By Stephanie Smarrelli
Last.
That’s the reality of the GIANTS season in 2024. With 11 losses and just three wins the side clearly failed to fire.
And co-captain Jamie-Lee Price didn’t sugarcoat how it felt to be labelled the competition’s worst team in 2024.
“It was a rough year, no one likes losing and coming last,” Price said.
“It sucks and feels horrible.
"We worked hard every week, no matter the result. 2024 didn't really happen for us, which is really disappointing and upsetting.”
2024 was a challenging year for the GIANTS.Reflecting on the year, Price confessed while the team didn’t perform their best on court, it was off it where they flourished.
"The one thing I am proud of is our group and as a club we really stuck together when we weren't performing to the best of our ability,” she said.
“When you're losing lots, it's very easy for people to get frustrated and turn on each other but we were able to stick together.
"We were still motivated, everyone turned up to training and had really hard sessions and wanted to be better on the court.
Starting the year with four straight losses, the GIANTS got their first win in Round 5, beating a deflated Sunshine Coast Lightning in extra time.
“The first game of 2024 was not the greatest and confidence wise we had this expectation of each other and ourselves which got thrown away pretty quickly,” Price said.
"It was like ‘oh gosh, is this really where we are at?’
“When we played the Lightning, we were determined, we had so much belief we could win the game, we were winning most of it and let ourselves down in the last quarter to allow them back into it.
“When it went into extra time, we were very excited, we got a sniff of a potential win and took it with both hands because we were desperate.”
The team were elated to win their first match of 2024.Looking ahead to the new year, there’s two areas Price believes the team needs to work on to be contenders in 2025.
“The biggest thing is confidence and belief,” she said.
“We have so much talent within our team, we've got a great bunch of youth and the last two or three years they've gained a lot more experience and confidence.
“The other thing is being able to finish games, we've been close over the last couple of years but haven't been able to finish our games.
“We've had a couple sessions with a sports psychologist to work through being able to finish games in high pressure situations.”
In such a competitive league, the 28-year-old knows it’s crucial the team doesn’t repeat the same mistakes they made in 2024.
“We have identified how important it is to start the year off strongly,” Price said.
“It will be a massive focus for us to be able to do better than what we did last year.”
Even though the team struggled in 2024, Price was impressed with one teammate who’s been putting in the hard yards.
“Amy Sligar impressed me the most,” she said.
Price has been impressed by Sligar.“For someone young she really stepped up to the plate.
“She came on every now and then in 2023 and secured a starting seven position and showed growth this year.”
Looking ahead Price believes the entire GIANTS squad has the drive to take their game to a new level.
“The reality is we got the wooden spoon and don't want to be there again,” she said.
Having worked with head coach Julie Fitzgerald for over 10 years Price admires how the veteran coach continues to find new ways to challenge her.
"I admire Jules because she is not afraid of having really open and honest conversations with you,” she said.
“I'm really excited for 2025, she's been able to add to our coaching staff bringing in Nerida Stewart.
Price has been alongside the side's head coach for years.“Julie is experienced but to be able to have someone like Nerida come into the coaching team and be able to help her out and challenge Julie and challenge us as a group adds so much to our team.”
Away from the court Price confessed 2025 is going to be a challenging year for her personally with her partner Harry Perryman moving interstate to Melbourne.
Perryman and Price have been together for four years both in the GIANTS’ environment, but Perryman has made the decision to sign a long-term contract with the Collingwood Football Club.
"I'm waiting for my ring still,” Price joked.
“It's going to be really hard because we're going to be doing long distance.
“But it was an opportunity he couldn't turn down, we both thought we were going to be at the GIANTS until the end of our careers, but he was off contract this year and going through negotiations you learn quickly whether you're valued or not.
Price and Perryman have been together for four years."The Magpies were really keen and saw potential in him, it was an opportunity he couldn't turn down and being an athlete myself I understand you're not in the game for very long, you have to take your opportunities with two hands and that's something I wanted him to do.”
Perryman’s move to Melbourne has enabled Price to further explore one of her passions.
“I’m really interested in renovations and styling houses,” she said.
“I've been enjoying helping him set up his new place and buying new things.
“I love Facebook Marketplace; it's my favourite thing to do.”
Price explained some other ways she likes to fill her cup away from the netball court.
“I’m really interested in fashion and interior design,” she said.
“I’m doing an online business course and am spending some time trying to find things I want to do outside of netball for when I retire.
“I’m slowly learning, but I also love being out on the boat with my partner, he loves fishing, I go with him a fair bit as well as going to the beach, the farm and spending time with family and travelling.”
Thinking ahead to when she eventually hangs up her orange dress for the last time, Price hopes she’s set the club up for success.
Price is exploring what she would like to do once she steps away from the elite netball court.“We started the GIANTS from scratch, it's been cool to see from where it started to where we are now,” she said.
“We haven't won a premiership, but I'd love to have won a premiership before I retire.
“It sounds cringe to say but I hope to leave the club and netball in the best possible way it could be.
“The biggest thing is knowing once I leave the game I’ve put it in a better place, we’ve been able to make an impact and grow the sport.”
