Mitchell Johnson: Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard can take her place among WA’s sporting legends with second flag

By any measure, what the West Coast Fever have done this season is extraordinary. Thirteen straight wins. A home major semifinal blitz. A grand final berth secured in brutal, brilliant fashion. But as someone who’s played finals sport and felt the squeeze of pressure when it matters most, let me say this clearly — what the Fever are doing isn’t just dominant. It’s culture-shifting. I’m the first to admit — I’m no expert on the technical side of netball. I didn’t grow up playing it. But elite sport is elite sport. The pressure, the mindset, the sacrifices — they don’t change based on the shape of the ball or the colour of the shirt, guernsey or bib. What I do understand, deeply, is what it takes to win when it matters most. And from where I’m sitting, this Fever side is built like a champion team. And this isn’t just about netball. This is about fairness, visibility, and what happens when elite women’s sport is given the platform — and respect — it deserves. People underestimate what it takes to perform when everything is on the line. Winning 12 straight in the regular season is one thing — doing it after a poor start when the lights are brightest, the crowd’s heaving, and the whole country is watching is another. I’ve played in big finals. I’ve felt the nerves walking out in front of thousands, knowing one error can undo a season’s worth of work. That pressure can paralyse. Or it can sharpen you. And that’s what we saw in Fever’s semifinal destruction of the NSW Swifts. That second quarter? Arguably the best 15 minutes of netball in Fever history. Coach Dan Ryan said it. He’s right. It was clinical, ruthless, and brilliant — the kind of performance that announces you’re not just here to compete. You’re here to dominate. Nearly 12,000 fans at RAC Arena erupted — the building shook with belief. But here’s where things get frustrating. After all of that — the wins, the consistency, the undefeated run, the top spot — West Coast Fever don’t get to host the grand final in Perth. Instead, they’re heading to Melbourne. Rod Laver Arena is undoubtedly a brilliant venue. But this isn’t a tennis final. This is Super Netball. And the top-seeded team — the one that earned the right — should be playing the big dance at home, in front of their fans. Let’s not sugarcoat this: the decision reeks of commercial convenience. Melbourne has the infrastructure, the sponsors, and the pull. I know the WA Government also bought the grand final three years ago, but this is a slap in the face to the Green Army who packed RAC Arena week after week. And to a Fever team that did everything right. They didn’t just finish top — they thrashed teams to get there. They broke records, drew over 11,000 to regular-season games, and carried the league’s momentum on their shoulders. I understand the league’s ambition — Rod Laver Arena promises exposure and a spectacle, especially if the Melbourne Vixens make it. But it shouldn’t come at the cost of integrity. Perth deserved the grand final. The cash from a neutral venue shouldn’t override earned rights. We talk about growing the game — but when the west dominates, the goalposts shift east. It’s not good enough, but in the end, it’s something many West Australian sporting teams are used to and get on with. If West Coast Fever are the league’s juggernaut, then Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard is the engine, the weapon, and the metronome all in one. But it’s more than the numbers. Her presence changes everything. Opponents build entire defensive strategies around trying to stop her — and most fail. She draws defenders like a magnet, creating space for others to move and deliver. She’s unselfish, calm, and utterly irreplaceable. There are few athletes in world sport — not just netball — who have had this level of sustained influence on a team’s identity. If Fever win another title, Fowler-Nembhard belongs alongside the Worsfolds, Pavliches and Fyfes in WA sporting legend. This is where it matters. A strong women’s team in WA isn’t just good for the Fever. It’s essential for the next generation of fans, both girls and boys. We often discuss what it means for young girls to have role models. And yes — watching Sunday Aryang, Alice Teague-Neeld and Jess Anstiss dominate gives girls the belief they can do the same. But it’s equally important that young boys grow up seeing women play elite sport. Not as a novelty, but as the norm. Seeing their skill, their toughness, their professionalism — we build a better sporting culture. One that doesn’t put women’s sport in a second-tier box. WA needs that. Australia needs that. So when Fever step on court for the grand final, they’re not just carrying the hopes of their team. They’re carrying a community forward. If they win, it’ll be more than a premiership. It’ll be a symbol of what WA can produce, of how much this team has given, and of how much more they deserve. That’s how you build legacy. And that’s how you change sport.