Event Details
Time: Saturday 10 July, 6pm WST
Location: RAC Arena, Perth
Broadcast: Telstra TV and Netball Live app
Most Recent Meetings
Round 3, 2021: Fever defeated Lightning 69-54
Preliminary Final, 2020: Fever defeated Lightning 73-59
Round 11, 2020: Fever defeated Lightning 72-52
The Situation
West Coast Fever will be looking to rebound from their first loss of the season last weekend; a one-goal defeat to the NSW Swifts in a thrilling finish at John Cain Arena, which saw Fever fight their way back from a nine-goal deficit at three-quarter time to almost snatch the win.
They will be aiming to carry this momentum into Saturday’s home game against Lightning, who were also narrowly defeated in Round 9 by three goals at the hands of Melbourne Vixens.
Despite the loss, Lightning sit in second position on the ladder and are only trailing top side Swifts by percentage.
Last time Fever and Lightning met was Round 3 on the Sunshine Coast, where Fever Captain Courtney Bruce was inspirational in defence with five intercepts and seven gains, helping her side record a convincing 15-goal win after trailing early in the contest.
Lightning players Cara Koenen and Mahalia Cassidy will be celebrating their 50-game milestones in this game.
Key Match Ups
Goal Keeper v Goal Shooter
Courtney Bruce v Cara Koenen
Courtney Bruce’s ability to shut down Lightning Goal Shooter Cara Koenen in their Round 3 encounter was key to Fever’s success. Koenen scored 15 goals in the first quarter as the Lightning built a nine-goal lead before Bruce stepped up and restricted her influence to just 13 more goals for the remainder of the game.
Bruce has continued her form in defence for the Fever since then, recording 27 intercepts and 58 deflections in eight games. Koenen will be looking to increase her output and add to the 317 goals she has scored at 90 per cent accuracy so far this season.
Centre v Centre / Wing Defence v Wing Attack
Jess Anstiss v Laura Scherian
It’s likely that wherever West Coast Fever’s Jess Anstiss and Sunshine Coast Lightning’s Laura Scherian start for their respective teams on Saturday night, the two will match up at some point of the contest.
Fever coach Stacey Marinkovich’s has turned to Anstiss to be her starting Centre in recent weeks and with the strong defensive approach that she brings from her more frequently played position at Wing Defence, she has certainly helped to control the play through the mid-court by shutting down her opponents with a strong physical presence.
She will be looking to restrict the Lightning’s experienced campaigner Laura Scherian, who has also lined up at Centre in her side’s last few outings, but also frequently plays at Wing Attack. The versatility of both players to move through the mid-court will make them important contributors to their teams in this contest.
