Cox returns to bring Fever down
Former captain Catherine Cox will use her inside knowledge to try to bring down the West Coast Fever when they host the Melbourne Vixens at Challenge Stadium tomorrow.
Cox is returning to Perth for the first time since she was cut from the success-starved club she led for two seasons.
The 37-year-old found a home at the Vixens and is enjoying a return to her favoured position of goal shooter after two years as a makeshift goal attack for the Fever.
Cox played the first half in Melbourne's season-opening 24-goal win over the Northern Mystics last weekend before being replaced by Karyn Bailey. She conceded the existing connection between Bailey and goal attack Tegan Caldwell meant she had some work to do.
But Cox is hoping to hit the court against her old team.
"It was nice to be able to get out there and have a crack and have a good win, too," Cox said.
"I don't expect to start. They have had that combination for a lot of years so they understand each other. I would love to have a crack over there in Perth."
It is crucial West Coast open their account to avoid a 0-2 start to a season they hope will finally see them make a finals appearance in the ANZ Championship.
But history is against them. They have won only one of 12 matches against the Vixens, who have never lost in the opening two rounds of the competition.
Cox expected the Fever, who added quality to the line-up over the off-season with new captain Nat Medhurst and midcourters Chelsea Pitman and Khao Watts, to be hard to beat. "Without doubt, they recruited exceptionally well in the off-season," Cox said.
"There is no doubt they were in need of a goal attack.
"I made no secret about that when I was over there and they have got one of the best in the business.
"They should be extremely competitive this year because they have got the line-up to do it.
"They are one of the top teams, I think."
But the veteran hoped her time at West Coast could help the Vixens remain on top of the ladder after two rounds.
"They obviously know a bit about me, too, so it works both ways," Cox said.
"I don't expect to start … I would love to have a crack over there in Perth.""Former West Coast Fever captain *Catherine Cox *
