Perth Steel chase back-to-back glory
For Shelby Maher, captaining the Perth Steel to victory in the 2023 Super League gold medal match was a dream realised. It was the culmination of years of hard work, dedication, and a deep bond with her teammates.
“The moment was pretty surreal,” Maher reflected.
“It was something that we had worked towards for years and finally we were able to experience it. It’s something you want everyone to have a chance to be a part of, and it was a very special group of girls we did that with.
“It all started with creating a good work ethic at training and then taking confidence from that when we were in those big moments. The confidence and trust we had in each other to do our job on and off the court allowed us to play with freedom and passion.”
As the 2024 season approaches, the Perth Steel have welcomed some new players to the team, making training sessions highly competitive.
“A year on, we have a lot of new additions of experience and talent,” Maher notes. “The depth of girls that have turned up this year has made it really competitive at trainings to see who will be chosen for the first round. Everyone has their own strengths that they can bring to the table, and there’s enough knowledge in the group to help each other with any weaknesses.”
The team’s strategy for the upcoming season is centred around growth and improvement.
“We have all worked towards the idea we are here to improve and not to prove,” Maher said.
“There is so much more we can bring to the table, and we know it’s a new season with new competition, and we will be better than last year. We are going to take every game as it comes and build from there.”
Despite the challenges of a new season and the weight of being defending champions, Maher and her team have their sights firmly set on the top.
“This year, we have every intention of building towards making the final and winning gold again,” she said. “At the end of the day, if we can walk off the court and say we put in everything we could physically, mentally, and emotionally, I think that’s something we can be proud of.”
According to Maher, the new league format, introduced last season, has been a hit in Western Australia.
“I think the format has been received well from supporters in WA. We had a couple of the biggest turnouts to the rounds last year, which created a huge atmosphere for the players and built good exposure for the league,” Maher says. “The format forced teams to be more resilient on court and challenge players to step up in difficult positions.”
Balancing her roles as an athlete and a physiotherapist, along with her work as an ambassador for sport and healthy lifestyles, is no small feat. However, Maher finds joy in every aspect of her busy life.
“Fitting everything in helps when you love the sport and you love your job,” she said.
“It’s pretty cool we get to work during the week and then have the chance to fly away on the weekends and reinvent ourselves as athletes. Not everyone gets this opportunity, and it’s something that, when it does become tough during the season, I always remember and am grateful for.”
Perth Steel will take on Adelaide Storm in round 1 of the 2024 Mahindra Super League on Saturday 31 August at Warwick Stadium, Perth.
Click here for more information on the 2024 Mahindra Super League.
