Super Netball: Fever into Super Netball’s top four after Mavs lose star, Thunderbirds beat Firebirds
West Coast Fever are into Super Netball’s top four for the first time this season after beating a Mavericks side without their captain, as the Thunderbirds bounced back against Firebirds.
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The West Coast Fever have continued their dominant return to form, with a comprehensive 17-point Super Netball victory over the Melbourne Mavericks in Perth.
The 78-61 demolition put the Fever up into the top four for the first time this season, much more comfortable territory for a team that hasn’t missed finals since 2019.
It was always going to be an uphill battle, with the Mavericks forced to combat the Fever without their captain Amy Parmenter, a late out with a minor ankle injury.
This forced a mid-court reshuffle, with several options trialled at wing defence to try and quell the influence of Alice Teauge-Neeld.
The loss of Parmenter meant the Mavericks lacked key defensive nous, and some much needed play making in attack.
With Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard taking hits from every direction, the frustration showed on her face early in the game. Despite the physical pressure, the Jamaican superstar finished with 60/62 at 97 percent accuracy in a joint MVP performance, alongside skipper Jess Anstiss.
As the penalty count continued to rise against the Mavericks, they were forced into several changes in an attempt to stay in the contest.
The physical presence was to no avail, as the Mavericks finished with only six gains, all in the second half, despite averaging 12 per game so far this season.
Shimona Jok continues to be a shining light for the Mavericks, dominating the goal circle and often providing a get out of jail free card with her ability to take an aerial ball and convert to goal, finishing with 40 from 42.
She is lacking consistent support from her goal attack, with Sasha Glasgow still struggling to find her form returning from a devastating leg injury in 2024, and training partner Uneeq Palavi adjusting to the intensity of Super Netball.
With four of their next five games to be played away, and a comfortable lead, the Fever opted to rest some of their big guns in the final quarter.
The raft of changes didn’t slow them down, running away 17 point victors having dominated three of the four quarters.
WEST COAST FOWLER
While no team would admit to being so heavily reliant on a single player, the change in performance from the Fever with Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard on court is too stark to ignore.
Their two opening games saw them score 49 and 54 points respectively, some of their lowest scores since Fowler-Nembhard joined the team in 2018.
Not only did their attacking improve, but the work rate of the defenders seemed to lift, knowing their efforts would more than likely be rewarded.
A UNEEQ PERSPECTIVE
Melbourne Mavericks training partner and Tongan International, Uneeq Palavi has been part of the Mavericks lineup for the whole season replacing injured Eleanor Cardwell.
Typically a goal shooter, she has been forced out to goal attack, but brings flair and creativity that opens up the Mavericks attacking end.
Combined with her ability to shoot from range, it’s getting difficult to see her remaining a training partner for much longer.
Wilson stars as Thunderbirds bounce back, beat Firebirds
The Adelaide Thunderbirds have arrested a recent form slump, beating the Queensland Firebirds by nine points and inflicting their third consecutive loss. It’s a stunning reversal of fortunes for the Firebirds, who started the Super Netball season with two wins but - results pending - could drop out of the top four and as low as sixth by the end of the round.
The Thunderbirds’ 62-53 victory was set up by MVP Latanya Wilson, who pulled in 10 gains to give her side plenty of scoring opportunities.
Wilson stepped up in the absence of the world’s best goal keeper, Shamera Sterling-Humphrey, who’s now on parental leave after announcing her pregnancy two weeks ago.
As a result the Thunderbirds have looked below their dual premiership winning form recently, but did enough today to celebrate captain Hannah Petty’s 100th national league match celebrations.
The skipper has been inspirational as she’s kept the Thunderbirds settled and on track during their recent challenges.
Speaking post match, a disappointed Firebirds’ coach Kiri Willis said, “We did enough defensively to win that game, so we are very frustrated today. It’s little things like missed shots, misplaced pass, those little things are starting to hurt us. The competition is so tight and every possession counts. We need to be better at converting those small moments.”
Both sides had a jittery start, with the Thunderbirds’ Romelda Aiken-George unusually inaccurate at the post. It allowed the Firebirds to shoot out to a five point lead, but a quiet second quarter, in which they scored just 11 points, saw them rapidly overhauled and three points down by half time.
However, the Thunderbirds weren’t able to push the lead out by much, under strong pressure from the Firebirds. 22 year old goal keeper Isabelle Shearer, despite giving away almost 16 years of experience to opponent Aiken-George, came up with six gains as she hassled the veteran into shooting just 34/46 at 74 percent.
The third quarter was a low scoring slog, as each side continued to up their defensive pressure. The Firebirds’ introduction of Abigail Latu-Meafou into the shooting circle led a comeback, narrowing the deficit to just one point midway through the term. However Wilson wove some more defensive magic to push the Thunderbirds ahead again and take out the win.
Missed shot conversion proved costly in clutch moments for the Firebirds, as they sat as just 38 percent compared to the Thunderbirds 50.
Firebirds’ co-captain Ruby Bakewell-Doran, who’s been in strong form this season, played in her 50th national league match.
She was tasked with defending Lauren Frew, who put in an exceptional performance under the post with 22/23.
“Her speed is amazing and she’s still learning at times when to put that into play,” said Thunderbirds coach Tania Obst of Frew.
“She’s still learning her craft and understanding her impact and what impact that has on the team.”
LADDER LOSERS
With five Super Netball teams all sitting on eight points at the end of last week’s matches, Round 5 could shake up the log jam like few other fixtures do.
Having lost today’s match the Firebirds could drop as low as sixth place, other results pending, in a massive fall from grace at this point of the season.
With 14 rounds before finals, they will have to quickly find a way to reverse their fortunes if they want to be premiership contenders.
SHAMERA SUBSTITUTE
It’s no easy feat to cover the loss of the world’s best goal keeper, but the Thunderbirds are giving it a red hot crack.
In the last two weeks they’ve used fellow Jamaican Latty Wilson, Australian Tilly Garrett, and replacement player, South African Sanmarie Visser.
While all three athletes have the hops, it was Tilly Garrett who was given the job today, allowing Wilson free range to hunt the ball in front of her.
Originally published as Super Netball: Fever into Super Netball’s top four after Mavs lose star, Thunderbirds beat Firebirds
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