From badminton to rugby, Logan’s embracing new sporting endeavours

BENDIGO para athlete Caleb Logan has never been one to shy away from a sporting or any other kind of challenge.

His next two could well be his biggest yet.

Logan – a five-time best and fairest with Essendon in the Victorian Wheelchair Football League (VWFL) and an Australian para volleyball representative – is turning his hand to two new sporting pursuits – badminton and wheelchair rugby league.

He is not afraid to admit he has had little exposure to both sports, and in the case of wheelchair rugby, none at all.

The 28-year-old won’t exactly be easing his way in to the cut and thrust of competition.

His first foray into competitive badminton will be in a pair of international events being hosted in his hometown at the Bendigo Eaglehawk Badminton Stadium from next week.

Logan will fly the flag for the locals at the Oceania Para Badminton Championships (16-19 October), before backing up in the Australian Para Badminton International (20-25 October).

It’s a baptism of fire for a player whose experience in the sport is limited to some social badminton in his younger years.

Reminded he would need to be on his game against his international competitors, Logan quipped: “I’m not sure what that is yet.”

“But I’m keen to test myself and see where it leads.

“To be honest, I’m not sure what to expect against the international players, but I guess I’ll soon find out.”

Logan, who has ramped up his training at the Eaglehawk-based stadium over the last couple of weeks, is gearing up for a big couple of months in sporting battle.

Following the Oceania Para Badminton Championships and Australian Para Badminton International, he will line up in the AFL Toyota Open, the flagship national event for footballers with an intellectual disability and wheelchair players.

He will then fly to the Gold Coast for the inaugural NRL Wheelchair Championships.

His decision to try his hand at wheelchair rugby could not have come about more randomly.

“A mate messaged me and asked whether I would like to give NRL a go. Of course, I said yes,” Logan said.

“I contacted someone from the NRL to see how it all worked and got into the Victorian team.

“I’ve been in training. I don’t really know the rules, but I’m learning as I go.

“It will be a nice trip to Queensland.”

His new sporting ventures follow another successful season with Essendon in the VWFL.

While the Bombers were eliminated in the first week of finals by Collingwood, Logan claimed his fifth club best and fairest award.

He scored a game-high seven goals in the finals loss to the Magpies, and ended the season with 53 goals, including a season-high 11 against Collingwood in round nine.

“The fifth best and fairest was nice, but a premiership would be better,” Logan said.

“Hopefully we can win the nationals to make up.

“We won that in 2022, which was great.

“Victoria has a pretty strong side with the league we have here.”

For the moment, his sitting volleyball career is on hold, after representing Australia last October at the Paravolley Asia Oceania Club Cup Tour in China.

“I’ve been playing VWBL (Victorian Wheelchair Basketball League) with the Bendigo Braves,” he said.

“That’s been taking up a bit of my time.

“I just love my sport.”