‘Tall poppy syndrome’: Criticism of ‘one-tricky pony’ West Coast Fever blasted

A leading commentator has slammed criticism of Jamaican netball star Jhaniele Fowler and suggestions her team is a “one-trick pony”.

Sue Gaudion has launched an impassioned defence of Jamaican goal shooter Jhaniele Fowler, slamming critics that label the West Coast Fever a “one-trick pony”.

The Fever are the defending Super Netball premiers and are favourites to go back-to-back this season.

Fowler has won the last five Super Netball MVPs and is showing now signs of slowing down, shooting a perfect 65 goals from 65 attempts in the Fever’s most recent win over the Sunshine Coast Lightning.

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Fox Netball commentator Gaudion, who is also West Coast’s general manager of pathways and performance, told news.com.au she’s sick of netball fans who view Fowler’s dominance negatively.

“What I get really annoyed about is when any player in a team that is exceptional in talent ie Jhaniele Fowler, people — call them naysayers or the uneducated or whatever — think that without that player teams aren’t good enough, like the Fever is only a one-trick pony,” Gaudion said.

“Historically in sport, superstars exist, right? Clubs do well not just to contract those athletes but hold onto them.

West Coast Fever goal shooter Jhaniele Fowler. (Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images)

“I’ll defend Jhaniele Fowler and her capabilities until the cows come home because I get to see first hand week in, week out. She’s an exceptional athlete, a terrific human being. She’s the greatest competitor and she wants to win.

“Her standards are really high. If she falls away from her own set of standards then she’s her greatest critic. All of that packaged together is an extraordinary athlete.

“I don’t think we should disrespect any teams that have unbelievable talent like Shamera Sterling at the Adelaide Thunderbirds or Jo Harten at the Giants.

“They are one athlete in a team sport and by all means they contribute extraordinary things to make that side successful. But the reality is it’s a team sport and they are held up as much by the athletes around them.

“That’s when I get annoyed. People want to rip teams down because one individual is so good and apparently without them they’d be useless. I just think gosh, it’s tall poppy syndrome at its best.”

The Fever are on top of the Super Netball ladder midway through the Super Netball season but their biggest threats could be the Adelaide Thunderbirds, who have been the big improvers in 2023.

Jhaniele Fowler barely misses a shot. (Photo by James Worsfold/Getty Images)

Seven Jamaican players currently play in Super Netball including dynamic defensive duo Shamera Sterling and Latanya Wilson, who have led the Thunderbirds’ resurgence.

Giants captain Jo Harten, who recently announced her retirement from international netball, said Sterling and Wilson could lead Jamaica to World Cup glory.

“They had such a good Commonwealth Games last year,” Harten said on Fox Netball’s Pivot.

“I think Shamera (and) Jhaniele, they’re going to lead them potentially to a World Cup final for the first time ever.”

Jamaica beat Australia in the group stage of last year’s Commonwealth Games and Gaudion believes the Sunshine Girls are more than capable of upstaging the Diamonds again at this year’s Netball World Cup.

“I think every country should be worried about Jamaica not just Australia,” Gaudion said.

“I feel like with what the Jamaican athletes out here in Super Netball, in particular this year, add to that the confidence coming out of the Commonwealth Games, surely gives them another layer to be worried about.

“It’s not just Australia. Every country needs to be exceptionally mindful of what Jamaica’s capable of producing at this World Cup.

Defenders Latanya Wilson and Shamera Sterling could lead Jamaica to World Cup glory. (Photo by Sue McKay/Getty Images)

Asked if she believes Jamaica can win the World Cup, Gaudion said: “I do. I actually do think they can win it. I still think Australia are the team to beat but on any given day Jamaica can beat any country at the World Cup.

“Like all great tournaments, the hardest thing is to get there, then the next hardest thing is to actually win it.

“There’s two jobs both Australia and Jamaica will need to do and they won’t be able to jump the gun on either of them. There’s a process to follow to make a World Cup Grand Final and then it’s about delivering your best on the day that matters most.”

Super Netball Round 8 (all times AEST)

Queensland Firebirds vs Collingwood Magpies — Saturday 5pm

Giants vs Adelaide Thunderbirds — Saturday 7pm (watch on Kayo Freebies)

Melbourne Vixens vs West Coast Fever — Sunday 2pm (watch on Kayo Freebies)

NSW Swifts vs Sunshine Coast Lightning — Sunday 4pm