IT'S shaping as another flat-out year on the sporting front for Tessa Lavey.
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Coming off the back of a stellar debut season in the AFLW with Richmond, Lavey has recommitted to another WNBL season with Bendigo Spirit.
The 28-year-old point guard this week became the first player to ink her name on a Spirit contract for the 2021-22 season.
Next season will be her third since rejoining the Spirit in 2019, following an initial stint in Bendigo from 2013 to 2015, highlighted by a championship win in 2013-14 and grand final appearance in 2014-15.
Lavey, who is lining up for Frankston Blues in the 2021 NBL1 season, said she was excited to be returning to Bendigo for another season.
With dual-sporting commitments on her plate and the potential for an Olympic campaign with the Opals in Tokyo later this year, Lavey said the support of both the Spirit and Richmond were crucial in her decision to re-sign in Bendigo.
"With the AFLW, (the Spirit) are super-supportive of that and that is a big drawing card for me," she said.
"The club has been really great, in the past COVID season and before that as well."
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Lavey hinted that managing dual-workloads was still a work in progress and she was already anticipating some overlap in seasons early next year.
"I don't even know what the WNBL is going to look like and AFLW as well. I think there will be (a clash), but we know that - but both clubs know that," she said.
"That's something they are both very supportive of, so that's a win in my book."
Testament to her fitness, durability and work-rate, Lavey led the WNBL in average minutes in the shortened 2020 WNBL hub season with 35 per game. She finished in the top 10 in scoring (15.2ppg) and third for average assists (5.9).
While the Spirit failed to register a win through 13 games, the club's joint 2020 most valuable player winner alongdide Carley Ernst insisted the season was not without positives.
"I was really proud of our group last season, considering we didn't get a win, we really stuck together as a group and as an association too," she said.
"Moving into this season, it's just a clean slate. We'll be looking to get a win, obviously, but there will be a championship on our mind at the same time.
"We have some really cool things coming and we've got an amazing (gym) facility here with Healthy Mates - I'm pretty lucky to be a part of that."
The club's first signing for 2021-22, Lavey said she had been busy trying to lure a few more big names to Bendigo.
"I'm always keen to have a word with some friends to see if they are willing to come across to the Spirit," she said.
"I always mention what a great club we have here.
"I think a few people are listening and we will see in the next few weeks what comes about with that."
Lavey's more immediate focus is on winning a spot in the Opals squad for Tokyo, with another training camp on the horizon following an initial one earlier this year on the Gold Coast.
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