Fever’s Fowler replacement prospects

By Olivia Newman and Matt Fotia

The West Coast Fever will be without its star goaler Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard after she announced this morning that she is expecting her second child. 

Exciting news for the Fever stalwart, who has been a part of the club for seven years. The six-time SSN Player of the Year also confirmed she will not be taking the court in 2025, leaving the Fever with a huge gap to fill on their list ahead of next season. 

Replacing one of the best goal shooters in the world isn’t going to be an easy task. 

We’ve put together a list of six athletes who might be able to fill Jhaniele’s enormous shoes. 

OLIVIA TCHINE 

Dan Ryan loves an exciting international star. 

And there aren’t many more exciting international prospects than Olivia Tchine right now.  

The 24-year-old shooter has been a part of the England Netball pathway for the last seven years, working her way up from the Under 17’s to the Roses set up.  

She made her debut for the senior side in 2022 and has represented her country on 24 occasions, playing a part in the Roses silver medal winning 2023 Netball World Cup campaign. 

Known for her lethal accuracy, athleticism and explosive leap, Tchine has played in the Netball Super League since 2019, making her mark on the competition recently by shooting over 2,000 goals for the London Pulse since the start of the 2022 campaign. 

Should the Fever make the call, Tchine will be eager to return to Australian shores, given her recent success down under.  

The 191cm goaler shot 91 goals from 94 attempts during the Roses three-test series here in September, impressing with her movement and maturity against the likes of Sarah Klau, Rudi Ellis and potential Fever teammate Sunday Aryang. 

UNEEQ PALAVI 

This Tonga Tala star has played with, and against some big names in her young career and could flourish in the Perth spotlight if given the chance. 

Standing at 185cm tall, Palavi has been on the fringes of the SSN for the past few seasons, with limited opportunities 

Since first representing Tonga in 2022 Palavi has blossomed as a player, helping guide the Tala to multiple PacificAus titles before impressing the wider netball public at last year’s Netball World Cup in Cape Town.  

Palavi was unstoppable against eventual runners-up England, shooting 37 goals from 42 attempts, combining well with netball legend Cat Tuivati, and finished as the tournament’s fourth highest goal scorer behind Wales’ Georgia Rowe, Malawi’s Joyce Mvula and Fowler-Nembhard herself. 

The mercurial talent began 2024 as a Training Partner with the Melbourne Mavericks, but finished the season with the NSW Swifts, playing in their last four games as a Temporary Replacement Player. 

Palavi managed 112 goals from her four appearances and played a starring role in the Swifts emotional Round 14 win over the GIANTS, where she finished with 44 goals from 48 attempts in a player of the match performance.  

She’s proven herself as an impactful player at SSN level, but is she in Dan Ryan’s sights to slot in at the Fever? 

CHARLIE BELL 

Charlie Bell is another player likely to be on West Coast Fever’s radar.  

Bell has signed with the Stars in 2025, heading to Auckland to join the ANZ Premiership. She’s no stranger to the kiwi league following a short stint as a temporary replacement player for the Tactix in 2024. 

With two years under her belt at the Sunshine Coast Lightning, Bell is sure to have learnt plenty of trade secrets playing alongside one of the country’s best goaling combos; in Fretwell and Koenen.  

At 197cm, if Fever are looking to replace Fowler-Nembhard with another tall holding goaler, then Bell could be the girl for the job.  

Bell’s playing style lends itself to versatility to use her height at the post, as well as agility to get off the baseline and keep her defender guessing.  

A Queensland pathway athlete, Bell was initially reluctant to sign a contract overseas with hopes to continue to develop her game in 2025 in her home state but decided to lock herself in with the Stars to secure some extra court time in a high-performance environment.  

Bell is one to watch as we wait to hear who Fever lock in as the replacement player for Fowler-Nembhard.  

DONNELL WALLAM 

Origin Diamonds star Donnell Wallam seemed to be in the box seat for a phone call from Fever. 

Wallam was the SSN’s third highest goal scorer in 2024, finishing with 556 goals and her playing style of holding shooter with the ability to drain super shots would have made her the perfect fit for the Fever. 

Fever coach Dan Ryan has already played a key role in kickstarting Wallam’s career. Ryan was Wallam’s coach during her first year of professional netball with the Leeds Rhinos in 2020. 

Wallam’s performances with the Rhinos led to her being picked up by the Queensland Firebirds in 2021 and ultimately set her on the path to Diamonds selection. 

As a proud Noongar woman there would be an undoubtable pull towards the state she calls home but after cutting ties with the Queensland Firebirds, Wallam is set on a fresh start, publicly re-confirming her commitment to the ANZ Premiership side the Northern Mystics earlier today. 

Wallam is signed, sealed and ready to deliver for the Mystics. 

ROLENE STREUTKER 

If Dan Ryan decides to pursue international avenues, he’ll undoubtably be chatting to South African goaler Rolene Streutker.  

Streutker made her SSN debut in 2024 with the Melbourne Mavericks, as a replacement player. In only 57 minutes of game time across three matches Streutker scored 18 goals from 21 attempts (86% accuracy) for the Mavericks.  

Streutker could fit into the Fever’s lineup effortlessly, as a strong up-and-coming goal shooter with plenty to prove and an impressive ability to turn and go to post.  

Unfortunately for her (and fortunately for Dan Ryan) Streutker came out of the SSN player signing period empty handed. At this stage she’s headed to England to play for Nottingham Forest Netball in the Super League. 

AMELIA WALMSLEY 

Since Grace Nweke’s arrival, it seems recruiting from across the ditch is still possible. 

If so, Fever could be tempted to give Amelia Walmsley’s people a call. 

The 20-year-old made her professional netball debut at the ripe old age of 17 with the Tactix, before signing her first contract a year later with the Central Pulse.  

After limited minutes in her first season with the Pulse, Walmsley became the number one shooter in 2023 and took the added responsibility in her stride. 

Her ANZ Premiership performances earned her a call-up to the Silver Ferns squad, and she debuted against England later that year, aged just 19. 

Still eligible for this years Netball Youth World Cup in Gibraltar, Walmsley stands at 192cm, has an incredible reach, good ball handling and is well known for her strong rebounding, which could come in handy for the Fever if Shanice Beckford fancies putting up a few super shots. 

With NSW Swifts boom recruit Grace Nweke ineligible for Silver Ferns selection in 2025, Walmsley looms as her likely replacement in the New Zealand goal circle, making the prospect of joining the Fever for a season less enticing for the young star. 

But could the Fever sell Walmsley on the long-term benefits of a season in the world’s best netball league? 

It’s worth a try.