Super Netball grand final: West Coast Fever, Melbourne Vixens players ranked 20-1
They’re the players that will make or break their team’s chances of lifting the Super Netball trophy in front of more than 10,000 fans at Rod Laver Arena on Saturday night. The Melbourne Vixens and West Coast Fever finals players ranked.
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Twenty of the best netball players in the world hit the court in Saturday’s Super Netball grand final showdown, with the best from Australia, Jamaica and England taking the court in the fight for the top prize.
We rank the players from both teams, showcasing those that will have the ultimate say in which of these teams adds a second SSN title to their name.
1 Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard (GS Fever)
Had one of the best seasons of her storeyed career despite missing the first two games, leading the league for goals scored and looking as fit and agile as ever. Presents a massive problem for the Vixens who know they can’t beat her one-on-one in the circle and will have to stop the ball being delivered in. A little basic to say both teams’ match plans will revolve entirely around her but she’ll certainly be a pivotal part of each side’s tactics. If the Vixens can’t figure out a way to nullify her input, Fever win their second Super Netball title.
2 Kiera Austin (GA Vixens)
The Diamonds goal attack can sometimes make the game look easy, but when she’s on song, she is a regular matchwinner. More often than not, when Austin fires, so do the Vixens. Can turn a game with her superb two-point shooting - as shown in the preliminary final win over the Swifts when she nailed three in the last power play period. Has a great connection with Diamonds’ teammate Sophie Garbin to deliver a one-two punch.
3 Alice Teague-Neeld (WA Fever)
Manufactured into a wing attack by coach Dan Ryan in the 2022 premiership season, Teague-Neeld has gone from strength to strength in the midcourt and after the best season of her career has been rewarded with a spot in the Diamonds squad. After playing in the shooting circle with Fowler for so long, has a an almost instinctual understanding of the way in which the Jamaican moves and exactly where she wants the ball and lets it go with confidence, speed and accuracy that bamboozles most teams’ defences. Will be sweated on by Kate Eddy in this game and needs to show her game now has the maturity to handle any challenge.
4 Kate Moloney (C Vixens)
The Vixens captain has arguably been the team’s most consistent performer this season and was their top-ranked player on court in both losses to the Fever this year. The fearless team leader, Moloney bleeds navy blue and can help turn a game with her passion on court and her famous rousing rev-ups in the team huddle.
5 Sunday Aryang (GD/WD Fever)
In a team playing with enormous confidence and freedom, Aryang is one of the best performers, having arguably the best season of her career. Already with a premiership, Commonwealth Games gold medal and World Cup under her belt, the defender has extraordinary experience for one so young but a hunger to improve her game and continually learn and challenge herself, as she has this season further up the court, at wing defence shows why she’s regarded as one of Australia’s best defenders. Is likely to start with the job of locking down Diamonds teammate Kiera Austin and if she can nullify her, it will go a long way to earning the Fever a win.
6 Sophie Garbin (GS Vixens)
Last year’s Liz Ellis Diamond winner, Garbin’s steadiness and strength under the post will be critical for the Vixens in the grand final. The Diamonds’ goal shooter was rock solid when the pressure was on in the preliminary final win and, like Austin, can be a matchwinner when she is firing. Garbin demands the ball in the goal circle and is the perfect foil for Austin’s long-range shooting.
7 Jo Weston (GD/GK Vixens)
The long-time Diamonds’ goal defence is often referred to as a human backpack and she has the ability to wear down a goal attack with her close-checking and smothering defence. Given the huge task of stopping the towering Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard one-on-one in the goal circle, Weston’s role in shutting down supply from Shanice Beckford will be critical.
8 Kadie-Ann Dehaney (GK Fever)
Nicknamed “DeGainey” by Fever general manager and commentator Sue Gaudion, the Sunshine Girls goalkeeper has had a breakout season with the Fever. She’s hardly new to the league, having celebrated her 100th game just weeks ago, but things have all come together for Dehaney this season. Her long arms and incredible reach have earnt her team key intercepts, deflections and rebounds and while plenty of well-deserved attention falls on Fowler-Nembhard at the other end of the court, Dehaney has been an integral part of the Fever’s success this season.
9 Kate Eddy (WD/GD Vixens)
Somewhat of an unsung hero in the Vixens’ line-up, Eddy has enjoyed one of her most consistent seasons and has performed some big jobs on some of the league’s top playmakers at wing attack. She will face another huge task trying to shut down Fever’s in-form wing attack Alice Teague-Neeld in the grand final. Also has the ability to swing into the goal circle if the Vixens’ need to make a defensive change.
10 Fran Williams (GD/WD Fever)
The England Roses captain is one of the smartest players in the game but such is the ability and form of teammates Sunday Aryang and Kadie-Ann Dehaney, as well as Fever captain Jess Anstiss, she’s come off the bench for much of this year. Certainly doesn’t mean that Williams is playing a minor role in this grand final. Dan Ryan’s ability to go to his bench and bring on a player of such calibre, explains just why the Fever have been on such a winning run. If the Vixens midcourters telegraph any moves, Williams will be on ball in an instant, and like Aryang, her efforts on Austin could decide the grand final.
11 Jordan Cransberg (C Fever)
Breakout season for Cransberg who’s stepped into a more senior role in the team this season,
with former Diamond Kelsey Browne stepping back. While her feeds into the circle and ability to find her shooters will be important on Saturday, one of the most crucial roles she’s likely to play is in defending Vixens captain Kate Moloney and quietening the Melbourne leader. Particularly in the absence of Hannah Mundy, so much of Vixens attack runs through runs through Moloney and if Cransberg is able to motor with the Diamonds middie, she will have done an outstanding job for her team.
12 Rudi Ellis (GK Vixens)
With Emily Mannix out this year after the birth of her first child, Ellis has been thrust into the starting role at goal keeper this year and has shown growth in the role as the season has progressed. She will arguably face the toughest job on the court in the grand final against Fever’s towering super shooter Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard. The key for Ellis will be staying off the body and in play.
13 Jess Anstiss (WD Fever)
The Fever captain is so often underrated but her efforts and leadership in this team cannot be overlooked. Willing to do the thankless jobs on court, Anstiss will have a crucial role on Saturday
matching up against young gun Zara Walters, or possibly Hannah Mundy should the Diamonds squad member make a surprise return from injury. The Swifts almost nabbed the preliminary final by marking Walters out of the game last week and is Anstiss is able to do the same, she’ll give her team a massive leg up.
14 Shanice Beckford (GA Fever)
Better for the experience of her first Super Netball season last year, Beckford has been a more consistent player in 2025, contributing goals when needed and working in combination with fellow Sunshine Girl Fowler-Nembhard in the circle. Has done the power of work in the midcourt too, taking plenty of centre passes and second phase ball, while improving her shooting percentages and cutting down on the errors that plagued particularly the back half of her first professional netball season. Happy to be a role player in an outstanding team.
15 Zara Walters (WA Vixens)
Now in her second year at the Vixens, Walters has been given an opportunity to start at wing attack late in the season following the foot injury to Hannah Mundy. Before that, she had largely been used in cameos off the bench. She possesses great speed and agility and offers a different option at wing attack to Mundy’s power and strength.
16 Olivia Wilkinson (GA Fever)
A starter in the opening two games of the season with Fowler-Nembhard out, and while the Fever lost both, she handled the weight of responsibility well, showing she’s a star of the future. Locking the goaler up for three years was a savvy move by the Fever and Wilkinson has not been overawed when injected into the match in place of Beckford at key moments this season. Experience gained in the first two matches could prove pivotal if she’s injected into the grand final by Dan Ryan and will not be daunted by the occasion.
17 Zoe Cransberg (C Fever)
The second of the Cransberg twins started the year as the Fever’s 11th player before a season-ending injury to defender Ruth Aryang brought her into the into the squad as a temporary replacement. She’s taken the opportunity with both hands, gaining plenty of court time, occasionally alongside twin Jordan, or interchanging seamlessly with her in the midcourt. Will be unafraid in the big moments if called on in the grand final and may have the job of locking down Vixens centre Kate Maloney in tandem with her sister.
18 Maggie Caris (GK Vixens)
Caris earned her call-up to the Vixens’ team as cover for Mannix, but her appearances have been limited behind Ellis this season. Has been ready to show what she can do at Super Netball after several years as a Vixens’ training partner and will be on standby should the Vixens’ starting defenders get weighed down in their battle to stop Fowler-Nembhard.
19 Lily Graham (GS/GA Vixens)
Graham’s appearances have been limited behind Sophie Garbin and Kiera Austin, but she generally makes them count when she hits the court. A fearless young goaler, who can nail the super shot, Graham played a pivotal role in the preliminary final fightback despite being on court for just four minutes. Her back-to-back super shots in the third term kept the Vixens in touch, helping set the stage for the famous fightback.
20 Tara Watson (WA Vixens)
Called into the 10 as injury cover for Hannah Mundy late in the season. Watson had been sitting on the bench until she got the call-up to make her Super Netball debut in the Vixens’ preliminary final against the Swifts. The young midcourter immediately looked at home at the level and was not overawed in the pressure environment of a final.
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Originally published as Super Netball grand final: West Coast Fever, Melbourne Vixens players ranked 20-1
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