“I don’t love the spotlight on me,” said April Brandley ahead of game number 150 on Sunday.
Despite brushing off the attention, the 33-year-old reflects on her journey to date with fond memories and a sense of pride.
A NSW junior, Brandley debuted for the Queensland Firebirds, before stints at the NSW Swifts, West Coast Fever and Collingwood Magpies, before returning home to Sydney to play for the GIANTS.
“It’s certainly been a journey,” she said.
“Like literally, I’ve got some miles under my belt.
“I’m just so grateful to have played 150 games. There was a time when I never thought I would get one, so I’m stoked to have had 150 and just loving my netball still.”
The 185cm defender first got her opportunity 12 years ago, representing the Queensland Firebirds as a temporary placement player in the 2011 ANZ Championship.
“When it came, I was just taking anything,” Brandley recalls.
“I just wanted to have a crack.
“Clare McMeniman went down with injury and they panned to me and my Dad recalls seeing me on the bench looking as pale as Casper the ghost.
“I was so nervous, it was such a blur.”
After 95 career games, Brandley stepped away from the game in 2019 to become a mum to her beautiful son Clay.
At the time her return to netball was uncertain, but a phone call from Julie Fitzgerald in July 2020 – five months after welcoming her first child – changed her path.
“Being able to come into a team that I had admired from afar for so long and to be in that team and finally get to work with Julie Fitzgerald and some awesome players and people was and is so special,” she said.
“We’re one big family and the way everyone has accepted my family [husband Jason and son Clay] is so amazing and it adds an extra extension onto my netball journey as well.
“Clay has 10 big sisters.”
It’s no surprise that one of Brandley’s proudest moments is her return to the court following Clay's birth.
“I didn’t know if that would ever happen so I’m really proud of that personally,” she said.
“I think also taking a chance and moving over to Fever, that was a big thing for me as young kid and Stacey Marinkovich giving me a go and getting me out there on court.
“It’s also the people that you meet and the way the sport has allowed me to grow and given me opportunities to be the person I can be.
“We get to come to work every day with such a good group of girls, we push each other, we want the best for each other and it’s just the best environment.”
As to whether she has 150 more in her, Brandley laughed and said:
“My knees are crying when you say 150 more.
“I’m loving my netball and I’m playing with an awesome group of girls.
“I’ll finish off the remaining games, with hopefully a few more wins and we’ll reassess from there.”
Brandley and the GIANTS will take on the Queensland Firebirds this Sunday at Ken Rosewall Arena in First Nations Round.
