Australian Diamond midcourter Jamie-Lee Price is a little like Vegemite; people seemingly love or loathe her.
But the 27-year-old – one of netball’s most polarising figures because of what’s perceived as an overly physical approach at times – has come into her own at the 2023 World Cup in Cape Town.
Speaking exclusively to Fox Netball, former Diamond Madi Browne said Price has emerged as a vital cog in the Australian machine.
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“I’ve been super impressed with how she’s been performing. (It should be) no surprise after her superb Super Netball season though,” Browne, in South Africa for Fox Netball, said.
Sydney-born Price, who missed selection for last year’s Commonwealth Games, has played 191 minutes of a possible 300 in Australia’s five pool games, predominantly at centre, but also at wing defence. In wins over Tonga and Scotland, she was named MVP.
Price, who started her career as a wing defence before switching to centre, sits behind only keeper Courtney Bruce for the number of intercepts for a Diamond this tournament, with 10. She is the first non-defender on the list for most deflections for the Aussies, on 10.
“I just love the way she attacks the ball,” Browne said. “Although there were questions about her physicality going into World Cup, she’s been really clean,” Browne said.
Price sits third for total penalties in the group, behind defenders Bruce and Sarah Klau, but hasn’t been in any penalty trouble in individual games.
Browne pointed to Price’s injection just before three-quarter time in Tuesday’s tight game against Malawi as evidence of her growing importance.
Netball World Cup: Australia v Malawi | 17:41
“She came on at a really crucial moment and made an impact straight away,” she said.
“I think being able to see it from the sideline (and then) coming on, knowing where those potential opportunities to have a crack were … was super important.
“Although they were really tight one-on-one, one thing the Diamonds weren’t doing (in the first half) was having a fly … because they were worried about the next ball, the next position, where the Malawians were maybe going to expose them.
“The only way to get ball was to create a snowball effect by actually having a fly, having a crack, because Malawi was so good at keeping possession.
“Jamie-Lee was able to come on and start to generate (that snowball effect) by getting her hands on some ball, along with Ash Brazil and Weston,” Browne said of Price, who took two intercepts and had just one penalty in her 18 minutes on the court.
Price didn’t just bring defensive pressure though.
“Her feeds into Sophie Garbin really opened up the attack as well,” Browne added.
“I think she’s a major part to the Diamonds going all the way.”
