Perry Lakes Lady Hawk star forward Deanna Smith will join the Sydney Uni Flames for 09/10 WNBL season, with hope to secure a spot in the Australian Opals team in upcoming competitions. Whilst Deanna describes the move to the nation’s largest city as a little daunting, she hopes to return to Perth for the next WSBL season and to the friends and club she’s grown to love.

“I think that the club has a great feel and the right culture about it and I hope that the club continues to bridge the gap between the senior and junior programs so we get more and more kids to games and the senior players become good role models to the younger players,” said Deanna. “I also think by bridging this gap and having the senior players involved with the junior programs it gives the younger players something to aim towards, something that is very achievable if they continue to work hard.  I think that the Hawks club is a strong association and I really love being a part of it.”

Deanna recognises the significant impact the coaching staff and team have had on her development. She acknowledges the guidance of coach Glen Ellis and previous coach Rick Morcom and how their challenges have assisted her growth as a player. Deanna also trained with the Hawks SBL men’s team on numerous occasions and received encouragement from her team-mates to step up to this challenge.

Furthermore, Deanna has faith in the team and believes her absence provides the other players with opportunities to step up, develop their confidence on the court and use the extra game time to increase their skills.

“I know that with or without me in the team they will achieve great things because that is what the Hawks are all about, pulling together as a team, backing each other up and working hard to continually improve,” she said of her fellow team-mates.

Deanna ultimately aims for selection in the Australian team for the 2012 London Olympic Games, but in the mean time has a number of short-term goals to tick off her list. She hopes to be selected in the Opals team for the Oceania qualifications (September 2009), before returning to the WNBL competition in hope to add another WNBL championship to her impressive career resume.

“I would like to think that if [these] two goals are achieved that I would be in line to make the Opals team to compete in the World Championship's and win gold in 2010.  These are just a few of the short-term goals working towards achieving my dream,” said Deanna, before adding a few words of support and encouragement. “I just want to say good luck to both the men and the women's SBL teams in the finals, it would be great to get a double Hawks championship this year.  Also to all of the junior Hawks, keep working hard challenging yourselves.  Set goals and don't be scared to aim high, anything is possible!”

Article by Lyndsay Pekin