Kelsie Rainbow has nearly always been the odd one out.
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That had previously served the star Tasmanian Magpies midcourter very well right up until this pandemic year.
The Winnaleah favourite once set course hurriedly for Melbourne not long after the demise of the Tassie Spirit.
Five years later, Rainbow was on centre court for Super Netball affiliate Collingwood Magpies and it all appeared smooth sailing from there.
But after being stripped of training partner status at the end of last year that allowed elevation into Collingwood's squad to cover for injuries, Rainbow is now shut out of the club's prestigious Holden Centre that prevents training with the Magpies.
It has forced the 23-year-old to sort of bunker down in enemy camp on ANL lines.
"So I have been that odd Melbourne-based, Tasmanian player, which means I am not training there," she said.
"I guess I am not at the place where I had thought I would be, but I am quite fortunate still that Melbourne Uni do provide a competitive training environment that's full of a lot of Victorian Fury [players] - so my actual ANL competitors, which I would normally train against, away from my club setting.
"I am lucky in that way, but at the same time I am missing that opportunity to keep in the ANL environment."
ELSEWHERE IN SPORT
Tasmanian Magpies may have had their ANL season cancelled earlier this month, but the entire squad - except for Rainbow - will prepare as one for a 2021 shot.
The hard luck story comes to light more that had Rainbow just remained at former State League club Cavaliers, she would have maintained that regular contact with all mentoring staff that includes head coach Jon Fletcher.
Location in fact is the only thing that separates a weekly Magpies session to the once former club and current ANL teammate Shelby Miller.
"So my personal circumstances mean that I am missing an opportunity, but that is just the same as a lot of girls out there too that are striving to that next level. So I am not that different," she said.
But Rainbow said teaming up with several Victoria Fury rivals that turn into Melbourne Uni Lightning teammates will make her hungry.
"I am pretty confident that Melbourne Uni can provide a more than adequate training environment that gets me through it and puts me into good shape for next season," Rainbow said.
"I am not too concerned about that just because of the talent in our VNL side that we have, so I am really lucky.
"I guess I am lucky but it is also unfortunate I will miss being a part of that regular high-performance training.
"I'm used to a daily training environment that is elite, so I guess I just don't have that for the rest of the year."
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Andrew Mathieson
The day I realised I wasn't good enough to play for St Kilda or be the No.1 spinner for Australia was when I realised journalism was the closest I could come to follow my passion for sport. And it's not just about the scores for me. It's the back story behind the game.
The day I realised I wasn't good enough to play for St Kilda or be the No.1 spinner for Australia was when I realised journalism was the closest I could come to follow my passion for sport. And it's not just about the scores for me. It's the back story behind the game.
