PLAYING the most participated sport in your country with just seven players to a side comes with the obvious challenge that being selected to represent your country puts you in the top 0.1 percentile.<\/p>\n
A coveted call-up to the Diamonds is the ultimate in Australian netball. Since the 1930s just 193 players have been given the honour.<\/p>\n
Mavericks captain Amy Pamrenter \u2013 Diamond No. 185 \u2013 is one of them. But the journey has been “the toughest experience” of her netball career.<\/p>\n
Having debuted in 2021, Parmenter played six of seven internationals on the calendar for that year. Her representative career started in electric fashion and she made an immediate impact.<\/p>\n
Then the rejection calls started coming in, resulting in just a handful of caps since.<\/p>\n
“I’ve had a rough few years with the Diamonds,” Parmenter tells Centre Court. “My debut was amazing. As a specialist wing defence I went from not being in to straight on the court.<\/p>\n
“In that first year I played six of seven games, that was 2021. It’s now 2026 and I’ve played six games since.<\/p>\n
“That first year was awesome but it’s hard to be in that mix. They are the best in the world. It’s a tricky sport.<\/p>\n
“The Diamonds experience has been the most challenging thing in my career and the most tears. I’ve had more than 12 non-selection calls now.<\/p>\n
“If I had known how hard they would be I think I’m surprised I can keep getting up the passion, love and resilience for it. I didn’t know I had that in me.”<\/p>\n
Diamonds coach Stacey Marinkovich named her 18-person 2026-27 squad on Sunday, which will be reduced to 12 for the forthcoming Commonwealth Games. The reality is that some of the best players in the world will be receiving rejection calls in the following 48 hours.<\/p>\n
So how do you function after being snubbed?<\/p>\n
“My mindset recently has shifted now to ‘the Diamonds is a bonus’ and I’m privileged to have trained in that squad and be a part of that,” Parmenter continues.<\/p>\n
“I’ll take the opportunities as they come.<\/p>\n
“Some of those calls, you’re away, in the middle of a series, you don’t have your support network. Some sessions I was just proud to get through without crying.<\/p>\n
“You don’t think you can get through that, but I have to be grateful for it. There have been some really tough days.”<\/p>\n