The year may have come to an end before it even began, but already the Launceston Tornadoes have found just a touch of inspiration online towards a triumphant return to the court next season.
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The 2020 squad turned to a Zoom chat session this week from inside their own homes with WNBL and Australian Opals icon Marianna Tolo.
The three-time Canberra Capitals star championship winner delivered the earliest preseason pep talk possible.
Tornadoes coach Sarah Veale wanted to educate the club's young group further.
"We are in a development phase with the majority of our girls," she said.
"Tolo is unquestionably an inspirational role model.
"To hear her story and on how she has dealt with adversity, what that looked like, build resilience and what she is doing now in this current climate was very powerful."
ELSEWHERE IN SPORT
Veale also admitted that to get a buy-in for next season more than 12 months ahead was very heartwarming.
Nearly all players that have committed to the club for 2021 should have been on the cusp of the season opener by next week and are instead stranded in isolation amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Veale is limited on training regimes, but she has plans to impact their minds.
"We know that this should be our in-season," she said.
"So we are committed to having one of our scheduled practice sessions each week now by Zoom.
"We will have a range of inspiring guest speakers from players to other sports code athletes and coaches join us.
"We need to use this time effectively as no one can afford to have a whole season off. So we are being creative."
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