Zoe Cransberg has snared the most crucial intercept of the Super Netball season to lift West Coast Fever to a 64-55 win over the Melbourne Vixens and secure third spot on the ladder.
The Fever entered Sunday's match knowing they needed to win by eight or nine goals - depending on how high scoring the contest was - in order to nab third spot from the Mavericks and secure a home minor semi-final.
West Coast looked set to easily achieve their goal after opening up a whopping 16-goal lead with just over five minutes remaining.
But a Super Shot barrage from Vixens duo Kiera Austin and Sophie Garbin turned the contest on its head, with the defending champions closing the gap to seven goals with less than 90 seconds remaining.
The Fever knew they had to peg at least one more goal back to snare third spot, and an inspirational running intercept by Cransberg gave the visitors a chance.
West Coast pulled a goal back from that intercept to make it an eight-goal buffer with 33 seconds to go, and they swung the next centre pass forward for Romelda Aiken-George to score a goal on the final siren to make it a nine-goal margin and guarantee third spot.
It means West Coast (9-5, 105.27 per cent) edged the Melbourne Mavericks (9-5, 105.06 per cent) on percentage for third spot.
The Fever will now host the Mavericks in the minor semi-final in Perth on Sunday, with the ladder-leading Adelaide Thunderbirds hosting the second-placed Vixens in the major semi-final on the same day.
The Vixens (10-4) enter the finals on the back of a three-match losing run and with plenty of questions about their ability to win back-to-back titles.
"We're pretty stoked," Cransberg told Fox Sports after securing the win on enemy territory at John Cain Arena.
"I've never played in a game when you're up and you're going to win, but you're still fighting, so it's pretty awesome.
With high stakes and high intensity, Fever take home the win against the Vixens đ pic.twitter.com/jjdo9i76Aw
â Suncorp Super Netball (@SuperNetball) June 14, 2026
"Just being able to not have to travel continuously is awesome, especially coming from Perth. We're so happy with that performance."
Aiken-George's radar was off in the opening quarter with 8-of-13 shooting, but two Super Shots from Sasha Glasgow ensured Fever entered the first break with a 15-14 edge.
The Fever made a big move in the second quarter, with their intense pressure and another couple of Super Shots from Glasgow extending the lead to 10 goals just before halftime.
But with five minutes remaining in the match and with West Coast seemingly cruising, Austin and Garbin went crazy during the Super Shot period.
It put third spot in grave doubt for the Fever, until Cransberg's late interception saved the day.
FINALS SCHEDULE (both games on Sunday, June 21)
Major semi-final: Adelaide Thunderbirds v Melbourne Vixens at 36ers Arena, 1.30pm ACST/2pm AEST
Minor semi-final: West Coast v Melbourne Mavericks at RAC Arena, 2pm WST/4pm AEST
