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From a shy teenager to the queen of Perth – Courtney Bruce literally grew up under the watchful eyes of the West Coast Fever fans.
And in her 12 years in the green dress she never gave up faith that they could bring a premiership to her beloved club.
It was repaid when she became the first captain of Fever to win a premiership in front of the adoring fans who had waited longingly for 25 years.
“It is a fairytale. I love this club, everyone knows that I bleed green,” Bruce said.
“It’s about us right now but it’s about the greater netball community … it’s just about as much for that crowd as it is for us because they’ve been through it thick and thin.
“I deep down believed that we had the capacity to do so (win a premiership) and get here. I was quietly confident coming into this year and this finals series that we were capable of anything and today we just proved what we can do.”
Fever’s performance was a stark contrast from their first grand final four years ago, when they heartbreakingly lost in front of their home fans.
“That 2018 one was a huge learning curve for us, very similar situation when we went through that semifinal and into the grand final, I think we learnt heaps from that,” she said.
“And that 2020 (one) away from home, trying to do it hard in a hard time in the hub you learn a lot about yourselves.
“This time around, to do it in front of that crowd, to do it with our friends and family here and to do it after a home and away season, I don’t have any words.”
Credit: Iain Gillespie/The West Australian
Bruce paid tribute to assistant coach Belinda Reynolds, who had been a crucial part of the club as a part first as a Perth Orioles squad member before climbing the coaching ranks.
“You talk about growing up and loving this club, I grew up at Southern Districts watching Bee play, so I think we have a special bond,” Bruce said.
“She balances everyone out. She’s got three beautiful boys so she brings that mother looking after us, she really looks after the person.
“But I think Bee’s biggest strength this year is she’s really stepped in to owning her voice, when she talks the group really does listen, but you know that she’ll go hard at you and have those conversations but you know it’s coming from a good place.”
