Just what is it that's exactly different? Is it just the intensity?

I guess at a core, it is the intensity.

Obviously, it's a more full-time training environment and more of the athletes in the environment are full-time, which means that I guess people are able to maximize things like recovery, nutrition, sleep, all probably a lot better than those that are balancing kind of semi-professional level in the Super League.

And, you know, far more staff members as well are full time.

So your physios, your S&C.

So in terms of the support that they can give you.

And then I think it's like, you know, you'll know from playing internationally that Aussie way and style of playing requires intensity and work rate.

What kind of captain are you? What key values are non-negotiables for you as a captain that you expect from the teammates around you? And I'm sure that you demonstrate every day as well.

How are you looking back on it now going into this Commonwealth Games?

100% like I always kind of reflect now and think um maybe it was the best thing that ever happened to me because I think it really sparked like some fire for me in terms of motivating me to keep pushing and challenging my game on and um obviously I had been a big part of the like cycle leading into that 2022 Comm Games.

But, you know, selection didn't go my way and they opted for some more experienced players and players that were probably performing far better than me at the time.

But obviously in that moment when you're not selected, you're just a bit heartbroken, disappointed because you do put in so much work.

And I think...

I definitely used it as a chance to reflect and think, OK, how much do I want this and how hard am I prepared to work? And what you think is maybe hard work before wasn't in terms of actually pushing your standards.

And I think I've learned so much in the last four years as an athlete in terms of what it takes to be successful.

Yeah, when you call it there the toughest tour that you've ever done with England, I was thinking about you also personally, but then as a captain, I guess how do you manage those dual roles when you're so in the thick of it, when it is so tough? Because I guess the commies are going to be that for you with that back-to-back nature.

But how would you reflect on the performance, Fran?

Yeah, I think we were just nowhere near our best.

There were so many areas of the game where we were just falling short and the Vixens were punishing us in those areas.

Like in defence, I feel like they were really smothering us and we couldn't cope with that.

And their ball speed and trust to let the ball go in their attack defensively.

Yeah, we didn't have an answer for that.

And I think...

How do you reflect on a season like that and how far we got?

Why did fever go all the way in 2026?

I think, you know, you kind of say about having a shakier end to the season.

Like, it's no secret.

And, you know, we're owning some of our performances that we've put out in the back half not being good enough.

But I think just the thing with West Coast Fever is, like, um as a club they've been there before and they know how to do it and they've got a lot of experience of winning finals and being a part of finals campaigns and i think that's going to hold us in real good stead come this pointy end of the season and obviously um last year we had such a dominant regular home and away season and i think then that kind of came back to bite us since like that nail biting grand final last year and i just think we're going to be a lot tougher as a group for that and i think that's why we can go one better in 2026

cool.

Okay.

Ethically, of course.