West Coast Fever has signed four training partners for the 2023 Suncorp Super Netball season.
Fever has re-signed 2022 training partners Ruth Aryang and Zoe Cransberg, who will be joined by Cransberg’s twin sister Jordan and former player Nat Butler (nee Medhurst) as part of Fever’s extended squad.
Jordan crosses over to Fever after being a training partner with Melbourne Vixens and strengthens the team’s midcourt. While Butler re-enters the West Coast Fever environment after an outstanding Australian Netball Championship with the Club’s Reserves.
The Club would like to acknowledge the services of 2022 training partners Sloan Burton and Chelsea Pitman. Burton has decided to take an extended break from the SSN environment to focus on the Fever Academy Program and her GIG WANL commitments for 2023. While Pitman has signed to play in the UK’s Netball Super League with the London Pulse.
Coach Dan Ryan said the decision to sign Butler was off the back of the success of Pitman’s contribution last season.
“Chelsea’s inclusion last year proved to be a real competitive edge for us, so being able to have an experienced player as a training partner again, with COVID still lingering, is something that gives us the depth and quality we need in our squad,” Ryan said.
“Nat demonstrated at ANC that she’s absolutely more than capable to still compete at this level. She was very good at sharing her knowledge and supporting the younger athletes, which is a space she can have great impact in with us.
“If at any time during the season, Nat gets a call up, she’ll be ready to go and play whatever role is required for the team. But if no opportunities arise, she’ll still add great value to our training environment and really challenge it which will be so important for us this season.”
Ryan said the Club was very excited to have two sets of sisters as part of the squad.
“Ruth is tracking nicely in her return from an ACL injury. She’s been such a professional in her rehab and is getting stronger and more confident every week. We can’t wait to see her back out on court throughout the year,” he said.
“We are also incredibly lucky to have Jordan join our program and add to our midcourt depth. Jordan has moved her medical studies to the University of WA and has been training with us across the summer and has been so impressive. She’s an exciting talent with a big future.”
