BENDIGO'S Ruby Barkmeyer expects her third season as a Melbourne Vixens squad member to be the most pivotal in her development to date.
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Still a few months short of her 21st birthday, the former BFNL and HDFNL star has resumed training with the Vixens following a whirlwind first season as a main-list player in the Suncorp Super Netball league.
As she was during the Vixens' 2020 premiership-winning season, Barkmeyer will be a training partner in 2022.
But with star recruit and Australian Diamonds goaler Kiera Austin still sidelined from an end-of-season ACL injury, she has been re-elevated as a temporary replacement player.
When Austin will return to the court is unknown. Until then, Barkmeyer plans on squeezing every last drop out of this latest opportunity, as she has done throughout her still young and promising netball career, which kick-started years ago as a junior in Bendigo.
As expected playing for a team that went from premiers the previous year to last in 2021, there were a few bumps along the road for everyone connected with the Vixens in 2021, Barkmeyer included.
But that's not to say the season wasn't personally exciting, gratifying and a huge learning curve for the supremely talented goal attack. And learning from the experience is exactly what Barkmeyer intends to do.
"It was a big step up from anything else I have ever played in or been involved in, but being a training partner the year before gave me a bit of a small taste of what it takes to be out there on court as a Vixen," she said.
"The training partner program the Vixens have really does prepare you for when you do get the call-up.
To be part of the Vixens team this year is something I will forever be grateful for - it was a huge learning experience to be away with the girls and be part of the team and be out on the court.
- Ruby Barkmeyer
"Although, it was a disappointing year for us as a team - we didn't want to be finishing on the bottom of the ladder, we wanted to make finals.
"But I think all of us can step away knowing that we did improve and we did learn a lot as a team and as individuals to take away into this year."
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Barkmeyer was one of two new Vixens goalers in 2021, alongside Kaylia Stanton, replacements for retired stars Caitlin Thwaites and Tegan Philip.
The 20-year-old could not speak highly enough of the time spent alongside returning premiership star, Malawian goal shooter and Vixens fan favourite Mwai Kumwenda.
"MJ had an amazing year. To have her again at Vixens is really cool," she said.
"I really enjoyed playing with MJ in the goal circle, it was lots of fun both on and off the court.
"It's fair to say we did have a lot of fun down in that goaling end."
Despite being six months removed from her much-anticipated Super Netball debut, Barkmeyer remembers only too well the build-up to the occasion against West Coast Fever.
"Obviously there was a long pre-season leading up to the first game in May, so when it came around I'd like to think I was prepared as possible," she said.
"I can't remember much about getting the call to go out there on court as it was quite a while ago, but it was a lot of fun to be out there with Hannah (Mundy), who is one of my good friends, and who I have played a lot of juniors together with in state teams.
"To be out on court with her as Vixens was amazing and something special."
Mundy, who enjoyed a breakout season with the Vixens as a temporary replacement player for injured co-captain Liz Watson, was rewarded with a spot on the main list for 2022.
Training for most Vixens players, including Barkmeyer and fellow training partners Jordan Cransberg, Sharni Lambden and Emily Andrew, resumed last week.
The full squad is expected to take to the court in Melbourne this week.
As a temporary replacement player, Barkmeyer will continue training with the team for the foreseeable future.
Her status as a training partner will allow Barkmeyer the opportunity to step back into the Victorian Netball League (VNL) competition next season with Boroondara Express.
She last played with the Express during the 2019 season, featuring in a division one grand final alongside her former Kangaroo Flat premiership team-mate Chelsea Sartori and fellow Bendigo player Abbey Ryan, who was then playing for Eaglehawk in the BFNL, but has since crossed to the Roos.
"It should be a fun year. Chelsea and Abbey are still there as well as Sophie Shoebridge (from Sandhurst), so there are a few of us Bendigo girls there," she said.
"I remember us Bendigo girls car-pooling down and back to Melbourne a couple a nights a week for VNL a few years ago, it was a lot of fun.
"It's pretty exciting going back to the Express to play in their open (championship) team."
Away from the court, Barkmeyer is continuing her bachelor of education - primary school studies and has been furthering her experience in the field by working at a few schools.
Read more: 2016: Roos power to another BFNL premiership
On the Vixens prospects in 2022, Barkmeyer said the team would use the disappointment of the 2021 season as 'definite motivation' in their bid to return to the competition's upper echelon.
"We know there's some work to be done, but we will address those issues," she said.
"There were obviously some struggles and challenges this season, but we will use that to get back up where the Vixens have been through so many years of being successful, up in the top-three.
For me, I'm keen to continue making the most of the opportunities that come my way.
- Ruby Barkmeyer
"It's pretty cool to say this is my third year at Vixens before I'm 21, so I am lucky to have had all this experience and a taste of what it's like to be out there on court as a Vixen."
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