Melbourne Mavericks lock in captain Amy Parmenter for season 2026

News.com.au

2 days ago

Melbourne Mavericks captain Amy Parmenter declared it was a 'no-brainer' to recommit to the fledgling franchise for next season after pouring her 'heart and soul' into Super Netball's youngest club over the past two years.
Fresh from arguably the team's best win since joining the league with their upset victory over early title favourites New South Wales Swifts, Parmenter has been confirmed as the second player to be locked in for the Mavericks for season 2026.
The star wing defence and inaugural Mavericks' captain said there was still 'lots more work to be done' as the newcomers strive to become a Super Netball power.
'I have put my heart and soul into the last two years building this club, so I'm definitely not going anywhere and I'm excited to see where we can go next year,' Parmenter said.
'It was a very easy decision. I feel like I have been here from day dot and seen the club and the culture grow and I feel like I've been a big part of that.
'I'm really proud of where we have got to and there is lots more work to be done. So, it was a no-brainer for me.'
Parmenter joins Kim Brown as the second Maverick signed on for the club's third season in Super Netball after the defender's extension was announced in late January.
The midcourt ace, who sits in the top-five in the league for intercepts, has played a key role in helping establish the new club's culture off court, while setting the standard on it with her tenacity and fierce attack on the ball.
Parmenter admitted the job of building the club from scratch had been harder than she had anticipated, but she had relished her leadership role.
'It has been a real learning curve for me,' Parmenter, 27, said.
'I probably underestimated what goes into creating a netball team. I think you can just tick the boxes, or you can really dig in and do it properly and I think that's what we've done, we've really done the hard work and asked all the hard questions at the very start.
'It's been something that I have found really challenging, but also really enjoyable and I also love being able to influence the club in ways that are true to me.
'I am really passionate about seeing the girls thrive on and off the court and that's something that I have tried to stick to throughout the last two years.
'Hopefully they feel like I have done that …. (I've got) much more growing to do as a leader and I'm excited for what's ahead.'
The Mavs' first two seasons have been heavily impacted by injuries; last year missing goal attack Sasha Glasgow (fractured leg) and defender Lauren Parkinson (ACL), who is still yet to make her Mavericks debut.
England international Eleanor Cardwell has also not played a Super Netball match yet this year after undergoing knee surgery on the eve of the season.
But the sixth-placed Mavs pulled off one of their biggest wins to date last round when they toppled the second-placed Swifts 68-64 at John Cain Arena.
While not mathematically out of contention for the finals, the Mavs need other results to fall their way if they were to have any chance of sneaking in.
'We just want to go out there and disrupt some people's runs to finals – that is the goal,' Parmenter said.
'We have been a bit unlucky with a few players out and having the likes of El Cardwell out for the majority of the season is a big loss. Just that leadership and experience on court, it's something that's probably been a bit of a setback for us.
'But there have been some really good moments and I think we do often surprise people, I think it's just getting over the line.
'We've definitely been able to stay in it with all the teams this season at one point or another. I think we have done 50 minutes of really good work and it is just either the first five minutes or the last five minutes that have let us down.
'We're not miles and miles off and I think that is something to be really proud of that we are definitely in it and I think there is lots of good stuff, lots of growth ahead.'
The Mavericks' coaching situation also remains in the air with head coach Tracey Neville out of contract at the end of the year, although she indicated after the win over the Swifts those talks were 'progressing really well'.
Parmenter hoped to see the team's coaching panel back again in 2026.
'I think Tracey is awesome,' Parmenter said.
'There are obviously a few moving parts .… she has got her life in the UK and her little one as well, so that is always a tricky thing to navigate. So I think we will see how it plays out.
'But I think the combination of Tracey and Richo (assistant coach Nicole Richardson) is a really great one and I have learnt so much from both of them over the last two years.
'So, I really hope they can hang around.'