GARBIN EXTENDS FIRE DE AL
THE Townsville Fire are betting big on the future of Darcee Garbin after extending the contract of the young centre to keep her with the team for at least the next four seasons.
While the 23- year- old is already signed to the Fire for the next two years the Townsville Bulletin understands the club will today announce a contract extension for the 2015- 16 WNBL champion.
With the glittering career of WNBL icon and reigning MVP Suzy Batkovic likely to end this season or next, the Fire were delighted to lock up the long- term future of Kalgoorlie product Garbin.
Fire head coach Claudia Brassard was on the recruitment team which first helped first lure Garbin here from her home town team in Perth and she said the decision to extend her contract was an easy one.
“When we sit down and look at the kind of athlete we want at our club, Darcee ticks all those boxes,” she said.
“She is a great player who really embodies what our team culture is about on and off the floor.
“And she’s a tireless worker in training and during games.
“We really see Darcee as a type of player that can help lead this team once Suzy’s career comes to a close and we know just how much potential she has.”
The 188cm talent is dominating in the QBL for the Townsville Flames with averages of 24.4 points and 9.78 rebounds and she will spearhead the Emerging Opals assault at the World University Games in August.
Garbin is yet to play at the senior level for her country but Brassard said another solid season competing against the likes of returning WNBL stars and Opals regulars Abby Bishop and Liz Cambage would further push her case for national selection.
“I know it is a goal of Darcee’s to play for the Opals one day and I’d suggest that she will get an invite to a team training camp in the next year or so,” she said.
“This season will be a real test for her against Bishop, Cambage, ( Canadian star Ruth) Hamblin and those types of players but she’s ready for that challenge.”
Garbin will likely serve as an impact player off the Fire’s bench in the 2017- 18 season, backing up Fire skipper Batkovic and two- time WNBL champion and Olympian Cayla George.