There are a lot of favourite things that Kelsie Rainbow is missing about Tasmania now more so than any other time living away in Melbourne.
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Mum and dad. Cavaliers. Old school friends. Fresh air.
Probably in that order too.
Except at the top of the list are the Tasmanian Magpies.
"I love coming home and seeing all my family, but also especially getting to just train with Netball Tasmania in our allegiance with Collingwood Magpies," Rainbow said.
"That opportunity to come back and to play in my home state is always a privilege.
"I guess it's something I am really missing now, but for me personally I do feel a lot for the Tasmanian-based players because it's a top opportunity to show a pathway forward for young netballers.
"It's really important in getting that expose for Tassie girls. For that not to be there is very disappointing."
That passion is clear when at the end of the 2017 season, the Winnaleah talent crossed from the Victorian Fury back to the home state feeder side.
ELSEWHERE IN SPORT
Rainbow had the golden touch after trading the Fury's ANL premiership success to another for the Tasmanians in just their second year back.
The star midcourter also capped off the finals with the player-of-the-series award.
It's the stage that allowed Rainbow to step up to cover for Collingwood's injuries.
"ANL is a fantastic competition and is something that all girls should be striving for to one day play. Behind Super Netball, ANL is the next best competition," she said.
"So I am definitely going to miss that training environment, that's for sure."
Netball Australia only announced earlier this month a decision to cut the ANL competition for financial reasons in the COVID-19 pandemic.
After the Tasmanians won the bronze-medal playoff in last season's consolation, the chance not to have another run in the finals weekend has left the 23-year-old flat.
"It is extremely disappointing that the season couldn't get off the ground," she said.
"It's all high-level netball, it's what we all aim to play in Tasmania, so to not have that there I guess is hard, but at the same time it has been in unfortunate circumstances for a lot of different people.
"I still feel like it's a shame of the upcoming talent don't get an opportunity to play at the highest level they can."
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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.
