Former skipper returns to court

Having a basketball-free 2023 was never the plan for multi-championship winning player and former Castec Rural Pioneers skipper Tom Daly but that was how things worked out and he couldn’t wait to ink a deal with the club and return in 2024.

“Halfway through last year I knew I was really missing being involved, whether coaching or playing – it was part of my identity,” Daly said.

“I knew I wanted to be involved again and so as soon as the season finished last year I rang Richo (coach Richard Hill) and talked about getting back involved again and how it would look.”

That discussion has resulted in Daly recently signing on the dotted line to rejoin the program and after spending his first season in 25 years on the sidelines he is ready to go.

“The break wasn’t planned and I wasn’t retiring,” he said.

The 2023 plan saw Daly and his young family relocating to Adelaide and he was set to return to his childhood club – Sturt – and by the time those plans changed and the family was staying put, the Pioneers roster was in place.

“I had never really had a season off basketball so in the end it was probably good,” he said.

Not that he stayed away completely, attending every home game and taking a keen interest in what the Pioneers were producing on court as well as the opposition.

“The way I think about it and always have it what can I do and how can we move towards winning a champion ship,” Daly said.

“The body still works, I feel I can contribute pretty well and I am trying to get back to full flight.”

In 2023, Daly saw a team so close to achieving the ultimate and the hard work has already begun for the 2024 campaign.

Daly and the squad that is already in place in Mount Gambier have been working hard, already completing half a dozen weekend training camps, every two or three weeks, as well as morning shoot arounds, with things set to really ramp up in the next couple of weeks as the entire squad comes together.

And his working relationship with coach Richard Hill has fallen right back into place.

“I know what his standard is, I feel like I can come in and help drive that,” Daly said. “The guys that are coming back are quality players and quality guys and that’s why Richo’s brought them back and some of the other guys that are coming in are of that quality too.”

2024 will be Daly’s tenth as a Pioneer – five of those as captain – and Hill knows the value the 32-year-old will bring to the group.

“It’s tremendous news for the club that our former captain and three-time SEABL champion is returning to the team,” Hill said.

“Tom will bring his familiar skillset, toughness and leadership and is working extremely hard to get back to his brilliant best.”

PHOTO BY FRANK MONGER