Amy Parmenter will suit up for her 50th game with the GIANTS in the NSW derby on Sunday.
For Parmenter, it feels like a “full circle moment”, after she debuted against the Swifts in 2019.
“I remember the first game I ran out; I barely touched the ball the whole game, I felt like I was going to pass out [from the nerves],” Parmenter said.
“It’s nice to feel like I can run out there, with much more confidence and feel more reassured that I can actually play at this level.”
The Randwick junior has been a member of the GIANTS Netball setup since its inception. For the first two seasons, she was involved as a training partner, including two seasons gaining valuable game time in the former Australian Netball League (ANL).
After consistently performing in the ANL, Parmenter was elevated to the 2019 Suncorp Super Netball playing squad.
“If you had told when I first was a training partner with the GIANTS that I would get to play 50 games, I would think, ‘Oh my god that’s so cool’,” Parmenter said.
“You hear about girls playing 200 games which blows my mind. It feels funny that I want to celebrate it so much but I just feel so lucky to have the chance to play 50 games for this club.”
Playing all 14-games in her debut season, Parmenter was named the league's Rising Star.
A year later she was named in Netball Australia'a Development Squad and another year on, was named in the most recent 2021/22 Origin Australian Diamonds squad.
Confidence has been the key development in Parmenter’s continued success on the court.
“The more seasons I play the more confidence I get. I feel like when I first started playing, I didn’t know if I could play at that level," she said.
“There were so many amazing players like Kim Green and Serena Guthrie, huge names that were part of the club, now that I get to stand in their shoes and do what they do still blows my mind.”
Away from the court, Parmenter can reflect on the valuable lessons she has learnt.
“I have felt myself mature as an athlete, from when I first started to where I am now.”
“Even just learning to balance all the different things in my life, learning how important it is to get perspective and space.
“When we don’t win or we play badly, that really used to affect me, now I’ve learnt how important it is to have a support network, and to have other things going on in life.”
This weekend's milestone match, coincides with Mother's Day - a day that means something different to Parmenter after losing her Mum when she was 15.
“In some ways, I think it fits perfectly,” Parmenter said.
“Even though Mum hasn’t been around for a few years now, I always feel like she’s been a part of my netball journey, and I’ve always got someone up there helping me get a little bit further and play a little bit better.
“The fact that the game is on Mother’s Day, I think it’s like a weird reminder that she’s there and that she’s got my back.”
The GIANTS take on the Swifts this Sunday, May 8 at 4pm at Ken Rosewall Arena.
