West Coast Fever captain Courtney Bruce will celebrate her 100th National League game when she takes the court against Collingwood at John Cain Arena for this Sunday’s Round 2 Suncorp Super Netball clash.
The 2021 Liz Ellis Diamond winner and Australian Diamonds defender has cemented her place as one of the world’s best defenders over a 99-game career that commenced with her Fever debut in Round 4, 2013 against the Adelaide Thunderbirds.
She becomes the fourth player to celebrate 100 games for West Coast Fever behind Caitlin Bassett (118), Verity Simmons (111), and Shae Brown (103).
“I feel so honoured to have hit 100 games,” Bruce said.
“Not everyone gets to this milestone and I have had many highs and many lows to get to this point but I’m so excited to play my 100th game at the club.”
“I am grateful the club took a chance on a really young and raw 16-year-old and fulfilled one of her dreams of being able to play for the West Coast Fever, the club she loved as a young girl.”
“I’m excited to step out on the court and do the thing I love with people that are like family, it’s pretty special to hit this milestone with the Fever family.”
“Thank you to everyone, my friends, family and the Green Army who has supported me, challenged me, helped me grow. You have been there in both the good and the bad times. As a young 16-year-old to a now 28-year-old, to get to this special achievement of 100 games is a credit to all of those people.”
“A special mention to my family for the support they have given me throughout the journey, from driving me to and from training as a young girl to now being at every game they can be and being my biggest supporters!”
Bruce was first called on to train with Fever as 16-year-old schoolgirl back in 2010 and a year later, was added to the squad as an injury replacement player.
After growing in stature with West Coast Fever and demonstrating her outstanding ability and leadership on the court, she was added to the Australian Diamonds’ squad for the first time in late 2016, making her debut during the 2017 International Quad Series.
Bruce was appointed West Coast Fever captain for the following season and became the club’s longest serving skipper in 2021, when she dominated as a Goal Keeper to lead the Suncorp Super Netball league in deflections (97), defensive rebounds (26) and gains (97); as well as finishing second for intercepts (48) and fourth overall on the competition’s Nissan Net Points leader board.
She picked up where she left of in Round 1 of the 2022 season last Sunday, recording 11 gains, 7 rebounds, 4 deflections and 2 intercepts during Fever’s record-breaking win over Sunshine Coast Lightning at RAC Arena.
She will be hoping to carry that form into Sunday’s encounter with Collingwood, where a West Coast Fever win would be a terrific result to celebrate her 100-game milestone.
West Coast Fever Coach Dan Ryan paid tribute to Bruce heading into the match-up.
“Courtney has had such an incredible journey at this club and to reach her 100th game as a one-club player is a milestone she should be extremely proud of,” he said.
“The loyalty and commitment she has shown to Fever and her growth from being that 16-year-old school kid to now one of the best defenders is the world is quite remarkable.”
“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed getting to know Courtney these past few months, she’s one of the most gifted athletes I’ve ever had the privileged to work with.”
“She’s entering the prime of her career right now and it’s scary to think how much better she can still get. It’s an exciting proposition for us, but a terrifying proposition for the rest of the world.”
