Fever builds one of netball’s most inclusive coaching teams

West Coast Fever’s 2026 coaching line-up isn’t just impressive on paper, it’s quietly groundbreaking. Bringing together different backgrounds, lived experiences and sporting journeys, Fever is shaping a high-performance environment that mirrors modern netball: diverse, inclusive and representative.

Credits; WC Fever, Mel Lyons, Brett Waudby, Wendy Paver

Under general manager Sara Francis-Bayman, the club has assembled an impressive coaching leadership group that blends international expertise, deep playing experience, and a level of empathy that will be exciting to watch in action. Working with head coach Dan Ryan will be former Diamonds captain Sharni Layton, and ex-Fever captain Ash Brazill - two of the most recognisable athletes in the sport.

Both women have walked remarkable paths - elite netballers who reached the top of their game, and both have swapped codes to play AFLW, (Ash for a time balancing the two as a dual-code athlete.)

Brazill returns to Perth as a club specialist coach, assisting across both the Fever and Fever Reserves programs.

“Walking back through these doors gave me a flashback to my playing days,” Brazill said. “This club has always held a special place in my heart, so to return now in a coaching role feels incredible and I can’t wait to get started.”

Current England Roses assistant coach, Layton will join Fever as an assistant coach in February 2026, and echoed the excitement of reuniting with Ryan after more than a decade.

“Our paths haven’t crossed since that unforgettable premiership win in 2013. I can’t wait to roll up my sleeves with the team and be part of the Green Army.”

In a recent interview on Netball Unlocked podcast, Layton said that around 2021 she was told that she was neurodivergent, and that the diagnosis came as a relief, but she acknowledges that it manifests in different ways for different people. 

Francis-Bayman had this to say on each appointment:

"Ash isn’t just a former Diamond, she’s a proven leader with a wealth of experience at the highest level of the game.Her knowledge, professionalism and competitive edge will be instrumental in shaping our SSN and Super Reserves squads for what promises to be one of the most competitive seasons yet."

"Sharni has already built a strong coaching resume not only as an assistant but also as a head coach. She has coached in her own right at Victorian Netball League level with the Southern Saints and combined with her work with the Melbourne Vixens and England Roses she will bring a lot of value and experience into the Fever environment.”

Together, Ryan, Layton, Brazill and Francis-Bayman form one of the most authentically inclusive coaching teams in elite sport, and combined with an internationally diverse playing squad, Fever’s 2026 environment is one where people are encouraged to bring their whole selves to the game.

As Fever prepares for the 2026 Suncorp Super Netball season, the club won't only be striving for a title, but it will also be creating a more inclusive high-performance netball environment that reflects the diversity of the sport and the community around it.