Tara Murray
Court three at Craigieburn Sports Stadium is one of Kellie Bailey-Lynn’s favourite places in the world.
Many of her 390 Big V games were played on that court, along with many junior games and training sessions.
So when the Craigieburn Eagles decided to recognise Bailey-Lynn’s career, it was somewhat fitting that court three would be renamed the Kellie Bailey-Lynn court.
Bailey-Lynn was officially recognised by the Eagles on July 16, having retired after last season.
She holds the club record for the most Big V-Victorian Basketball League games, while she captained the women’s side for 11 years and played in three championships.
Overall, she played in more than 700 games representing the club and she has coached many of the kids coming through.
Bailey-Lynn knew something was happening before the ceremony, but wasn’t sure exactly what.
“It was very unexpected and really surprising,” she said.
“Two of my old teammates Coby Scott and Kylie Mutton asked me last week if I could keep the date free.
“They wouldn’t give me any information. I knew a few people would be there. I’m president of one of the junior clubs and I knew some kids were coming down as well.”
As well as a court being named after her, the Eagles retired her nine number jersey.
Bailey-Lynn said they were both pretty special.
“We used to play Big V games before the new courts were built,” she said of court three.
“It’s one of my favourite places in the whole world. There was a big home court advantage and it was always cold out there.”
Bailey-Lynn said while she would still like to play, the time had come to put her family first. She said she was so lucky to go out on her own terms.
She said while many people had mentioned about 400 games, she was happy to finish on 390.
“My family is the next stage of my life,” she said. “There’s never enough hours in the day for all of us.
“I’m grateful to have played for as long as I did. I had two seasons off to have babies and a season off as an assistant coach.
“I had wanted to play the 2020 and 2021 seasons and if I had played them [full seasons], I would have got to 400 games. I’m happy to have played as many games as I was able to play.”
Bailey-Lynn was quick to thank Scott and Mutton for organising the ceremony along with the committee.
She said she was so grateful to her family and husband Mat for the support they had provided throughout her career.
While Bailey-Lynn’s days on court are over, she isn’t far from the courts as president of junior club, Aitken Creek Ravens.
“I fell into that role,” she said.
“The family running the club decided to play closer to home. I had wanted to sit back and watch basketball, but after six months they decided they were moving and needed someone to take over.
“The genetics came out to play and I didn’t want to see the kids miss out. Both my kids love basketball.”
