WHILST the 2020 Suncorp Super Netball season was completed last month, the postseason content does not stop with our positional analysis series up next. Next in this series is a head-to-head between an experienced head and an up and coming star in Gabi Simpson and Amy Parmenter. Both players had consistent seasons for their respective sides and while neither club made it to the finals there is no denying the impact they had in defence and through the midcourt.

GABI SIMPSON (WD)

A tried and tested wing defence, Simpson came out with a real point to prove from the opening game and did not look back. Boasting exceptional speed off the mark and an impressive leap, Simpson worked in over drive to shut down opposition wing attacks with her court coverage and ability to get hands to ball. Her dogged style of defence was first and foremost contesting every single pass that came her way and utilised her strong hands over pressure to block her opponents vision. A real energiser bunny in defence, Simpson provided a wealth of experience to a relatively young defensive unit and developing midcourt. she used that experience time and time again to stand up in the big moments and force a turnover or deflection for the Firebirds. Renowned for her defensive capabilities, Simpson was just as prominent through transition for Queensland, able to bring the ball down with great ease credit to her strong drives and punchy style of play to slice through opposition defence.

AMY PARMENTER (WD)

Still developing her craft, Parmenter took another leap in the right direction in only her second season of Suncorp Super Netball. A real workhorse through the midcourt Parmenter was never far from the action and was one of the GIANTS’ most consistent performers able to bob up and take an intercept time after time. She was a strong force in defence, using her nimble footwork to dance around her opponent and pop through with a timely tip. Her ability to read the play and go out hunting was paramount to the GIANTS, who valued her go-get-it mentality and flair. Parmenter consistently displayed her tenacity and hustle to chase down every single loose ball and overall defensive pressure to regain possession for her side and stop teams in their tracks. The 23-year-old added a couple more strings to her bow throughout the 2020 season spending some time in both centre and wing attack, credit to her versatility and netball nous to adapt on the fly.

COMPARISON

Simpson plays more of a one-on-one style of defence riding her opponent’s every move, and wearing them down with her constant pressure whereas, Parmenter is more of a space defender able to float into the space and pick off intercepts. However, in saying that, both players are capable of doing either role credit to their elite professionalism and netball nous to adapt according to the game plan needed.

Both standing at 176cm, Parmenter and Simpson possess very similar physical attributes however the former has a much lighter frame in comparison the Firebirds captain. In only her second year of elite netball, Parmenter is working on her build to absorb those bigger hits and become more of a prominent threat in the defensive third to push opposition attackers off circle edge, something Simpson well and truly has down pat. The 28-year-old  is incredibly strong both in the air and on the ground given her strong build and experience to dictate the play and shut down attacking forays through her body positioning, particularly around circle edge.

One thing the duo have in common is their midcourt play, with both players renowned for their ability to bring the ball from defence into attack within the blink of an eye. Their drive and speed enables them to hit the transverse line with great ease and while Simpson has a wealth more experience and confidence to deliver the ball into the goal circle from range, Parmenter has shown she has the firepower to do so too.

Simpson does more off the off-the-ball work, such as shutting down drives and applying hands over pressure as reflected in her lower statistics of 17 intercepts and 35 deflections across her 14 games. Parmenter is more of a flashy player, able to light up the court with her game changing intercepts to finish with 25 and 62 deflections.