Super Netball 2025: Record-breaking West Coast Fever claim 12th consecutive win, prepare for major semifinal

West Coast Fever are not finished creating history as they look to take their Super Netball record form into the finals and a red-hot assault on a second premiership. Fever head into the post-season as the overwhelming favourites on the back of an incredible 12 consecutive victories — the latest a convincing 71-60 win over fellow premiership contenders Melbourne Vixens at RAC Arena on Sunday. The impressive performance also gave Fever a club best 12-2 record at the end of a home-and-away season, further cementing them as the team to beat this year. Fever coach Dan Ryan said it was the perfect preparation for their major semifinal clash against the NSW Swifts at RAC Arena next Sunday from 2pm — with the victor to book the first place in the grand final. Superstar shooter Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard was once again nearly unstoppable, scoring 62 goals to take her tally to 724 for the season — the most in the league despite missing the first two games. The Cransberg twins — Zoe and Jordan — rotated through centre as they battled through illness, while in defence Diamonds star Sunday Aryang continued her blistering form with six gains, four intercepts and three deflections. It has Fever closing in on a fourth grand final appearance and second premiership after successive one-goal preliminary heartbreaks since their 2022 premiership. Ryan said the win over last year’s grand finalist in front of a record crowd of 12,813 at RAC Arena was the perfect preparation for the intensity the finals ahead after they won every quarter. “It gives us a lot of confidence. The Vixens played well today, they were right in the contest the whole time and irrespective of the margin being 11 (goals) in the end, I don’t think it ever felt like that,” he said post-game. “I felt like it was quite a goal-for-goal game with little moments of momentum here and there that got us the ascendancy. “I thought we had to be laser focused on our task for the majority of that game which is important because it’s what finals netball is like because that had a finals-like intensity about it. It really hardens us nicely for what next week will present.” Fever have been dominant for three months, but Ryan said despite the lack of close contests they were ready to go down to the wire with any team that could push them in finals. “We’re ready for any conditional situation that’s thrown at us and the reality is you need to be,” he said. “If we’re up and in control or we’re in a goal-for-goal battle or if we’re hanging onto a score or a margin, you just have to be comfortable in those situations. “The quality of our performances are earning us to be in those positions late in games but tThe quality of this competition, every game irrespective of margin is really tough so the intensity sometimes isn’t reflected in what the end scoreline or margin might present.” Ryan said nothing would change for his side despite having a target on their back from the other three teams in the finals. “It’s been our focus from the first moment we came together as a team that it’s (about) what’s directly in front of us and making sure that again we celebrate the win and enjoy the winning feeling but also get hyper critical around where we want to keep improving,” he said. “And understanding that while we put ourselves in a really good position heading into finals it’s now about showing up and standing up in the pressure of finals. “Those conditions will feel slightly different to what we’ve experienced throughout the home-and-away season, but I know that the team is hardened and ready. “This group’s been really good at just staying in the moment and that won’t shift irrespective of the outside hype or excitement that comes with this time of the year. “We’ll enjoy it of course, it’s something special to be a part of but we’ll make sure we’re locked in to make sure that there’s more work to be done and the job is nowhere near over.” In Fever’s favour is the fact the major semifinal will be their third consecutive at home after a brutal season of travel. Meanwhile, the Swifts are coming off a testing game against wooden spooners the Queensland Firebirds, who pushed them to extra time in their final match of the home-and-away season before they head West to face the rampaging Fever. Ryan said they would now turn their attention to the Swifts who they beat by 11 goals in round nine. “We weren’t really tracking at what they were doing at all,” he said. “We had a manager that was keeping an eye on the score but for us all the players and the coaching staff were locked into what today was about and knowing that it was an opportunity to refine parts of our game, make sure that we’re really ready for what next week presents. “We’ll tackle the Swifts next week and what it looks like will be determined throughout the week.” Fever also dented the aspirations of their arch-rivals the Vixens in the process, with Melbourne missing the chance to claim third spot and host a cut-throat minor semifinal. The Vixens will now face dual reigning premiers the Adelaide Thunderbirds at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre next Sunday.