By Stephanie Smarrelli & Amellia Wood
Jamie-Lee Price’s alter ego takes over when she steps onto the netball court.
On court she’s a fighter and her physical presence is next to none. Off it though, she doesn't take life too seriously.
“I'm quite bubbly and probably too nice, I love to laugh and have fun, but then once I cross the line on the court, I'm very serious,” Price said.
She went on to explain she doesn’t want to be feared by her opposition, but recognised when she steps on court she has a job to do.
For now though, she's focused on the next job and being the best she can be after opening up about the disappointment of not making the 12-woman team that will take the court at the Commonwealth Games.
Instead Price will travel to Birmingham as a training partner after being named as a reserve.
“I think every disappointment makes you a bit hungrier,” she said.
Jamie-Lee Price says off the court she is bubbly and just likes to have fun.“I’m here if they need (but) for me it's focusing on the next job. I will do the best I can while I'm here but I'm not trying to prove myself. I'm just trying to be the JLP I know while helping the girls out,” she said.
Price acknowledged every knock back just makes her a more resilient player but confessed she struggles to feel as confident as she is on the Suncorp Super Netball court in the Diamonds environment.
“Not making the team is a big wake up call for me to realize that I am good enough to be a part of this squad and next time hopefully in the future I'll be back in the 12 or the squad and get an opportunity,” she said.
A GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY
Despite being born in New South Wales, Price spent 12 to 13 years of her childhood living with her family in New Zealand but always called Australia home.
“I actually cheered for the Silver Ferns when I was a bit younger and was also in their under 21 system but knew I was Australian and always was proud of that," she said.
"New Zealand was an amazing place to grow up in and I'm so grateful that I got to experience that culture, I think it's really turned me into the person and the player that I am today."
Price debuted for the Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic when she was 17 years old and a year later started playing under her current coach Julie Fitzgerald.
“I had the opportunity with Julie because she was my coach at the Magic, when I played for them.
"She's had me since I was 18 and I'm 26 now, which is pretty crazy.
"When she got the call up about GIANTS Netball, she asked if I wanted to come over to Australia and I think that was a real turning point in my career.
“I had a good pathway in New Zealand and Julie had a really open and honest conversation with me. If you're going to come to Australia, you're going to have to leave everything behind in New Zealand and start again."
She's been an integral part of the GIANTS squad.At the time Price was preparing to represent the Ferns in the World Youth Cup in Botswana.
“I was leading towards being the New Zealand captain but I took a risk and moved to Australia and pulled out of all my New Zealand commitments and hoped that I could get an opportunity in the Australian Under 21 team and I did," she said.
“Julie said, look, I can't guarantee that you will be Australian Diamond that’s is something you’re going to have to think about... it's a risk if you're willing to take it."
That risk though, has paid off.
CONFIDENT AND AUTHENTIC
The biggest life lesson Price has taken from netball is to be confident and herself.
“Sometimes in netball you can just get so caught up in the pressure, the tense environments and you can sometimes, lose sight of what you're good at doing and why you’re in teams," she said.
"Not getting selected in the Commonwealth Games team is so heartbreaking but I’ve got to take the positives out of it, reflect on it and be like, okay well, this has happened because maybe I haven't been confident in these environments and maybe I haven’t been my own authentic self.
"That's definitely something that I've reflected on and I'm just going to enjoy every moment as hard as it will be."
THE DIAMONDS EXPERIENCE
Having been in the Diamonds since 2018, Price said she relishes in the way everyone supports each other.
“The best thing about being in the Diamonds environment is everyone is so different but we celebrate the differences. We play to people’s strengths, no matter if you're the captain or you're the newbie in the team or a reserve, you feel just as a part of it," she said.
“I really do love that and even the coaches and the staff treat you the same. It's a really good culture and a really safe environment. We work really hard but we also like to enjoy a couple laughs and have a bit of fun at the same time. That's why I love playing netball, meeting the girls that you get to meet and being part of a team sport."
Price went on to offer a nod to some of her Diamonds teammates.
“You look at Gretel Bueta, she does layups, she can jump, she's so strong and then you look at Steph Wood, who's one of the smartest netball players, (she) just reads the game, her timing is amazing," she said.
Like many of her teammates Price says her dedication to netball means she doesn't have a lot of spare time, but when she does she enjoys being able to switch off and spend time with her partner and family.
ABOUT JAMIE-LEE
Name: Jamie-Lee Price
Positions: WD/C
Game day breakfast: Egg, bacon, avocado and cheese toll with tomato sauce
Game day pump up song: Waterfall – Disclosure + Raye
