Loss and a bye spice up Fever campaign
Bridget LacyThe West Australian
Saturday, 16 May 2015 12:46PM
Camera IconAsh Brazill models the Fever's new uniform. Pic: Michael Wilson Credit: The West Australian
West Coast Fever captain Ashleigh Brazill has noticed an extra pep in the step of her teammates at training this week.
Fever are coming off the bye and their first loss of the season, to Queensland Firebirds, at Perth Arena on May 1.
Brazill has no doubt about how her side will respond when it takes on ANZ Championship title holders Melbourne Vixens at Margaret Court Arena in Melbourne tomorrow.
"At training this week, the girls have had a lot of spark compared to before the Queensland game," Brazill said.
"Everyone is pumped, just the talk and the vibe going around the team at the moment.
"It feels like we've started pre-season all over again. I think it was a good time to have a bye.
"Everyone seems like different people. Everyone is excited and can't wait to get back on court."
Brazill, one of six Fever players who attended the Australian Diamonds camp in Canberra last week, said they had taken plenty out of the Firebirds loss and were keen to implement the necessary adjustments against the struggling Vixens.
"It was tough, but also there was so much we can learn from the game," she said.
"We have been able to sit down and watch the game a few times and we have got a lot of great advice from Stace (coach Stacey Rosman)."
West Coast have made finals for the first time in their history, but Brazill insisted there would be no celebrating yet.
Fever hold top spot in the Australian Conference on percentage and they want to stay at the summit.
They could sew up a top-two spot and a home final with a win over Melbourne.
"I'm not celebrating yet," Brazill said.
"The next three games are not going to come easy.
"I didn't even know we had made the finals until one of my friends texted me. The way the draw is for finals, it is really important where we finish."
The Vixens are a shadow of the side they were, losing their past five games to Australian teams.
"They are a team we will never take lightly," Brazill said.
"They are still the defending champions. We know they are going to put up a fight.
"They could have it over us if we don't play our A game."
Brazill said it wouldn't be a big adjustment to play on Kelsey Browne, rather than on her injured star sister Madison Robinson.
"Kelsey's exactly like Madi, they play very similar," she said.
"She will be hard to stop because she does have nothing to lose. When I see her, I just see Madi, so she has a big future ahead of her."
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