This weekend’s Essential Services Round is a meaningful one for GIANT Chelsea Pitman who says she can’t wait to represent all essential workers following her time as a police officer.
Having joined the GIANTS in January as a temporary replacement player for midcourter Maddie Hay as she recovers from off-season hip surgery, Pitman is excited to take the court against the Sunshine Coast Lightning at Ken Rosewall Arena on Saturday in celebration of the meaningful cause.
“I’m honoured to play in a round that is honouring the essential services,” Pitman said.
“Having a background as a police officer in South Australia for a few years during Covid, it’s something that’s really close to my heart and it’s something I really miss.
“I’m extremely grateful to still be an elite netballer but to be able to step out and represent my people back at home at SAPOL [SA Police], as well as the wider community, the SES, the ‘firies’ [firefighters], the ‘ambos’ [ambulance officers], is really exciting as what they do is an integral part of society.”
Pitman said a career in essential services – and in particular her experience as a police officer – was extremely rewarding.
“I absolutely loved it,” the former English Rose said.
“I like working within a team environment and also I really like helping people.
“I’ve had to use the police services in the past and I remember how lovely they were and how they treated me and I wanted to be on their end and helping victims and people who are on the wrong side of crime. It’s something that really drew me to wanting to help the community.
“I definitely want to go back to being a police officer. I had such a sense of pride when I was part of the force and being able to say that’s what I did, and so that’s something I hope to call myself again soon…but definitely a bit more netball first,” she added.
Pitman will have her chance to honour essential service workers on Saturday as both the GIANTS and Lightning look to rediscover their best form following slow starts to their 2024 campaigns.
But despite sitting winless at 0-4 in a tough start to the season, Pitman is confident the GIANTS can get things back on track, beginning on Saturday against the Lightning who currently sit 1-3.
“The beautiful thing about our culture is we are so determined to get that win on the board.
“We want to be better and we want to win so we are working as hard as we possibly can at training to fix the things that aren’t necessarily going well on the court when it comes to game time.
“The spirits are high and we are desperate and determined to get that win on Saturday.”
Yet to win a first quarter in the opening four rounds of the season, Pitman said that their starts is certainly a key area for improvement.
“It’s our starts - we haven’t had great starts,’ she said.
"If you look at our first six minutes we are usually goal for goal but then we have a lapse in concentration or skill execution. So, it’s just about making sure we string together 15 minutes in the first quarter and then move onto the next.
“We are really focusing on a strong start and that should put us in good stead for 60 minutes of good netball.
“It's about finding that rhythm again because in pre-season we felt really comfortable and confident out there, and every single girl that touches the court has performed, it’s just the inconsistency that is letting us down.
“Everyone is accountable for what they do to put us in the best position to get a win and to start the game well and that’s all we are focusing on.
“We just want tomorrow to be here and we want to put on our brand of netball.”
The GIANTS will look to strike down the Lightning at Ken Rosewall Arena on Saturday at 7pm.
