West Coast Fever coach Dan Ryan has characterized the beginning of their Super Netball season as a "bumpy ride," following a significant 13-goal defeat at the hands of the Adelaide Thunderbirds. Despite the setback, Ryan maintains an optimistic outlook, stating that the team is "still in a pretty good place" and drawing confidence from their ability to compete effectively during various segments of the match.
The recent loss, which saw the Fever fall 66-53 to the Thunderbirds, highlighted areas for improvement, particularly in maintaining composure throughout the game. While the team demonstrated flashes of strong play, consistency proved to be a challenge.
A notable moment during the match involved Jamaican veteran shooter Romelda Aiken-George, who was benched twice in the second half due to issues with accuracy. Aiken-George finished the game with 29 goals from 37 attempts. In a development for the team, training partner Sloan Burton made her debut during the same fixture, gaining valuable experience on the Super Netball stage.
Ryan's assessment suggests a focus on learning and adaptation as the season progresses. The coach's comments underscore a belief in the team's underlying strength and potential, despite the early challenges faced on the court. The emphasis remains on leveraging the competitive periods of play and addressing the inconsistencies that led to the recent defeat.
