It's all in the family as Metcalfe gets ready

They say behind every man, there's a good woman.
In the case of Waikato/Bay of Plenty Magic captain Amigene Metcalfe, these traditional roles have been turned on their head.
Amigene has been married to husband Grant for eight years, with the pair having two children together _ 4-year-old Jorja and 1-year-old Ryan.
With demands increasing in netball's semi-professional environment, the Metcalfes have come up with an unconventional solution to the challenge of raising a family: Grant cares for the children while Amigene pursues her sporting career.
"Probably in the past [with Jorja], it's been harder because both of us have worked full-time," said Metcalfe.
"This year, he's taken six months off so he can look after the kids. It's still hard, but I can still leave and know they are going to be looked after."
The decision has worked out well for both parents.
"He was looking for a change in work anyway. He was keen for me to go back and play and I was sort of keen," she laughed.
"The one condition was the kids were okay."
During her time out, the 1.68m midcourter sought comfort in the knowledge her time off wasn't due to a lapse in form or an injury.
"I knew it wasn't an enforced rest. I knew I didn't have the choice. I had just given birth so I physically couldn't do it. I think it would have been different raring to go," Metcalfe explained.
The ``family first' cog has long been an integral component in the Magic machine.
Coach Noeline Taurua explained: "We've always had babies around. It's just our thing. We incorporate the family as much as possible. That's just the way it is with women."
Metcalfe believes the philosophy is one of the reasons the Magic is so special.
"It definitely makes it easier that the kids can come and go to our training and events. Grant knows all the girls and, as Jorja grows up, she gets to play with the other kids."
So after more than a year off after Ryan's birth _ and a year away from ice baths, physiotherapy and stomach-churning training runs _ the 34-year-old has found her way back to netball.
"It was quite hard work at the start, getting the fitness back after a whole year off. It's been quite a frustrating process. In the last couple of months, I have definitely increased the intensity."
It's that intensity which bolstered Magic to a great pre-season. Metcalfe's ability to feed into the circle and to support centres Laura Langman and Nicola Cooney has seen her set up camp at wing attack.