Amelia Walmsley: Pulse shooter hopeful team can recover after ANZ Premiership defeat

The Central Pulse meet the Stars in Auckland in round three of the ANZ netball Premiership on Saturday.

Shooter Amelia Walmsley joined Adam Cooper to discuss how the team reflected on an 11-goal loss to the Mystics last weekend, and her decision to make herself available for both the NZ Under 21 team and Silver Ferns this year.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
News Talk's AIRB twenty two away from nine. It's talk
a and Zed Premiership Netball Now and the Central polse
one win one loss to start the season. They began
a couple of weeks ago when the Beg went over
the Magic in Parmerston North, then a week ago lost
by eleven points to the Mystics. So yeah, big game
for the Central Poles to sort of reassert some dominance
on the league. And yeah they've got to trip up

(00:22):
to Auckland for the Stars today. Let's head into the
Poles camp. Now a Media Warmsley Polls goal shoot joining
us and eMedia has made an interesting decision this year.
She's making herself available for both the Silver Ferns and
and he's ed under twenty one team for the Netball
World Cup Age Group Cup. Amedia is with us now
morning to Amedia. We'll talk a bit about that in

(00:43):
a moment, But just firstly on last week, a tough
outing against the Mystics up there in Auckland. How's the
team reflected on it?

Speaker 2 (00:52):
Yeah, thank you for having me. I think after reflection
we just had a real good look and we just
missed out on the basics of that game. But listics
are a great site, and you know they were forcing
those eras, but at the same time we were doing
it to ourselves. That we just came back, worked really
hard on making sure that we're doing you know, the
basic things well and it all came together quite nicely

(01:13):
and training this week it's good.

Speaker 1 (01:15):
I guess some of the issues where were the feeds
coming through to yourself, So I mean you would have
had a pretty good view of I guess what might
have been going wrong in some respects, what sort of
your takeout from from what you were able to sort
of see as being part of it.

Speaker 2 (01:30):
I think across the court there were just like silly eras,
stepping calls, what shouldn't happen at this level. We had
you know, bulls going out the back, which is just
a lack of connection. You know, we had a really
disrupted pre season and it's not an excuse, but we
probably only had about three weeks altogether with people actually
being available to be on court, So maybe just a

(01:51):
wee lack of connection with those bulls going out in
the back, and then you know, just across the court,
just slight basic eras which there is no reason for them.
Rarely It's just that we need to do our own
jobs individually in order to be able to do a
good job as a team collective.

Speaker 1 (02:06):
And in terms of your own job, I see the
shooting stats, you're around just over ninety two percent. You'd
be pretty happy, I guess with that at the starting
point of another campaign.

Speaker 2 (02:15):
Yeah, I am really happy. It's something that I've worked
really hard on, you know, to make sure that I
that I can do my job properly in terms of
that shooting accuracy and volume. I'd like it to be
a bit higher in terms of the volume, so just
making sure that I can get my stuff available to
take as many shots as I can. But yeah, I
am happy with that shooting percentage so far, but of

(02:36):
course it can always be better.

Speaker 1 (02:38):
How has the two point shot rule changed how you approach,
you know, just just the wider game scenarios as a whole.

Speaker 2 (02:47):
Yeah, I think definitely. In those last five minutes the
strategy changes a bit. It looks a little bit different
from me. I as a tall shooter, it makes a
lot of sense for me to help screen out the
defense so that's you know, there is a clear shot,
and then to get around for those redone so I'm
super happy to go and take those as well. But yeah,
it is different strategicallying in our attacking, in our movement changes,

(03:10):
but also just being really disciplined about whether it's worth
going for that, you know, higher risk but as a
higher reward with the two. So whether it's worth going
for that at the time depending on what's going on
in the game, or whether it's better to just go
for the one, because essentially we've noticed that just taking
over those ones is actually really important too.

Speaker 1 (03:30):
Yeah, and just in terms of personnel, obviously a couple
of injuries and a couple of new players joined. Has
it been sort of adapting to the likes of Gabby
and I'm what I'm used to it, I guess as
later a call ups to the season so far.

Speaker 2 (03:42):
Yeah, they've slipped into our environments so well. There's such
cool people first, which I just think obviously really helps.
But it hasn't taken much time for them to really
you know, own that yellow dress, and yeah, it's been
pretty seamless to be there normally, you know, if you've
got new people coming in, it might be a little
bit when they take the court that there is a

(04:02):
slight connection issue or something like that. But they've come
on and just done a great job. And what comes
on thanks those two and works with Space really nicely.
Gabby comes on and fills that center role really well
we needed, and you know, they're actually doing such a
great job and we love having them. They're really cool people.

Speaker 1 (04:20):
Yeah, great and obviously good to see that despite those
those off season niggles, the likes of Maddy and Whitney
are getting game time, which hopefully can only increase.

Speaker 2 (04:29):
Yeah, definitely, Maddie and we are such like vital parts
of our attacking in and they're such amazing players, so
it's definitely nice to have them available for for more
minutes as the season goes on, and you know, as
that builds, just being able to continue to rebuild those
connections while they've had the time doing their rehab and yeah,

(04:50):
it's coming together really nicely, and as the minutes build
it definitely instilling a lot of confidence in other people too.

Speaker 1 (04:56):
And Amelie are quite I guess a proof of just
how far your nitball have come in just a few years.
You're obviously eligible and making yourself available for both in
New Zealand Under twenty ones and the Silver Ferns this year.
Can you tell us a bit about that decision, because
it's pretty special that you're able to do both, but
I guess it's a decision you've made as well that
you want to do both.

Speaker 2 (05:17):
Yeah, it was a really really tough decision to make,
but one that I was definitely in a privileged position
to make. I had a lot of support around me
from the likes of Knowles, our Funds coach, and then Jills,
which is the coach of the twenty ones. I've spoken
to lots of girls that you know, both took part
in the World Cup almost out, and I just kind
of how do we look at what I'd really get

(05:39):
out of going to the World Cup and what that
can translate back into back here, and what that can
also offer back in the firm space if I get
that opportunity. So it was definitely a difficult decision, but
a lot of the decision k behind. You know, a
World Cup experience is, especially for the last time in
my age group, is kind of a once in a
lifetime opportunity, and if I were to miss that, I

(06:03):
feel like I would have got fomorphic statist, but also
just would have missed the opportunity to gain that World
Cup experience, have that exposure of you know, twenty international
different styles playing in my age group for the last time.
There's potential for some leadership growth as well in that space,
and just continuing to build as a player. So if

(06:23):
I can gain all of that and bring it back
into and be selected in that firm space, I definitely
think that would just help me grow as a player
and a person. And so I definitely think that going
to the World Cup is a great decision. Obviously that
means I have to sacrifice the opportunity to be selected
for the Tiny Jamison series, but I'm hoping that gaining

(06:44):
that experience if I get to go, will pay off
in the long run. Yeah.

Speaker 1 (06:49):
Great, And how much has you know, having had that
Silver Ferns experience already helped you make that decision knowing that,
I guess you do have a foot in the door
already before possibly missing the Tiny Jamison.

Speaker 2 (07:00):
Yeah, I think it definitely helps. I think if I
was in a position where it was my first time,
I think that would not necessarily change my decision, but
definitely impact it. But I never take my time in
the black Dresser granted at all, and that's why I
think it was such a difficult decision. But I am
really confident in what I have done in that firm

(07:22):
space so far, and so I'm hoping that I can
just you know, have full confidence and that Knowles is
happy with what I've done so far to have confidence
in me coming back if that's what she wants.

Speaker 1 (07:36):
Yeah, awesome, And just quickly back to the game for
round three. The Stars that they've become a pretty big
force in this league, haven't they these last couple of seasons.
I guess she'll be looking down the other end and
seeing Charlie Bellen some pretty good form of media. But
what just overall, what are you expecting from the Stars
this afternoon.

Speaker 2 (07:52):
Yeah, I'm really happy for them. You know, they had
a bit of a rough season last year, so I
think it's really cool that they've all come together. It's
kind of like a new red brand with a new
coach and a bunch of new players, and you know,
Charlie bell is a great payer. And down the other
end we've got Remy as well from the Firebirds, and
I think Lily's in at the moment with an injury
that Kate Burly is is saying. So it's a tall

(08:15):
defensive end. They're very versatile and I can see that
Remyla likes a good hunt out into the pocket, so
I'm just going to make sure that I really keep
her active and keep her entertained so that she doesn't
never crack it though. But yeah, I think it's just
going to be a great match up. They're both really tall,
so it'll be fun to play a game.

Speaker 1 (08:35):
Yeah, wonderful. Well, all the very best to Melia. Are
always great to chat and thanks for your time here
on News Talk ZEDB and go well this weekend. Thank
you so much, thanks for having me a Melia Warmsley.
They're inform at Central Pulse. Goal shoots there on the
way at four pm up Auckland today against the Stars
and that match is actually free to wear on TV
and ZED channel two, so tune in for free and
you can watch the Pulse in action this afternoon. For

(08:58):
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