Batkovic joins elite club
Five-time WNBL MVP Suzy Batkovic is poised to become just the fourth player in JCU Townsville Fire history to represent the club on 150 occasions tomorrow.
Having celebrated her 100th game with the Fire in a championship in 2015/16, Batkovic will be looking for a similar result during the opening game of the 2017/18 Grand Final series against Melbourne.
By her side will be two mainstays of the Fire – Micaela Cocks and Mia Murray – while games record holder Rachael McCully will provide instructions from the bench as an assistant coach.
Batkovic is the only remaining player from the club’s inaugural season, representing the Fire in their first ever game in the WNBL against Bulleen (now Melbourne).
“I love the club,” Batkovic said in the lead up to the game.
“It is number one to me. It is where I have spent the longest period of my playing career and it means a lot.
“Townsville is my home, it’s why I settled her and the support that we get from the fans and the community is why I play here.”
Boasting a raft of records, Batkovic is also poised to become the first player in club history to record 3000 points for the Fire tomorrow, caught one short during last week’s semi-final series.
The 37-year-old is an overwhelming favourite to claim her fifth club MVP at the up-coming Loloma Jewellers MVP.
“Suzy Batkovic will go down as one of the greatest WNBL players of all-time and certainly the best player to have ever represented the Fire,” club General Manager Richard Goodbody said.
“She has been a mainstay of our championship success – we hope she can celebrate this milestone with another ring next week – and she has contributed enormously to our off-court success.
“We’re very proud of her.”
The Fire host the Boomers in game one of the series at Townsville Stadium on Saturday night.
Click here to pre-purchase tickets to the WNBL Grand Final.
The JCU Townsville Fire congratulate Suzy Batkovic on her 150th game for the club.
JCU Townsville Fire Games
- Rachael McCully (228)
- Micaela Cocks (179*)
- Mia Murray (171*)
- Suzy Batkovic (149*)
- Tania Baxter (131)
- Aneka Davis (122)
- Cherie Gallagher (119)
- Claudia Brassard (106)
- Rohanee Cox (103)
- Kelly Wilson (100*)