Elecia ready to bring the Fury in grand final showdown

Parrott and her side will go toe-to-toe with minor premiers North Shore United in Tuesday’s grand final of the 2018 Netball NSW Samsung Premier League under 20s competition.

But the road to get the Nowra High School school captain to this point hasn’t been an easy one, with her putting years of hard work and travel into her career.

She started playing netball at age five with the Saints Netball Club in the Shoalhaven Netball Association, before having stints with North Nowra Bomaderry, Albatross and Rebels.

During these years, the now 18-year-old has represented the Shoalhaven at an under 11s, 12s, 13s and opens level, while also playing for the  Illawarra District Netball Association twice, the South Coast opens team on three occasions, Illawarra Academy of Sport side twice, the Sutherland Shire Netball Association on two occasions and her Nowra High side for five years.

“Being classified as playing within regional association is always going to be challenge, but I made a tough decision at 14 to leave what I knew and to go out and challenge myself with my netball,” Parrott said.

“From a young age, I had a dream to become an Australian Diamond and to also play for now Suncorp Super Netball, and I thought moving to Sydney was the best way to achieve that.”

After playing for all those aforementioned teams, Parrott this year decided to get into an under 20s NSW Premier League side.

“I did trial for six out of eight franchises and GWS Fury were the only franchise that offered me a contract for 2018,” she said.

“This path has lead to my debut season in the NSW Samsung Premier League Netball.

“I pinch myself on a regular basis on how fortunate I am to be a part of such an amazing franchise in GWS Fury.

“From the coaching/support staff, structure, training/facilities/fitness, comradery/bond/culture is second to none.”

Despite Parrott loving every moment of this season, which started in February, with training three times a week in Sydney – it didn’t start on the right note, as she suffered an injury during the pre-season.

“In my first pre-season game, I suffered an injury while warming up at half time,” she said.

“I fractured my scaffold and did a number of ligaments, seeing my wrist be put in a cast and me miss 10 weeks of action.”

“Luckily enough, through hard work, I got back on court by round five of the season, as I was still able to continue work on my fitness during my injury.

“Overall, my season with the GWS Fury has been truly extraordinary – despite missing another two weeks during the season with severe blisters and time representing the South Coast opens side.”

All that is behind Parrott now though, as she prepares for Tuesday’s decider at the Genea Netball Central at Sydney Olympic Park.

“North Shore United have a number of state players in there line up and are the minor premiers for a reason,” she said.

“But if we stick to our game plan, support each other, stay calm yet and perform on the day, I know we can win.

“If we did win, it would easily be the best thing I’ve ever done, especially considering this bunch of girls, coaching and support staff – it would be truly memorable.”

Parrott, who started her career as a goal defence before progressing to a wing defence, hopes Tuesday’s match is just a step towards to long term goals.

“My goal from a young age is to one day wear the green and gold and represent my country,” she said.

“I’d also love to play in the Suncorp Super Netball, while also continuing to share my knowledge with young upcoming regional netballers.”

If you’d like to jump on board as a sponsor for Parrott, to help pay for the huge costs associated with her chasing her dream, please get in contact with her mother Nicole via her email at nicole_parrott@yahoo.com.au.