The talented netballer is preparing for a busy year on and off the court.

It follows a huge 2017 in which the shooter’s achievements included being named the Northern Inland Academy of Sport Female Athlete of the Year, and earning selection in the NSW 17 & under development squad, the Netball NSW 2018 Regional Development Squad and NNSW 2018 Talent Development Squad.

“Last year was an awesome year, it was busy, but such a great year,” Perkins said.

Most recently she was invited to be part of the ASPIRE Netball program.

Run by Giants defender Sam Poolman, the 10-week training program is aimed at helping young netballers navigate the pathway to professionalism, and will involve Perkins heading down to Newcastle once a month.

“It will be great training with someone of her calibre and she’ll bring in other coaches,” she said.

The TDS squad will also expose Perkins to some top quality coaching.

”It was so exciting (to make the squad),” Perkins said.

“It’s such a good opportunity to train and play with some of best players and coaches in Australia.”

The first camp was held on the weekend. Perkins had a session on Friday night and another Sunday morning. Incorporated into the weekend was a session with the regional training squad.

The St Mary’s College student will juggle her netball commitments with her HSC studies, and said she got “a lot of little goals this year”.

She also spoke about improving how she deals with pressure and works with other players, and improving as a goal shooter. 

The position requires a different skillset to goal attack,  which is where she predominantly plays.

”Goal attack is a lot more moving, you’re running a lot so you might not be the dominant shooter and you need to be able to defend. Goal shooters are more of a dominant shooter and have to be strong in their hold,” Perkins said.

Selectors usually like you to play two positions and because she doesn’t play a lot of goal shooter, it can be hard at trials.

Perkins said as long as she can remember she’s had aspirations to be a netballer.

Making the state squad last year as only intensified that passion.

“I know what I have to do to get there,” she said.

“It’s hard living in the country, but I’ve just got to keep training hard.”

She tries to shoot every day and luckily has her mum Maryanne to help her with her training. She is her coach and one of her biggest role models.