THEY’VE been the talk of the ANZ Championship again this summer and West Coast Fever defender Shae Brown is adamant the team wants to live up to expectations they’ll be the big improvers in 2015.
Fever open their campaign in Brisbane against the Mission Queensland Firebirds, the team which has finished runners up the past two seasons, and Bolton said they are determined to begin a new era for the club by becoming a tough team to beat both at home and away.
Fever have only tasted victory once in an opening round clash – in 2012 when they beat the Tactix in Perth – and never beaten the Firebirds in Brisbane from seven previous attempts.
Brown said a victory this Sunday would be a great way to start their campaign – and also the coaching career of Stacey Rosman.
“I feel like we’ve been quite competitive in the past, certainly in recent times, up there (Brisbane),” Brown said.
“We’ve been in the lead on that court. It’s just a matter of playing quality netball for 60 minutes and we need to learn to win, keep building on momentum when we do have it. That will help us take our game to the next level.
“Firebirds are tough competitors so it will be a good test of where we’re at. If we come home with a win it will put our stamp on the competition.”
The 25-year-old midcourter is entering her seventh season at Fever and said there’s a good feeling among the playing group about the direction the club wants to head in.
“Fever’s had a lot of key signings and new coaches in past who have been touted as the savior whereas this year it’s been a `business as usual’ approach,” Brown said.
“We know working harder is what we can to do become better as a team and the girls that have come across have slotted in perfectly and they’re going to make us a really united front. There’s a really good feeling in the group.
“We are so excited about the season starting. We know that every other team has done a hard and tough pre-season, like we have. We can take a bit of confidence in the work we have done and move forward.”
Brown said Rosman has challenged the midcourt – herself, Khao Watts, Ingrid Colyer and new captain Ash Brazill - to take their games to another level this season if Fever is to threaten for a spot in the Australian Conference Finals.
“All of us midcourt have really bonded over the pre-season and we know that we do need to step up and take on that challenge,” Brown said.
“Every single one of us is determined to work hard and do our job so Fever is successful.”
The Fever travel to the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre to begin their 2015 campaign against the Mission Queensland Firebirds on Sunday, March 1 at 11.18am, local time. Catch the action live on ONE, FOX SPORTS 1 and Sky Sport.
