
Super Netball 2025: West Coast Fever's ‘Green Army' ready to cheer them in major semifinal against NSW Swifts
Fever have become the hottest ticket in town, playing in front of consecutive record-breaking crowds in the lead up to finals on the back of an incredible 12-game winning streak.
And it's set to go to another level, with more than 10,000 tickets already sold for Fever's major semifinal against the NSW Swifts at RAC Arena on Sunday.
There is plenty on the line with the victor of the clash booking the first spot in this year's grand final.
Should Fever extend their winning streak they will play in their fourth decider in eight years and look to add another premiership to the win they claimed at the venue in 2022.
Fever coach Dan Ryan said the support from their passionate fans had been instrumental in their historic run which has captured the attention of sports fans in WA.
'We talk about it all the time as to how grateful and privileged we are to get to play on centre court at RAC Arena in front of 12,000 fans,' he said.
'No other team in the competition gets to do that week-in, week-out and the game day experience is like no other.
'Just the moment before the game where we soak it in, we look around and see the very top row in the stadium filled. It's just amazing.
'It is something we hold very dear to us and it's something that is very unique to our team and our club and we're really proud that's what we get to. We want to do our best in those moments because it certainly is something pretty special.'
Fever captain Jess Anstiss said they couldn't wait to play in front of the famed Green Army.
'Having a final on our home court with all our family, friends and supporters makes it even more special,' she said.
'We have the best fans in the league and can't wait to see them on the Sunday.'
Defender Fran Williams said: 'Playing at home is always special but to be playing in a final knowing we will look up and have our Green Army cheering back at us makes it all more motivating to get that win.'

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

Sydney Morning Herald
7 hours ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘Bring it in quickly': The story behind the speech that inspired one of Australian netball's greatest comebacks
At three-quarter-time of the Super Netball preliminary final, Melbourne Vixens coach Simone McKinnis crouched to her knees and beckoned her players to huddle up. 'Bring it in quickly,' she said, and they leaned in, eyes on the 59-year-old. The 35 seconds that followed will go down as one of the most rousing rev-ups in Australian sport, inspiring the Vixens to an astonishing comeback victory and a place in Saturday night's grand final against West Coast Fever at Rod Laver Arena. The story behind her speech is even more remarkable. The Vixens were in a dire position against the NSW Swifts in the prelim– down 51-41 at the last break. But that was nothing compared with the team's position after six rounds of the season, with only two wins on the board and upheaval behind the scenes. McKinnis stunned the netball world in May by announcing that she would resign at the end of the season, and now admits that her own issues were affecting the team. 'To be honest those weeks, I don't think I was at my best because of everything going on in the background,' McKinnis told this masthead. 'The girls were playing how I was feeling.' McKinnis, who represented Australia 63 times and is a Commonwealth Games gold medallist and dual world champion, declined to elaborate on the reasons for her resignation, other than to say it came down to a combination of factors. With her contract expiring at season's end, it felt like the right time to hand over the reins. Her decision to step down after 13 years at the helm proved a turning point for the Vixens. McKinnis says it allowed the team to focus, and they won eight of their next 10 games to reach back-to-back grand finals.

The Age
7 hours ago
- The Age
‘Bring it in quickly': The story behind the speech that inspired one of Australian netball's greatest comebacks
At three-quarter-time of the Super Netball preliminary final, Melbourne Vixens coach Simone McKinnis crouched to her knees and beckoned her players to huddle up. 'Bring it in quickly,' she said, and they leaned in, eyes on the 59-year-old. The 35 seconds that followed will go down as one of the most rousing rev-ups in Australian sport, inspiring the Vixens to an astonishing comeback victory and a place in Saturday night's grand final against West Coast Fever at Rod Laver Arena. The story behind her speech is even more remarkable. The Vixens were in a dire position against the NSW Swifts in the prelim– down 51-41 at the last break. But that was nothing compared with the team's position after six rounds of the season, with only two wins on the board and upheaval behind the scenes. McKinnis stunned the netball world in May by announcing that she would resign at the end of the season, and now admits that her own issues were affecting the team. 'To be honest those weeks, I don't think I was at my best because of everything going on in the background,' McKinnis told this masthead. 'The girls were playing how I was feeling.' McKinnis, who represented Australia 63 times and is a Commonwealth Games gold medallist and dual world champion, declined to elaborate on the reasons for her resignation, other than to say it came down to a combination of factors. With her contract expiring at season's end, it felt like the right time to hand over the reins. Her decision to step down after 13 years at the helm proved a turning point for the Vixens. McKinnis says it allowed the team to focus, and they won eight of their next 10 games to reach back-to-back grand finals.


The Advertiser
14 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Vixens feel they have the antidote to stop hot Fever
Retiring coach Simone McKinnis says nothing short of the Melbourne Vixens' best will be enough to stop the West Coast Fever juggernaut in Saturday's Super Netball grand final. The Vixens are determined to send McKinnis, stepping down after 13 years at the helm, out as a winner but face a mighty task in toppling the Fever, who are on a 13-game winning streak. In the two clashes through the season Melbourne haven't come close, but after fighting their way from fourth to a spot in the decider at a sold-out Rod Laver Arena, believe they can cause a boilover against the runaway minor premiers. The Vixens fortuitously have a home grand final thanks to Netball Australia selling off the match to the highest bidder, which the Victorian government won last September. The Vixens suffered a two-goal loss in last year's grand final in Adelaide against the Thunderbirds, with their last title coming win a victory against the Fever in 2020, when the title showdown was played in a Queensland hub due to COVID-19. McKinnis acknowledged it would be tough but not impossible to stop the Fever, who won their last grand final meeting in 2022, and in particular Jamaican sharp-shooter Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard. They have been boosted by the return of star wing attack Hannah Mundy, who has been sidelined for more than a month with a foot injury but got the green light this week. "We have to be at our absolute best, individually and collectively as a team and I think that anything bar that is not going to cut it," said McKinnis, a former Diamonds wing defence. "We have to have real clarity and intention about what we're doing out there, we have to put them under as much pressure as we can and we have to go for it back ourselves in attack. "Tough ask, but I believe we can do it." Fever coach Dan Ryan said his team's preparation had been seamless as they sat back and watched the Vixens claw their way from a 10-goal three-quarter time deficit to oust the NSW Swifts in the preliminary final. The Perth outfit beat the Vixens in the final round of the season by 11 goals with Fowler-Nembhard slotting a stunning 60 goals with her only blemish missing two long-range super shots. But Ryan said they were far from a one-player team. "To win this competition every single player needs to pull their weight and do their role and every role is slightly different and we've got a team of 10 that we have great confidence to turn to at any point in time," he said. "Jhaniele is obviously a focal point for us, and she's always a focal point in opposition game plans as well, but we really back in every position on the court to bring out the best in each other and support each other on that court. "It's been a really good two-week build to the game ... there's a great energy amongst the group and confidence and excitement to get out there and hopefully play some great netball." Retiring coach Simone McKinnis says nothing short of the Melbourne Vixens' best will be enough to stop the West Coast Fever juggernaut in Saturday's Super Netball grand final. The Vixens are determined to send McKinnis, stepping down after 13 years at the helm, out as a winner but face a mighty task in toppling the Fever, who are on a 13-game winning streak. In the two clashes through the season Melbourne haven't come close, but after fighting their way from fourth to a spot in the decider at a sold-out Rod Laver Arena, believe they can cause a boilover against the runaway minor premiers. The Vixens fortuitously have a home grand final thanks to Netball Australia selling off the match to the highest bidder, which the Victorian government won last September. The Vixens suffered a two-goal loss in last year's grand final in Adelaide against the Thunderbirds, with their last title coming win a victory against the Fever in 2020, when the title showdown was played in a Queensland hub due to COVID-19. McKinnis acknowledged it would be tough but not impossible to stop the Fever, who won their last grand final meeting in 2022, and in particular Jamaican sharp-shooter Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard. They have been boosted by the return of star wing attack Hannah Mundy, who has been sidelined for more than a month with a foot injury but got the green light this week. "We have to be at our absolute best, individually and collectively as a team and I think that anything bar that is not going to cut it," said McKinnis, a former Diamonds wing defence. "We have to have real clarity and intention about what we're doing out there, we have to put them under as much pressure as we can and we have to go for it back ourselves in attack. "Tough ask, but I believe we can do it." Fever coach Dan Ryan said his team's preparation had been seamless as they sat back and watched the Vixens claw their way from a 10-goal three-quarter time deficit to oust the NSW Swifts in the preliminary final. The Perth outfit beat the Vixens in the final round of the season by 11 goals with Fowler-Nembhard slotting a stunning 60 goals with her only blemish missing two long-range super shots. But Ryan said they were far from a one-player team. "To win this competition every single player needs to pull their weight and do their role and every role is slightly different and we've got a team of 10 that we have great confidence to turn to at any point in time," he said. "Jhaniele is obviously a focal point for us, and she's always a focal point in opposition game plans as well, but we really back in every position on the court to bring out the best in each other and support each other on that court. "It's been a really good two-week build to the game ... there's a great energy amongst the group and confidence and excitement to get out there and hopefully play some great netball." Retiring coach Simone McKinnis says nothing short of the Melbourne Vixens' best will be enough to stop the West Coast Fever juggernaut in Saturday's Super Netball grand final. The Vixens are determined to send McKinnis, stepping down after 13 years at the helm, out as a winner but face a mighty task in toppling the Fever, who are on a 13-game winning streak. In the two clashes through the season Melbourne haven't come close, but after fighting their way from fourth to a spot in the decider at a sold-out Rod Laver Arena, believe they can cause a boilover against the runaway minor premiers. The Vixens fortuitously have a home grand final thanks to Netball Australia selling off the match to the highest bidder, which the Victorian government won last September. The Vixens suffered a two-goal loss in last year's grand final in Adelaide against the Thunderbirds, with their last title coming win a victory against the Fever in 2020, when the title showdown was played in a Queensland hub due to COVID-19. McKinnis acknowledged it would be tough but not impossible to stop the Fever, who won their last grand final meeting in 2022, and in particular Jamaican sharp-shooter Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard. They have been boosted by the return of star wing attack Hannah Mundy, who has been sidelined for more than a month with a foot injury but got the green light this week. "We have to be at our absolute best, individually and collectively as a team and I think that anything bar that is not going to cut it," said McKinnis, a former Diamonds wing defence. "We have to have real clarity and intention about what we're doing out there, we have to put them under as much pressure as we can and we have to go for it back ourselves in attack. "Tough ask, but I believe we can do it." Fever coach Dan Ryan said his team's preparation had been seamless as they sat back and watched the Vixens claw their way from a 10-goal three-quarter time deficit to oust the NSW Swifts in the preliminary final. The Perth outfit beat the Vixens in the final round of the season by 11 goals with Fowler-Nembhard slotting a stunning 60 goals with her only blemish missing two long-range super shots. But Ryan said they were far from a one-player team. "To win this competition every single player needs to pull their weight and do their role and every role is slightly different and we've got a team of 10 that we have great confidence to turn to at any point in time," he said. "Jhaniele is obviously a focal point for us, and she's always a focal point in opposition game plans as well, but we really back in every position on the court to bring out the best in each other and support each other on that court. "It's been a really good two-week build to the game ... there's a great energy amongst the group and confidence and excitement to get out there and hopefully play some great netball."