MELBOURNE Vixens star Caitlin Thwaites says she could not be more impressed by the attitude of young training partner and fellow Bendigonian Ruby Barkmeyer.
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The 19-year-old and regular Victorian state representative is one of six training partners getting to spend time inside the Vixens camp this season, alongside a star-studded playing cast headed by Kate Moloney, Jo Weston, Emily Mannix and fellow goaler Thwaites.
Most impressive for Thwaites has been the show of maturity and composure from Barkmeyer.
"She throws herself into any challenge and it doesn't seem like anything fazes her, which is a great attribute to have," she said.
"When we are going through a really hard drill, you look over and you can't see any little grimace on her face, she just grits her teeth and digs in.
"She has been doing a really great job and hopefully she is learning a lot along the way."
Barkmeyer's reputation for coolness under pressure will come as no surprise to those who have followed her still young, but blossoming career.
At 15, she was voted best on court in Kangaroo Flat's senior BFNL premiership win against Golden Square, the same year she won the league's Rising Star award.
The accolades have continued to flow as best on court in Geelong Cougars under-19 VNL premiership in 2017, as a member of the Victorian 17-and-under state team and Australian 17-and-under development squad in 2018, and last season with Victorian Fury.
She throws herself into any challenge and it doesn't seem like anything fazes her.
- Caitlin Thwaites
Barkmeyer was again selected to represent Victoria at 19-and-under level at the National Netball Championships in Hobart this month before they were cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Thwaites, a Commonwealth Games (2014) and World Cup (2015) gold medallist during her long and distinguished career with the Diamonds, is thrilled to see another Bendigo netballer prospering in the Vixens' system.
She expected Barkmeyer to thrive even more once the restrictions imposed on athletes due to the pandemic were eased.
"Ruby has definitely slotted in and it's been awesome to have her as part of the pre-season that we have been able to have," she said,
"The bulk of the work the training partners do with us is during that pre-season - it's tough, but it's also very beneficial, not only for their development, but for the team to have those extra people around.
"It gives us some extra flexibility to do practice matches and training against a few more people. It's obviously hard when we only have 10 (players) there, not being able to play full games.
"In that regard, it's been awesome to have all the training partners there."
Barkmeyer's 2019 season included an Australian Netball League premiership with the Victorian Fury in July, while she was named in the division one Team of the Year in the VNL, where she played with runners-up Boroondara Express.
She also lined up Heathcote District league club Elmore.
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