and understand what might be Plan A you might be end up at plans B, C, D, F as the recruitment period goes on,” coach Dan Ryan told The West Australian. “Going into the recruitment period we were aware there might be some changes in our list … we certainly didn’t anticipate the amount of change that we had, however, the changes that we have made and who we have brought into our team – we’ve landed on our feet exceptionally well. “West Coast Fever has been stable for a long time, so embracing change is a challenge for everybody, but the new energy, the way the group I feel has been invigorated and the vibe amongst them to get out there and see what we can create together is actually really inspiring for everybody every single day.” The big domino to fall for Fever was now former captain Bruce’s decision to leave the club after more than a decade and head to Sunshine Coast Lighting. “There was a bit of speculation around Courtney throughout last season that we had to manage in our environment, and we always knew that that was a possibility that she would look for a new environment in the next phase of her career,” Ryan said. “We weren’t overly surprised when she decided to move elsewhere. We wanted to keep her however, we fully respect her desire to want to try something new, having been here for a long time and achieved everything she ever dreamed she possibly could as a West Coast fever athlete.” It started what would be an unpredictable turnover for the ever-consistent Fever. Grand Final MVP Sasha Glasgow left for new franchise Melbourne Mavericks and would be joined by defender Kim Jenner. Goalkeeper Rudi Ellis left for arch-rivals Melbourne Vixens, while Emma Cosh wasn’t offered a contract by Fever. “It was really disappointing to lose Sasha in the fact of how quickly her game was growing and how important she was to our attacking team,” Ryan said. “Sasha’s desire to play a little bit more goalshooter and to link up with Eleanor Cardwell at the Mavericks to really increase her chances of playing international netball was too hard to refuse. We’re fully supportive Sasha taking that next step in her journey. “You will have decisions that are in your control and decisions that are out of your control. And I think you should never begrudge an athlete for wanting to explore other opportunities for whatever reason they may be.” Fever have recruited for both the long-term and to win premierships. Training partner Jordan Cransberg was given a primary contract after impressing in her two appearances for Fever last season. Young Victorian tall Olivia Wilkinson has also committed to Fever for the next three seasons and also has a bright future. Then they went for the star power, grabbing England gun defender Fran Williams to help cover the loss of Bruce, while Jamaican pair Kadie-Ann Dehaney and Shanice Beckford add to both ends of the court. And after heading to South Africa to watch the Netball World Cup, he had an idea of who he believed would fit right in with his vision for the side. Ryan said the trip to the World Cup was “critically important” as he looked to build the squad. “It gave me a great opportunity to watch Shanice Beckford, Fran Williams and Kadie-Ann Dehaney live in action against some of the best players in the world,” Ryan said. “I coached against Fran and did a bit of work with during my time in the UK but watching her live and the work rate and the smarts and the way she anticipates just sitting behind the court tracking and watching her movements – it gave me this real sense of excitement that she is the perfect fit for taking the West Coast super defensive style into a new era.” Beckford’s signing is significant given her chemistry with star shooter Fowler at the international level. Fowler and Glasgow had formed a dominant combination in recent seasons, elevating the latter to the international level, but Beckford will slot in seamlessly which is important to Fever’s success. “Shanice has always been one of the best goal attacks in the world on the international court and her partnership and connection with Fowler is outstanding, but her work-rate is exceptionally high,” Ryan said. “To bring out the best in Jhaniele and to complement Alice at wing attack – if we can have a fast, dynamic, speedy goal attack it makes our attacking team even more lethal.” What Ryan couldn’t predict was the shock retirement of midcourt star Verity Simmons, who left the sport to try her chance at AFLW with West Coast Eagles. “It was a shock and a bittersweet moment. It was bitter in the fact that we weren’t going to have Vez continue with us when we desperately wanted her to be a part of this next generation and evolution of our team,” Ryan said. “But it was sweet in the fact that we were happy that Vez had come to this decision in her own time on her own terms, and she could leave the game in her own way. And not all athletes get the chance to do that. “What struck a chord with most of us was the massive hole she leaves behind in terms of the legacy, the culture and the human being that she is. Talent is replaceable but when you lose incredible people like Vez it is sad.” Luckily there was an experienced midcourter in the netball wilderness who wouldn’t replace Simmons but could slot into the environment seamlessly. Kelsey Browne was left without a Super Netball home after Collingwood folded and no other team picked her up. The former Diamond and two-time Sunshine Coast Lightning premiership star was still desperate to continue her career and was the ideal inclusion to cover for Simmons. “Kelsey is not here to be Verity. She’s here to be herself but she certainly understands the privilege and the opportunity that she gets to follow in Vez’s footsteps,” Ryan said. Fever won’t have their entire squad at training until February, with Jamaican stars Fowler and Dehaney due in Perth next week, while Aryang and Williams will be on international duties until next month. Still Ryan is confident he has time to get his new-look squad to gel in time for their season-opener against the Giants on April 13. “It’s an interesting challenge for all teams across the country in terms of how to best prepare a team with a shortened pre-season,” Ryan said. “For us it’s about ensuring that we keep things simple. Integrate the new players into the West Coast Fever way and prioritize what’s most important to get us best prepared for round one. “We need to be patient with that. There’s so much that we want to do but we really need to make sure that we just get the foundation’s right over the next 14 weeks of our preseason to keep it simple, get everyone really confident with the roles that we need them to play within the team and get a real cohesive unit that understands the West Coast Fever way. “As soon as we get that established and consolidated, we can build evolve and add new elements to our game. It’s going to be a great project.”