YOUNG Miner Sam Short says trying to put into words how he felt pulling on an Australian basketball jersey is hard. Short had seen the pride on his older brother Matt’s face when Matt got his green-and-gold cricket kit. Actually pulling on the green-and-gold and stepping on the floor in an international arena the first time was something else.
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But Short can say the feeling made him determined to strive higher and work harder in a bid to represent Australia again.
Exposure is vital for preparing a player to take their game to the next level. To want to improve their game and strive to play the highest standard they can.
Short makes his South East Australian Basketball League debut for Ballarat Miners in a Canberra double road trip this weekend. He will suit up fresh off an intense fortnight representing Australia in the Albert Schweitzer under-18 tournament in Germany, preceded by a week’s training camp in Canberra.
He could hardly wait to translate what he learned from the experience to the SEABL, a game against men.
“Germany was unreal – easily the best playing experience I’ve ever had. It opens your eyes up to how good you have to be,” Short told Press Box. “It makes you hungrier to do it again...the whole experience was very special and one I’ll never forget.”
Short missed the bulk of the Miners’ pre-season while in training with a Basketball Australia development camp. Now, with his focus now firmly back on SEABL, Short feels ready for the challenge – partly because he trained with the SEABL men’s roster all last season.
Strong, continued team success starts with opportunity, allowing players to taste potential.
Australian Opals coach Brendan Joyce likes bringing inexperienced players into the mix and seeing how they respond, just like he did before a packed Minerdome house for an exhibition game against Japan last year.
The Miners’ championship coach has been plotting his attack on this year’s Rio Olympics since taking up the Opals top job in 2013, knowing some silver medallists from London would be retired. Others bodies might struggle.
Joyce does not like rebuilding phases. He wants depth. He wants players to be prepared.
Only three silver medallists, including former Lady Miner Rachel Jarry, were available for the Opals’s world championship bid in Turkey in 2014. Lauren Jackson was injured. Liz Cambage had snapped her Achilles. The Opals won bronze.
“We gave international players as much international experience as we could,” Joyce said. “People don’t often realise the Opals didn’t medal in the 2010 world championships. A lot of people commented on our exciting style but for me is was just about winning – our style was aggressive and our play was fast.”
Now is crunch time for Rio selections. Joyce has created depth and must make tough decisions, some on sentimental favourites, from a whole hungry roster of competent, confident talent.
Give rising athletes a taste of what is possible and fuel their fire to achieve. It may take time, but the investment will be worth it.
