Event Details
Melbourne Vixens v West Coast Fever
Saturday 1 May
1pm WST
John Cain Arena, Melbourne
Broadcast Details
Channel 9 and Netball Live app
Most Recent Meetings
Grand Final, 2020: West Coast Fever defeated by Melbourne Vixens 64-66.
Round 10, 2020: West Coast Fever drew Melbourne Vixens 63-63.
Round 5, 2020: West Coast Fever defeated by Melbourne Vixens 59-68.
West Coast Fever and the Melbourne Vixens will clash in a Grand Final replay at John Cain Arena, which will be the first time the Vixens have played an SSN match in-front of a home crowd in Melbourne since the 2019 semi-final 608 days ago!
Fever make the trip east after a week interrupted by a COVID-19 lockdown in Perth but remain focussed on the task ahead, with coach Stacey Marinkovich confirming all players were fit, ready and raring to go.
“It’s very fresh of mind that we are going over to play a strong opposition. We want to go over there and show that we’ve taken steps forward from last season.”
Reigning MVP Jhaniele Fowler will again be a focal point in attack for Fever, alongside Alice Teague-Neeld and new recruit Sasha Glasgow, who will both have important roles to play.
“I do have a bit of a selection headache in terms of who starts the game. I am spoilt for choice in terms of the way they connect out on court,” Marinkovich said.
“It’s not just on one person’s shoulders, it’s the variety that I can go to, to keep attacking an opposition. It’s my ability as coach to read those moments and to make those changes but I’m certainly confident in what the players have done in the off-season.”
A new-look Vixens line-up will be missing Caitlin Thwaites and Tegan Philip through retirement and Liz Watson, who’ll miss the season through injury.
New faces Kaylia Stanton and Ruby Barkmeyer come into the team to help Mwai Kumwenda in attack, while Watson’s place in the 10 will be filled on a temporary week-to-week basis rather than with a permanent replacement for now - starting with Hannah Mundy.
