AT 14, Isabella Baker is already an important member of Koroit’s open netball side.
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The Warrnambool College student is playing full games at goal attack and wing attack for the Hampden league finals contender.
Baker, who also plays 15 and unders each week, made her debut in round four and quickly established herself as a player to watch.
“It’s been a really good experience and I am loving every second of it because they (my older teammates) are giving me tips so it’s improved my netball heaps,” she said.
Saints co-coach Carly Pulling said Baker was “fitting into our team brilliantly”.
“She’s not flashy, she just just does her job. She really takes on instruction and advice from everyone,” she said.
“We are really happy with how she’s coming along.”
Pulling said Baker, who started at Warrnambool and District league club South Rovers, was already causing opposition coaches problems.
“South (Warrnambool) had to move their best player in Ally O’Connor on to Belle to stop her and I think Belle still really put it to Ally,” she said. “It was a pretty good little battle actually.”
Baker, who credited her junior coach Danielle McInerney for fast-tracking her development, said it was humbling to play on a player of O’Connor’s calibre.
“She is really strong and it was good for my netball to try and work out how to play on someone like that,” she said.
“She definitely pushed me but that is a good thing. Jacqui (Bowman), Carly and Jess (O’Connor) gave me great tips to try and beat her in different ways.”