AS SPORTS fans we tend to love the seemingly team-feel of having siblings suit up together in elite ranks.

Tennis is a great example of family fun headlined by the powerful Williams sisters, chest-thumping Bryan brothers and Scottish warriors Jamie and Andy Murray.

And we love a bit of sibling rivalry when brothers or sisters line up against each other for sport.

When siblings venture into the highest levels in different sporting fields we may not be as quick to pick up the connection but it is perhaps even more so an impressive family feat.

This weekend is a big family weekend for Ballarat sporting exports and siblings forging their paths in different games.

Sacha McDonald, younger sister to Melbourne AFL footballers Tom and Oscar McDonald, is in Brisbane for the Super Netball’s first pre-season tournament Team Girls Cup.

The 19-year-old has been training with Melbourne Vixens this summer and her call-up to the squad comes off strong form with Victorian Fury in the Australian Netball League, a secondary tier to Super Netball.

Her brothers are both named to face Brisbane in a JLT practice match at Casey Fields on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Ballarat Miner Sam Short is in a second National Basketball League grand final series with Melbourne United this weekend. All week his elder brother Matt has been locked in Sheffield Shield cricket action for Victoria against Tasmania at Junction Oval.

There are countless studies into influences of nature and nurture when it comes to siblings in action on big stages. Research looks at influence from both parents and elder siblings.

But there should be no doubting the dedication from the whole family to help set athletes on their way in different codes.

At the grassroots, running children between different sporting activity can be a juggle enough for parents.

The higher a child starts moving up the ranks, the more demanding sports are on families in time, training, finance and, in particular, travel. For the McDonalds and Shorts, family is now there to support careers.

Sacha McDonald is setting out in an exciting new era for netball. The sports governing body was quick to jump and make its players the best paid in Australian women’s sport.

While Sacha travels with the Vixens in a development role, minimum pay for fully-fledged Super League netballers is up to $30,000 this season - more than double for players in the ANZ Championship format.

Sacha has been juggling university studies while training with the Vixens for experience while also captaining Victoria's 19/under team.

While there is always common ground between athletes, the game Sacha is pursuing is still vastly different to her brothers. Just like the Shorts.

Ultimately, finding a way in sport is up to the athlete and how much they are prepared to test their game at the highest levels they can. This makes it all the more impressive in multi-sport families on a national playing level.

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