IT WAS only months ago that 203 centimetre Craig Moller was on the list of AFL club Fremantle, battling to break into a club at the height of its powers.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Recruited to the club through Fremantle’s NSW scholarship program at the age of 14, Moller arrived in Western Australia at the end of 2012 via the rookie draft as a tall but slender 18-year-old.
While Moller would get a senior game at the end of 2013 in a season when the Dockers would go on to feature in the grand final, the tall struggled to feature in a side which boasted the mammoth ruckman Aaron Sandilands.
“I had no real expectations and I had enourmous belief in my ability,” Moller said of his arrival at the Dockers. “But it was probably the greatest side they’ve ever had.”
It was on a trip to Europe at the end of 2015 after being let go by the Dockers that Moller decided to take a dramatic turn in his athletic life. Despite generous offers from football clubs in various state competitions around the country, Moller steeled his resolve on a return to the court, and immediately set to work.
A talented basketballer at a young age, Moller had been guided down the AFL path since accepting the Fremantle scholarship, meaning the tall had not played competitively since he was 16.
After getting back in touch with his basketball connections in NSW, Moller was able to work his way into the training squad at National Basketball League giant the Sydney Kings, before taking on a more full time role at Waratah League club the Sutherland Sharks.
Moller’s unlikely move to Ballarat came at short notice when Miners tall Chris Smith went down with a calf injury in early April. Desperate for some added height in the Miners lineup, the SEABL side reached out to Moller’s management in the hope of securing the services of the dreadlocked New South Welshmen on a short term contract.
“I called (Miners coach) Eric (Hayes) and we had a good talk about what my role would be,” Moller said. “I’m only signed for the month so my role is to come in, compete and win rebounds and help the team.”
Although the Miners have been unsuccessful in their two outings featuring Moller, Hayes has commended the efforts of his short term player who managed 10 rebounds and six points in 16 minutes of play in his first match in Launceston two weeks ago.
“He works hard and did what he could of the team,” Hayes said of Moller after the Miners’ loss to Brisbane on Sunday. “He’s just trying to look at where he can do something good for the team.”
While Moller is determined to continue to play his role with the Miners over the next month, the young man has his sights set on an NBL birth in the not so distant future. When asked whether he would rule out a return to football in the future, the ex-ruckman quoted former coach Ross Lyon. “ I didn’t bring the crystal ball with me, but I don’t think it’s likely.”