The West Coast Fever chalked up a one-point victory over the Giants on the road this weekend to keep their hopes alive for a home semi final.
It was a gutsy effort from the Fever girls who were down at the end of every term, using all of the last quarter to get over the line and remain composed until the final buzzer.
Olivia Wilkinson scored four super goals before half time to keep the Fever in winning contention heading into the second half.
Fever star Ruth Aryang joined Sports Breakfast this morning.
“It was a very much needed win, especially going into finals. I think taking the four points is important but also just having a win on the board is very important as well,” she said.
“They did fight really hard and I think credit to them, they fought their hearts out and they played very, very well… I think our composure in those last couple of minutes is what won us the game.
“She [Olivia Wilkinson] brought us back into that game and absolutely did what she had to do which was just shoot so confidently and I think that it brings so much confidence into the group and also brings that momentum that we probably didn’t have that whole first half.”
Composure has been a key area of focus for head coach Dan Ryan, with simple mistakes proving costly throughout the second half of the season.
Winning five out of their first seven games – four of which were in a row – the Fever started 2026 strong and looked promising, but three losses from the past six games has produced some concern heading into finals.
“One of the biggest things that Dan has been kind of speaking to us about is our inconsistency, and going into our finals campaign that just can’t keep happening because we want to be consistent and want to have that consistency throughout our finals campaign.”
A home final is possible if everything goes right for WA’s girls in the final round of the home and away season this weekend.
The Fever will face second placed Melbourne Vixens at John Cain Arena on Sunday, while third placed Melbourne Mavericks will play the Firebirds who sit in seventh.
A win from the Fever and loss for the Mavericks will move the Fever into third, meaning they will host the third fourth in a home final.
Defeating the Vixens however won’t be an easy feat – they defeated the Fever by a point in last year’s grand final and sit with a record of 10-3 in 2026.
“We’ve finished fourth before and we have done damage, which shows we can do it again.”
The Fever’s home final fate hangs in the balance on Saturday when the Mavericks take on the Firebirds before the Fever take the stage against the Vixens on Sunday.
IMAGE: Giants Netball