FIRST-year North Warrnambool Eagles captain Kate O’Meara says the versatility of her playing position has helped her adapt to her new role.
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The Hampden league premiership midcourter is 10 games into her stint as skipper, having taken over from Indi Morrison at the start of the 2017 season.
O’Meara, 20, says using her voice to direct and help teammates is what she prides herself on as a leader.
“I was really surprised that I got named captain of our team and I guess I was really surprised because I am one of the younger ones,” she said.
“I am surrounded by girls who are a few years older than me and then you have Elisha (Carter) who has 10-plus years on me.
“Leading from the front and encouraging everyone around you, it’s so easy as a midcourter because you’re in basically every spot on the court.”
O’Meara, who will reach the 100-game milestone against Cobden on Saturday, believes the second-placed Eagles can only get stronger.
The Deakin University student has come through the ranks, sitting on the bench at 15 for the Eagles’ maidne A grade premiership in 2013 and breaking through to play a key role on the court in their second flag two years later.
She said an influx of top-line players returning to the club – Annie Blackburn, Jordyn Billings, Skye Billings, Rachael Ryan, Elisha Carter – had put North Warrnambool in an ideal position to strike again.
“We are all very good individual players but it’s when we come together as a team that’s the best thing and I don’t think we’ve hit our straps just yet,” she said.
O’Meara, who juggles two part-time jobs in between a nursing and psychology double degree, said coach Jody Roth deserved credit for the Eagles’ position.
“She came to the club two or three years ago now and everyone was excited because it was a new phase,” she said.
“For the past five or six years we’d chosen internally a senior coach so it was good to get a fresh pair of eyes into the club.”