MIRRABOOKA basketballer Liz Cooke says her experience and defensive presence could help guide the East Perth Eagles back to the State Basketball League playoffs in 2010.

The 31-year-old forward has joined the Morley-based club looking for a new start after spending the past decade playing for the Stirling Senators.

With the Eagles on the way up after a strong finish to their 2009 campaign, Cooke believes the move will be beneficial for both the team’s chances and her own game.

“I was just after a bit of a change – I’d been at Stirling for 10 years and felt like I was in need of a new start,” she said.

“East Perth is a club with a very good vision and is going forward, so I’m excited about being part of a club that’s looking to the future.

“I think I can build on how the team finished last year and hopefully take it a little bit further.”

A veteran of WA basketball, the 183-centimetre Cooke has had two stints with Perth sides in the national WNBL competition to complement a stellar career at domestic level.

The mother-of-two said she was looking forward to working with the Eagles’ younger players, namely forwards Samantha Toomath and Emily Fletcher.

“There are a couple of big girls that are quite young and have a lot of potential, so I’m looking forward to hopefully being a bit of a role model,” she said.

“They are the ones that will be there in five years’ time, so I’ll just try to lead by example with what I do out on the floor.”

The team will have to overcome the loss of Australia representative Carly Wilson, who has moved to Canberra to enhance her chances of national representation.

In East Perth men’s news, the club last week announced the signing of Damien Chalk as coach for the 2010 season.

Chalk, who served as an assistant at the club this year, replaces Adam Caporn in the top job.

Article & Photo by Eastern Reporter