This will be the first time Tristan has the chance to play alongside his older brother, Anthony – Ballarat Miners’ starting guard – and said even his parents thought he was joking about the news at first. 

Tristan, 17, is promoted from the Miners’ youth league and under-18s. He is ready to make his own mark.

“I trained with the team  and it was a lot different...a lot bigger bodies – but I thought I did well and I enjoyed it,” Tristan said.

But he knows his spot.

“(Anthony) told me I had to carry his bags around because I’m the learner,” Tristan quipped.