Recruit Kelsie Rainbow’s celebrated homecoming has been equally warmly welcomed by new Tasmanian Magpies coach Kate Upton.
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The 21-year-old talent has been the top offseason signing for the second-year team.
Upton, who took on the job from Jon Fletcher, believed the state’s most decorated junior of recent years could be the missing piece towards a winning Tasmanian puzzle.
“Kelsie just had a phenomenal 12 months,” Upton said.
“Just to watch her development as a part of the Fury, she definitely has been heading in the right direction.
“Her high-performance behaviours and intensity on court has jumped ten-fold.
“She’s someone to watch in the next 12 months and I look forward to seeing what she can do in Tassie colours.”
The brave call from Upton came after Rainbow joined the Fury during a part of their near undefeated four-year Australian Netball League title reign from 2013 to 2016.
The coach believes that Rainbow will also “bring something special” returning to play for her home state.
“I just think having that affiliation with Tasmania is something that is very close to her heart,” Upton said.
Rainbow, who initially moved across Bass Strait to attend Monash University, will remain in Melbourne to train with their training partners of Super Netball Club Collingwood Magpies.
“There’s no real reason on why I moved from the Fury,” she said. “I’ve always liked to give back to Tassie – they’ve done so much for me for the years that I have been part of the Tasmanian pathways.”
The Magpies, who first announced their squad five days prior to Christmas, started preseason on Wednesday.
The Winnaleah-raised Rainbow is set to join former Cavaliers teammate Shelby Miller in the midcourt, the pair possibly battling out for the prized centre position.
Northern Hawks stars Ashlea Mawer and Danni Pickett with newcomer Jamie Symons also made the cut.
Rainbow is backing her new side in from sixth spot to finals contender this year.
“I have the highest expectations. As a team, the calibre of players we have and the depth, I think we can have an outstanding year,” she said.