The West Coast Fever are gearing up for a serious tilt at a second Super Netball premiership, announcing a double-header of pre-season clashes against the Adelaide Thunderbirds.
Pre-Season Fixtures and Community Focus
The Fever will first face the Thunderbirds in the mining hub of Kalgoorlie on Friday, February 27. This marks a significant return to the Goldfields region for the club, which hasn't played there since 2021. The team will then back up just 24 hours later for a second hit-out at the Perth High Performance Centre.
Fever General Manager Sara Francis-Bayman expressed excitement about returning to Kalgoorlie, highlighting the importance of the club's regional partnerships. "Our seven-year partnership with the Gold Industry Group and its members has created incredible opportunities for regional communities, and we’re thrilled to be bringing elite netball back to the Goldfields," she said. "The team is looking forward to not only playing but also engaging with the local community."
A Return to Roots and Final Preparations
The match at the Perth High Performance Centre is a nostalgic moment for the Green Army, as it returns the team to its inaugural home court. The Fever have called RAC Arena their primary home for nearly a decade.
"We’ve hosted SSN teams at the Gold Netball Centre in recent years, but playing at the Perth High Performance Centre for the first time since 2018 means more of the Green Army can experience world-class netball," Francis-Bayman added. "It’s the perfect chance to see the team round off their preparations before our season opener against the Lightning."
These two matches against last year's minor semi-finalists will be the Fever's final pre-season tests, following their participation in the Ballarat Blitz a week earlier, where they will take on the reigning premiers, the Melbourne Vixens, and the NSW Swifts.
New Faces and a Changed Calendar
The Fever squad is seeing some key changes, with the welcome return of 2022 grand final MVP Sasha Glasgow after her two-year stint with the Melbourne Mavericks. The club has also moved to cover injuries, signing Zoe Cransberg and Caitlyn Brown as replacement players for the injured sisters Sunday and Ruth Aryang.
These pre-season games are crucial as the entire Super Netball season is beginning earlier than usual in 2025. This schedule shift is due to the Commonwealth Games, which are scheduled for Glasgow, Scotland from late July to early August. Because of this, the annual Team Girls Cup will not take place next year.
The Fever's 2025 Super Netball season officially kicks off on Sunday, March 15, with a home opener against the Sunshine Coast Lightning at RAC Arena.
