Netball finals hopes flicker for Magpies

A dominant finish to the third quarter has kept the Collingwood Magpies in the Super Netball finals hunt after a 63-57 win over West Coast Fever.

Collingwood scored 11 of the last 14 points in the third quarter to see them lead 46-39 going into the final term.

Shimona Nelson put up 43 goals from 50 attempts while Nat Medhurst was inspirational after quarter-time on her first trip back to Perth. She had 14 goals from 17 along with 13 assists.

Fever captain Courtney Bruce was strong defensively but her team couldn't capitalise despite Jhaniele Fowler still scoring 54 from 60.

The Magpies were without coach Rob Wright who was tending to an illness in the family, but the win improves them to five wins, five losses and two draws.

They took away five points to sit one behind the fourth placed GWS Giants with games remaining against the league-leading NSW Swifts and third-placed Melbourne Vixens.

Kate Upton was at the helm and was glad they could get the win for Wright.

"I think it was the defensive pressure of everyone," Upton said.

"We knew that if we kept building it then it would eventually come. It was in our front end as well and not only that, they had some hunger for it and everyone was synced to work together.

"We miss Rob and it was weird not having him there because we're always looking for him. But the girls did him proud and I hope he's sitting at home chuffed with what they just produced for him."

The result rules Fever out of the finals hunt with last year's grand finalists having two wins and three draws from 12 matches. They finish against the Queensland Firebirds and Giants.

Fever coach Stacey Marinkovich was left to rue the close to the third quarter.

"We just didn't execute in that period and we then found it hard to get ball off them in that last quarter," she said.

"We have to recognise those critical moments and take confidence to execute it. Once we get that going, we'll be getting better results."