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FOLLOWING years of balancing basketball and netball commitments, Tahnee Cannan’s jam-packed sports schedule has become even more crowded.
The 26-year-old, who last September played in two grand finals on the same day for her Loddon Valley league netball club Mitiamo and SEABL basketball team Bendigo Braves, will this year add Australian rules football to her extensive resume when she lines up for Bendigo Thunder this season.
Such a heavy load will require an enormous balancing act, but her coaches and team-mates all agree if anyone is up the challenge it is Cannan.
The gifted athlete’s commitment to her sport already involves a huge juggling act.
She has battled cystic fibrosis her entire life and diabetes since age 12.
When it comes to juggling the demands of three sporting schedules, Cannan said she would adopt the same approach that has served her so well in managing her health, with strong organisational skills as the key.
“Obviously I have had CF since I was born, so it’s nothing new – and the diabetes for 15 years,” she said.
“Everything is pretty regimented in what I do in the morning, it probably takes me an hour and a half in the morning to fit in my breathing exercises, my inhalation antibiotics, tablets and that kind of thing to get me ready for the day.
“Unfortunately, as a process that has to be done twice a day, so after I finish training it’s an hour and a half on my pump before I get to bed.
“One of the things that drew me to football is that my brother and I are very active – and that was pushed upon us by our parents to keep us healthy – but the running they do in football, the more I can run and use my lungs the better they will get.
“Hopefully we can improve on my 55 per cent lung capacity.”
Cannan, who is nursing a finger injury sustained in the Thunder’s recent practice match against a Richmond VFLW side, is clearly relishing her first foray into football and the chance to develop new sporting skills.
“I have an older brother, so obviously I used to have a kick in the backyard with him and I had a kick at school, but until recently I had never actually played a game,” she said.
“It’s a lot more fun than I expected it to be.”
Equally pleased to have her in Thunder colours is new coach Luis Alvarez-Harris, who described Cannan’s transition to football as remarkable.
“I did not realise the first couple of training sessions that this was her first pre-season in football – she’s picked it up that well,” he said.
“Her football skills are good – she kicks well and her marking and awareness are good.
“The first practice match she played out on the wing – we used her skills and fitness to link the back line and forward line, but she could potentially play midfield and up forward as well.
“Being athletic, she’s someone we are going to throw around wherever we need someone.”
Cannan’s finger injury will sideline her for the Thunder’s opening game on April 14 and also Bendigo Lady Braves’ SEABL season opener against Diamond Valley Eagles this Friday night.
The Braves are looking to go one rung higher in 2018 after they lost the national championship decider to Geelong Supercats last September.
It was not a particularly fond day for Cannan, who earlier played the first half in Mitiamo’s LVFNL A-grade netball grand final loss to Pyramid Hill.
The defeat was the Superoos’ second straight in the premiership decider.
Cannan, whose football and basketball commitments will take priority over netball, hoped it would be “third time’s a charm” for Mitiamo.
Braves coach Megan Moody praised Cannan as someone not afraid to give back to the club, who spent much of her time away from playing and training helping nurture the next generation of stars.
“She’s assistant coaching with the under-16 VJBL squad, and was assistant coach with the CBL program over the summer, so she’s right in there progressing that next lot of players through,” she said.
“She instils into those younger players what they need to do to take that next step – it’s vital we have players like her giving back.
“With what she contributes off and on the court, I am really proud to have her as part of our program.”