IT’S been a steep learning curve for Caitlin McLachlan in her first season in the WNBL, but there’s nothing the first-year Bendigo Spirit development player says she would change or do differently.
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The 22-year-old has appeared in just three games in the 2018-19 season, but with several of her team-mates either unavailable or under an injury cloud, can in all likelihood look forward to an expanded role in this Saturday’ s season finale against Canberra Capitals.
But while court-time has been hard won for McLachlan, who previously played college ball at the North Dakota-based Minot State University, she has taken the experience of being involved at the elite level of Australian basketball in her stride.
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“It’s been phenomenal – we’re lucky that everyone here (at the Spirit) is like a big family, so it’s made it easy to come to training every day,” she said.
“(Coach) Simon (Pritchard) has been great and having Nat (Hurst) here is obviously awesome.
“It’s a complete step up from playing Braves – it’s a whole new level and I’ve been lucky to experience the professional side of it.
“It’s more than I expected. I perhaps wasn’t sure what to expect coming into it – I haven’t really done anything professional since college.
“I expected it to be similar, but again it’s a whole new level.
“The way everyone here acts and treats the sport is different to anything that I’ve ever done before.
“I’ve loved every minute of it.”
McLachlan conceded some disappointment the Spirit had been unable to capitalise on their promising 5-2 start to the season, but credited the playing group with working through the setbacks in a professional and thorough manner.
“We didn’t expect to be in this position, we would have liked been in the top four, but these things happen,” she said.
“Congrats to the top four, they have all earned their position.”
McLachlan acknowledged the role team-mates had played in her development
“Being a young post player, probably the older girls like Louella (Tomlinson) and Becca (Tobin) took me under their wing and helped me out a lot, but everybody on this team has played their part and has some words of advice,” she said.
After winning a SEABL women’s championship with Bendigo Braves in 2018, McLachlan will play with the rival Nunawading Spectres in 2019.
A busy year ahead will include A-grade netball duties for Heathcote District league club Elmore and the start of her master’s degree at Federation University.
McLachlan, whose only previous netball experience is comprised of four games at Mitiamo alongside former Braves team-mate Tahnee Cannan, was ecstatic to learn she would playing alongside one of Bendigo’s best netballers at Elmore in Ruby Barkmeyer, whose signing was announced by the Bloods this week.
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“I can’t wait – I saw the signing and thought this was the best news ever,” she said.
“I really can’t wait to get to play and train with her and hopefully she can help me because I haven’t played much netball.
“She is going to be a really huge asset for Elmore.”
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