By Pathi Raj – praj@sunraysiadaily.com.au
DESPITE repeated lockdowns, netball star Amanda Edwards has set “a really high standard” for her teammates, netting a new record average shots over 10 games this year.
Edwards, who plays goal attack, has scored 409 goals in this year’s competition, averaging 40.9 per game.
It’s been a long two years since Edwards’ Wentworth went down in the 2019 Grand Final. COVID cancelled the 2020 season, and several changes to this year’s schedule resulted in more missed game time.
While the break in 2020 afforded Edwards time to regain her fitness after having a baby, she said she was slow in her early days back on the court.
“The mind knew what I wanted to do, but the body was trying to catch up,” she said reflecting on that time.
However, the work she has been putting in has been showing through, with the hallmarks of Edwards play – her strength and shooting – putting her in elite territory as a scorer in the competition.
Over the past three years, Edwards has scored 1595 goals in 44 games.
Yet, offense is never just about putting the ball through the net. Edward credits the work of teammates such as Ash Cameron and Demi Wall, along with Wentworth’s philosophy of strong defence, and a quick transition game, as reasons for her great shooting season.
Edwards has always loved netball and looks up to the work ethic and play of former Australia Diamonds’ attackers Catherine Cox and Caitlin Thwaites.
Standing at 183cm, Edwards is also able to use her height to advantage, but explaining her success based on height would ignore the subtle details of her play. Good offense comes from playmaking, communication and position, skills she has developed having grown up playing basketball.
“Basketball’s had a huge impact on my sporting life. I take a lot of things from that and bring it on to the netball side.”
Edwards, who has played as a power forward or centre or in basketball, uses those experiences to guide her play in the goal circle.
Skills like “rebounding and … reading off the rings … (and) just being in the right position for a rebound” serve her well in both games.
Wentworth are unbeaten through 10 rounds, but Edwards’ “passion” and dedication does not go unnoticed.
Wentworth assistant coach Jess Dorman said “she’s just a phenomenal leader. With the leadership comes the communication ability with the girls around her. She’s just so strong in her body strength and her presence on the court just creates those opportunities … in our attack.
“She’s so dedicated and committed to us – all the girls – and you can just see the passion in her this year.
“There’s a goal that we want to achieve. and that’s where she’s trying to get us to.”
But things haven’t been easy, especially with the latest round of restrictions bringing community sport to a halt. Edwards has tried to keep the spark alive by bringing the team together online.
“I’ve been doing a lot of live sessions, so a lot of Facebook Lives and anything that we can try and keep together and keep moving forward. The hardest thing is keeping the team morale up and the excitement up for hopefully some finals very soon.”
Whether Edwards can keep up her impressive shooting year, or if Wentworth can go through and win it all, she has a simple goal: that her side can bring together its energy and provide a spark, both to its offense and to those watching on the sidelines.
“I hope that the young ones can look up to us in A Grade and … we can give back”.
With two rounds remaining before finals, Wentworth line up against South Mildura at Sarah Oval and the Imperials at home.
