Gaze carries torch as leader of Fire
TOWNSVILLE Fire guard Kate Gaze has found herself in unfamiliar territory. But stepping out of her comfort zone is far from a deterrent for the 30-year-old, rather it is a reason to perform at a higher level than ever before.
Gaze is one of the most senior players in the Fire’s line-up, with the orange outfit to go into the WNBL campaign as the competition’s youngest squad.
With that has come an added layer of responsibility to be one of the leaders in the group, particularly as one of
only two Townsville players retained from the 2019-20 campaign.
But it is not a burden for Gaze, it is an opportunity.
It has presented the chance for her to showcase her credentials as a focal point of the Fire’s endeavours.
“Obviously I’ve played under Shannon (Seebohm) last season in that WNBL season, so I sort of know what he’s about a little bit more and I try and help the girls on and off the court with whatever they need,” Gaze said.
“I’m now one of the oldest which is crazy in my mind, but they’re such a great bunch of
girls. They all work so hard every day, and it’s a really great feeling amongst the group.
“I’m definitely loving the leadership role. I’ve known a few of the girls for a long time through other parts of my life at different places I’ve played so being able to reconnect there has been amazing.
“Being able to help the girls in any way I can is a pretty cool feeling.”
As a professional athlete, Gaze said game day was always going to consume her focus over training.
It is the nature of any player, and part of what has her so
excited for the condensed format this WNBL campaign will embody.
With only six weeks for each side to play 14 games, training will be in short supply — particularly in rounds two and three for the Fire, when they will play three games in four days.
Gaze said it would mean the tournament would adopt a “survival of the fittest” mentality, with recovery and player rotation to be a crucial juggling act for coaches.
But given her time living in Melbourne almost convinced her a season would not go ahead due to coronavirus, each chance to take to the court will be a blessing.
Two weeks of hotel quarantine upon touching down in Townsville only bottled up the anticipation.
“It was amazing, I kind of forgot how to play basketball — it’s been a long time since I’ve played against anyone so I was a bit crazy out there,” Gaze said.
“I think Shannon would have been like ‘wow’ but it was just so good to get out, be around my teammates and see people. It’s really anyone’s shot at this, if we stay together and jell well, we’ll be successful this year.”