West Coast Fever captain Jess Anstiss calls on Green Army for final fight

West Coast Fever captain Jess Anstiss has issued a call to arms for the club’s passionate supporters ahead of their final chance this year to fill RAC Arena and make the venue a fortress. Fever will face Sunshine Coast Lightning in a must-win minor semifinal on Sunday afternoon in their push for a second Super Netball premiership in three years. But their third-place finish means they will not play in front of the Green Army again this season, regardless of the result. Fever fans have broken attendance records for a home game three times this year with 11,841-strong crowd cheering them on to a 19-point victory against the Melbourne Mavericks to round out an impressive season. The final weekend of the regular season saw record-breaking crowds, with sell-outs in Brisbane, Adelaide and Sydney, but it has been Perth that has regularly outperformed the rest of the country. And the Fever still hold the record for the biggest home crowd in the competition’s history, with 13,908 people flocking to their 2022 grand final. Anstiss said a packed house could be critical to their hopes. “We have made RAC Arena our fortress and the Green Army are the most passionate supporters in the country. They are like our eighth player when we step out on court because they lift us in the big moments,” she said. “This is a do-or-die final and we need the Green Army and Perth out in force as we take on the Lightning this Sunday. “It’s time to rally behind West Coast Fever, join the Green Army and turn Perth green.” Fever started the season in superb form, winning their first six games by an average of 17 goals, firmly cementing their spot on top of the ladder. The next six rounds saw the side struggle as they suffered heavy defeats to Vixens, Thunderbirds and Firebirds before regaining momentum to round out the season with three wins in a row. Lightning star Courtney Bruce is as familiar with RAC Arena as any of her opponents, having captained West Coast to a premiership just two seasons ago. She says the key to her side heading west and leaving with their season still alive will be staying in their own “bubble” in an atmosphere she described as intimidating. “It’s quite an intimidating venue I’m sure there are going to be ten thousand plus people there but we will just on staying within our bubble and doing what we do best,” she said in an exclusive interview with The West Australian. “It is an incredible arena to play in front of and there’s going to be a lot of green in there.” Tickets are on sale now through Ticketek