Cat flipping code switch
GEELONG AFLW player Carly Remmos is set to return to basketball with the Geelong Supercats this NBL1 season.
Remmos was a star junior but crossed to football and played with Geelong Falcons, selected by the Cats in last year’s AFLW draft and making her debut last month.
She represented Vic Country at underage basketball tournaments and will mix her football commitments in the VFLW with the Supercats over the winter.
Supercats coach Matt Paton said their squad would bear an “extremely” different look to the group that made a quarterfinal appearance two years ago.
“Two years ago, you had Zitina Aokuso, Ezi Magbegor, Sara Blicavs, the two Brancatisano girls (Charlotte and Isabella), you had Ebony Rolph, Isabelle Bourne, Jaz Shelley — none of those girls are here,” Paton said.
“They’d make up quite a significant team on their own.
“We have enough talent and leadership within the group that just will mean changing the game style than perhaps what was the status quo two years ago.
“It will also be a good opportunity for our locals to get some court time because that hasn’t been the case necessarily in recent history.
“It will be a good chance for our local talent to get out on the court and show what they’ve got in front of their home fans and get an opportunity at this level and hopefully be able to go on with it.
“From a Geelong basketball perspective, (it shows) the legitimacy of the pathway through our juniors into senior opportunities.”
Remmos, Georgia Varley, and Ally Knights will be among emerging talent to receive senior opportunities this season.
The Supercats will meet Knox Raiders on Saturday night at the State Basketball Centre, a contest Paton said would provide his side with a good “litmus test”.
Paton was tight-lipped about expectations for the season.
“You look at (Sarah) Elsworthy, (Alex) Duck, (Steph) Blicavs, (Aimie) Clydesdale — that’s a pretty good back court in anyone’s estimation. But it’s the front court that goes to complement that that we’re probably lacking from an upper echelon talent perspective, with all due respect with the girls that we do have,” he said.
“We want to be able to shoot the ball well and we can’t afford to be having a rollercoaster of percentages, where one day we’re hitting really well and we’re super competitive and the next day the ball’s not dropping.
“We’re realistic about making sure that we can actually maximise the talent we do have and evolve our game style.”