Tara Murray
A lot has changed since Tahlia Prestia made her senior debut for the Craigieburn Eagles in 2006, but there is one thing that has stayed the same.
As she celebrated her 200th senior Big V game, Prestia said it was the people that had her coming back year after year.
“I’ve played with many different players,” she said. “There have been so many people come through, but the calibre of people amazes me every year.
“We’ve had several rebuilds as a team, but the people have always been amazing. When I started there was no youth league.
“We’ve had a brand new stadium built for us which I never thought would happen and we’ve changed uniforms about seven times.
“But the club has remained the same, the volunteers are passionate about Craigieburn.”
When Prestia ran onto the court on Saturday night against Sherbrooke Suns, she joined a rare club of people to play 200 senior games.
She was just the third woman behind Kellie Bailey-Lynn and Kylie Mutton
It was only fitting that they were both on hand on Saturday night to share the milestone and unveil a banner of Prestia on the wall.
“I found out on Friday night that they were going to do a banner,” she said.
“I didn’t know they had told my family and friends, players I had played and and old coaches and there would be there to celebrate afterwards.
“The banner unveiling was unbelievable. Kellie and Kylie were players I played with and always looked up to.
“It’s a privilege to be up there with two of the best players at Craigieburn. It’s nice to see more women in sport recognsied too.”
Prestia made her debut as a 14-year-old and has been a staple of the team for a long time.
She said basketball was the only sport she had ever played, with all her closest friends coming through the program as well.
She played 56 youth league games on top of her senior games when that competition kicked off in 2011, sometimes combining commitments between the two.
There are also the 246 junior games representing Craigieburn that she played after starting in under-12s.
Prestia has been part of two senior Big V championships, in 2008 and 2018. She said it was special in 2018 to be part of a second one, having been so young the first time round.
She said this year will be her last, with it not as easy on the body each week.
Currently the team is bottom with two wins.
Prestia said COVID-19 had impacted the club, but they were heading in the right direction for the future.
