IRYMPLE’S Sophie Price hopes to one day outsmart her older opponents, but for now the young defender is trying to become a more versatile netballer.
The 16-year-old centre has taken on different responsibilities in A Grade in 2022 by playing wing defence and wing attack.
The former Werrimull junior has been gaining attention for her ability to apply strong ball pressure on her opponents in just her second year of senior netball.
But Price, who also plays for Irymple’s Under-17s, said she had a lot to learn about not falling for experienced players’ on-court tricks.
“They’ve got the smarts about the game,” Price said. “They’re better at faking the pass and it’s something I need to not get tricked into.”
Price said she eventually she would learn to not jump at pass-fakes by focusing her “eyes on the court” rather than her immediate opponent.
While she enjoys playing defence, Price said the hardest challenge was keeping up with her opponents’ movements and has been busy working on her footwork to beat her opponents and force them to change direction.
In some ways, Prices’ experience echoes that of other juniors transitioning to seniors – the game is faster and longer, and the days become more tiring because she plays two games of netball.
But the Irymple junior said her move had been made easier by having her Under-17s coach, Sherrie Geister, as one of her teammates in A Grade.
“She’s always watching the game and giving pointers to everyone about (how they have) their job to do,” Price said.
While her shift from centre to wing defence has developed her on-ball and intercept skills, Price said it had been harder to play wing attack, a role she has taken on in recent weeks.
But following Irymple’s crucial 43-32 win over finals hopefuls Red Cliffs, Price said she was open to the challenge: “I’m trying to be more versatile.”
Irymple now sits four points clear of South Mildura but as the Swallows face the Bulldogs in another clash with a top-four hopeful, Price said the team was finding cohesion and momentum.
“We had a bit of a slow start to the season, but we’ve definitely built on it and we’re starting to really gel as a team.”
* As the SFNL netballer of the round, Sophie receives $100 courtesy of Mildura Golf Resort and Sunraysia Daily.
