Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Stacey Norton-Smith, who took out both Cricket North and the TCL's best-and-fairest for the 2019-20 season, has re-signed with Longforde - ending her association with Launceston after having to choose between the two.
"Longford is a club that young ones can thrive in which is exciting for the prospect of women's cricket," the 18-year-old said.
"It was very hard to tell the Launnie girls. Also with the current situation, it was hard for the conversation to be had because ideally for me it would have been face to face.
ELSEWHERE IN SPORT
"It was hard to leave the girls because they were the ones that made last season so fun, enjoyable and successful for me."
Scoring 613 runs and taking 17 wickets across both competitions during one of the most successful seasons in recent memory, the young all-rounder has thrived as Longford's coach.
Taking the reins of the TCL outfit in the 2018-19 season, two years after they joined the Female Boom competition, Norton-Smith has led Longford to two consecutive premierships, something she's understandably proud of.
"Coaching is something different, it's a lot different than taking a wicket and scoring runs - it's actually more rewarding.
Longford is a club that young ones can thrive in.
- Stacey Norton-Smith
"Coaching is really exciting and rewarding all of the time. Whether we are training or playing, there are always those little wins that I thrive on."
Another rewarding aspect for the former St Patrick's College student was handing over the captaincy to Emma Humphries this season, having had many conversations throughout 2018-19.
"It was awesome to be able to hand over the captaincy to Em because I knew she was capable of it and I knew it would allow me to focus on my game and still be able to help both my team and the opposition when we were out in the middle."
Subscriptions are available here.
Sign up to our Sport email here.