Super Netball grand final: Record breaking crowd, TV audience as West Coast Fever beat Melbourne Vixens
Netball has capped off a stunning debut season on Fox Sports with record audience and TV numbers reaffirmed it’s place as top tier sport.
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Netball reaffirmed its place as a “tier one sport” with the Suncorp Super Netball grand final boasting record crowd and audience viewing numbers to cap a stunning debut season on Fox Sports.
The West Coast Fever’s dominant 70-59 victory over minor premiers Melbourne Vixens had an average of 170,000 viewers last Sunday with 67 per cent of the audience attributed to streaming via Kayo Freebies.
The sport has faced a raft of challenges in recent times due to Covid and financial stress, but Netball Australia CEO Kelly Ryan hailed 2022 a success as netball stepped into the future as part of the five-year deal with every game broadcast live plus increased exposure through two weekly magazine style netball shows.
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“Netball is a tier one sport in Australia and through our partnership with the Foxtel Group, we have further engaged our existing fan base and reached new audience in 2022,” Ryan said.
“To have had a record number of people at Perth’s RAC Arena on grand final day, as well as the largest broadcast audience all season, is a testament to netball fans across the country.
“It is great to see netball rebounding at elite and community levels after the impacts of the global pandemic, which shows the real strength of our sport.
“We are excited by the future of our partnership with the Foxtel Group, from grassroots and community participation, right through the world’s best netball competition - the Suncorp Super Netball - and the Origin Australian Diamonds.”
The Diamonds will enter a camp in Perth next week to commence their preparations for the Commonwealth Games, before an international season closer to home that will also be broadcast live on Fox Sports and Kayo Freebies.
Australia will travel to New Zealand for the first two matches of the Constellation Cup before hosting the Silver Ferns on October 19 and 23.
The Diamonds will then play a three-match series against England starting October 26.
“The electric atmosphere of the grand final on Sunday was the perfect end to our first season with Netball Australia,” Foxtel Group CEO Patrick Delany said.
“Foxtel Group stands behind Netball Australia in growing netball as a sport.
“Together through new landmark shows, innovation in broadcasting, and our world class talent we have been focused on rebuilding reach and engagement with fans of the sport.
“To help grow audiences right around Australia, we have brought Netball to the masses via Kayo Freebies every Sunday and netball has benefited from the growth of Kayo over the past six months - particularly throughout the finals which is a strong indicator for the future.”
VIXENS PUT TO THE SWORD IN GRAND FINAL HEARTBREAK
—Emma Greenwood, Erin Smith
Star goaler Jhaniele Fowler has lived up to the billing of the best shooter in the world, leading West Coast Fever to a historic maiden premiership with a stunning 58-goal performance against the Melbourne Vixens.
While the superstar dominated her opponents, it was near-flawless team performance from the Fever that put the sword to the minor premiers in front of a record crowd of 13,908 at Perth’s RAC Arena.
Glasgow was named player of the match, a deserved honour after she also finished with 26 goal assists and 28 feeds, while she also put in a strong defensive effort in what was a full-court effort from the Fever.
In their 25th anniversary year, the Perth side - known as the Perth Orioles in the former national league before taking the Fever tag - finally claimed a title, winning in their third Super Netball grand final appearance.
Fowler was outstanding with 58 from 59 attempts but she was ably supported by fellow goaler Sasha Glasgow (12 points on eight-of-13 shooting including four super shots), who stood tall in the opening stages when the game was in the balance, while she and Alice Tague-Neeld provided a feast of clean ball into the circle.
The Fever played their best match of the season in the semi-final against the Vixens and many doubted whether they could repeat the dose.
But they were arguably better.
While the Vixens’ remarkable comeback in last week’s preliminary final showed it ain’t over till it’s over, the start was also crucial for both sides.
And it was the Fever that had the best of it, forcing six general play turnovers from the Vixens in the first quarter while converting their chances, Fowler sharing the ball with Glasgow who punished the visitors with a late super shot to help her side to a four-goal lead at the first break.
It was a trend that continued throughout the match.
The Fever were relentless and aggressive and refused to yield, regardless of the fight the Vixens showed.
While the Vixens reduced the buffer to within a goal early in the second term, they were clumsy at times in attack, continuing to turn the ball over and rush their options in attack under relentless pressure not just from the Fever but a roaring crowd of almost 14,000 fans.
The margin kept edging out and while it was nine at the final term - the same deficit from which they fought back in the preliminary final last week - they could not turn things around again regardless of what they tried.
Fever coach Dan Ryan said it was the best his side had played all season.
“Best game we have played all season and culmination of everything we have worked towards wall season,” he said.
“For these girls to be ones that created history, I”m so proud of them.
“It was a work in progress, we know our form was a bit interrupted during the season. We took a giant leap forward in the semi final and it was the catalyst for us to say ‘we know we can do this and we know how to do this’.
“There was a great calm aggression before the game, I could just see in their eyes they were ready.
“For all of them to play as good as they have, I knew we had potential to unlock and they did it.”
Fowler put on a show
Widely regarded as the best shooter in the world, Fowler often doesn’t get the credit she deserves
At 198cm, Fowler towers over her opponents and her strength often allows her to camp under the circle.
But she came in for plenty of attention and was made to work hard for her possession.
A halftime chat with the umpires, when she and captain Bruce approached the officials to query some of their calls and highlight the pressure she was under ensured there was plenty of scrutiny of the Vixens defenders.
On three separate occasions in the third quarter, Fowler was at full stretch taking the ball, showing incredible athleticism and power.
It was the difference between the teams, with the Vixens struggling to get clean ball to their shooters, regardless of the personnel switches made by coach Simone McKinnis.
“I have no words, I’m filled with emotions and I’m so happy for this win.
“The (difference has been) experience that we have coming through so many finals and missing out coupled with the work we’ve put in this season knowing what we had to do and knowing that we could do it.
“Being able to stand strong and help this amazing family behind me, come out week-in, week-out being muscled and pushed and beaten and still being able to hold the ball and shoot it, it means a lot and I’m happy I was able to step across that line today.”
Tough day at the office for Watson
Liz Watson is widely regarded as the best wing attack in the world but even she was unable to turn the tide against the Fever.
The Vixens knew they had to get the ball to the top of the circle cleanly to feed goalers Mwai Kumwenda and Kiera Austin if they were to be a chance against the quick-scoring Fever.
But Watson and co-captain Kate Moloney were sweated on in the midcourt, with Jess Anstiss not giving Watson a moment of relief.
In defence, the Vixens midcourt had to earn turnovers and slow the ball down but Watson and her teammates were unable to do so, with the Fever showing relentless desperation.
Watson thanked her fans, friends and family after the loss.
“To our Vixens family, great season for us — lots of highs and lows — hold your heads highs today. Thanks to family, friends and fans back home we really appreciate everything you have done for us this season,” she said.
Bruce unstoppable
While each side has an outstanding holding shooter than was going to be the focus of attack, the match was always likely to come down to defence, particularly in the circle.
Fever captain Courtney Bruce showed she was on song from the first centre pass, picking up two deflections in the Vixens’ opening possession.
She had six by quarter time and seven at the main break - and while just one of them had resulted in a gain, the doubt she put in the heads of the Vixens’ feeders was worth plenty.
And while the rate slowed down in the second half - she finished with just eight overall - Bruce had put such doubt into the minds of the Vixens, her job was all but done.
Bruce came reeling out of a contest late in the fourth quarter, throwing a scare into the Fever camp and no doubt sending shivers down the spine of Diamonds coach Stacey Marinkovich, who was watching from the sidelines.
But she was able to walk off the knock on the knee to finish the match on court and celebrate a famous victory.
“You only have to listen to the crowd to see everyone behind me to see this means so much to us we couldn’t have asked for a better ending,” she said,
“I”m so proud of this group and what we have done.
“It isn’t just the 10 suit up, it’s the training partners, it is the staff and support system, they mean so much to us and are just as much a part of this win.
“The crowd was incredible, so glad we could bring it home for them.”
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