Superstar shooters collide in netball GF

West Coast Fever have the chance to secure their first Super Netball title when they host the Sunshine Coast Lightning at Perth Arena on Sunday.

Jhaniele Fowler

Jhaniele Fowler looms as a dominant force for West Coast Fever in the Super Netball grand final (AAP)

Having partnered both in attack, Natalie Medhurst is perfectly placed to compare the Super Netball grand final's two superstar goal shooters, Caitlin Bassett and Jhaniele Fowler.

Australian captain Bassett will be up against her former team when her Sunshine Coast Lightning face West Coast Fever in Sunday's title decider in Perth.

Goal attack Medhurst was Bassett's attacking partner for club and country before enjoying a great 2018 season in tandem with Jamaican Fowler.

Fever won just two games last year with Bassett no longer in their ranks, but they have been a juggernaut since recruiting the 196cm Fowler for this season.

Fowler dominated the regular season scoring stats with 846 goals - while Bassett was third with 553 - and Medhurst was second for goal assists with 394.

Three-time world championship winner Medhurst said the two goal shooters were vastly different, and both special in their own right.

"Jhaniele's sheer strength she has under that goal post - I don't think anyone comes close to that," Medhurst said.

"Jhaniele is also comfortable in shooting from anywhere in the circle. She has a real air of confidence about her.

"When you're lining up along someone like that as your teammate, it's pretty infectious.

"Bassett, we basically knew each other like the back our our hands.

"I've enjoyed playing with both of them, but they both bring different things to the game."

The Fever's slump last year coincided with Medhurst's axing from the Australian squad for the first time in a decade.

The 34-year-old said any thoughts of reviving her international career would be the furthest thing from her mind in the grand final, despite her hot form.

Seemingly out of favour with Diamonds coach Lisa Alexander she was not recalled for the Commonwealth Games campaign and faces a battle to ever play again for her country.

"I'm out there to win a premiership with the Fever, and at the moment I couldn't care less about the Aussie Diamonds," Medhurst said.

"I don't feel like I've got anything to prove there either.

"My form across the season has been as good as any. Anything that comes would be a bonus. But I'm here to play for Fever, to win a premiership, and bring some success to this club."

Sunshine Coast are the defending champions, but the Fever beat them by one goal in both of their previous battles this season.

The Fever hope to attract a crowd in excess of 12,000 for Sunday's game.


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Source: AAP


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