BENDIGO Spirit coach Tracy York has backed star point guard Tessa Lavey to make the transition from WNBL to AFLW star.
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The 27-year-old Australian Opals star was a surprise selection by Richmond at pick 43 in Tuesday night's AFLW draft.
Lavey, a 172cm point guard, has been working closely with Richmond Women's specialist coach Nathan Chapman on her football basics and has impressed Tigers recruiters in recent months.
York said she aware of Lavey's intentions to pursue an AFLW career and was confident, given a tentative February start date to the season and a condensed WNBL season, it would not impact on her Spirit commitments.
"My understanding is there is no clash and she will play for us this WNBL season and then has put herself up for selection in the (2021) AFLW season," she said.
"Tessa told us about it not that long ago, but I knew earlier on she was interested.
"These days I suppose (athletes) have more opportunities to branch out and if there's no clash, we work on a year-by-year basis.
"We want her to do a great job with us, but she is looking at a newish sporting opportunity, so she has to go for that. If that's what she wants to do, she's got to try it."
Lavey is the fourth former Spirit basketballer to join the AFWL, following in the footsteps of fellow guard Kerryn Harrington, who initially signed with Carlton as a rookie-listed player in 2017 and was co-captain of the Blues in 2020, Anna Teague, who played with Melbourne and Geelong, and Chantella Perera, who was drafted by West Coast in 2019 and played five games with the Eagles during the 2020 season.
Despite Lavey's limited football background, York was confident the Spirit star had all the necessary tools to thrive in the AFLW.
"If you really look at female athletes and footy, not a lot of them grew up with it - it's different from the 10 or 12-year-olds of today - but generally, not a lot of people in their late 20s and onwards played a lot of football," she said.
"But Tessa has great hand-eye co-ordination and she's quick.
"I guess Richmond will do the drills and what they need to get her where they want her to be.
"I think she will easily adapt."
The Tigers, who chose Northern Knights midfielder Ellie McKenzie with the first overall selection in the 2020 draft, have welcomed Lavey's energy, leadership and work-rate.
"Tessa is a strong powerful athlete with great potential. We are very excited to have her on board," Richmond AFLW recruiter Lauren Tesoriero.
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