WATCH TAB Courtside 1v1 on SBS - episode 8 - with Megan Hustwaite and Tessa Lavey from 7pm (AEDT) on Thursday February 25 via , or catch up via .
The 27-year-old Rio Olympian, WNBL championship winner and lifetime Richmond Tigers fan made the bold decision to trade the hardwood for the footy field this season after making the move to Tigerland for the AFLW season.
Fresh from captaining the Bendigo Spirit in the WNBL hub season, Lavey was drafted with pick 43 by Richmond to start her burgeoning Aussie rules football career.
Lavey made her debut for the Tigers on February 14, completing an incredible journey she admits didn’t seem possible.
In the interview set to air on Thursday night’s episode of TAB Courtside 1v1 on SBS at 7pm (AEDT) via , Lavey revealed how reflection after the sudden passing of her brother drove her to step out of her comfort zone and achieve something she had only ever dreamt about.
“Running out for Richmond was so surreal. As a kid this opportunity was not available for women in sport so I thought this moment would never come,” Lavey said.
“My brother Tim was always my biggest supporter and always said I was capable of anything.
“Tim’s passing last year really made me wake up and realise that I can in fact do anything and gave me the confidence to give playing in the AFLW a crack.
Lavey said her brother wasn’t far from her thoughts as she finally broke through and made her AFLW debut with the club they had both supported all their lives.
“I really felt Tim’s presence out there. It was nice to be out there running around and thinking how much he and my family have believed in me,” she said.
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“Juggling both footy and basketball will be a bit of a challenge but it is such a special opportunity to be a dual-sport athlete and one that I am very thankful for.
“If I fail, then I fail but I’m looking forward to testing myself in a new sport while also staying in the game of basketball which I still love.”
In the full interview with Hustwaite, Lavey reflects on the challenges of being a dual-sport athlete, Olympic aspirations and captaining Bendigo during the WNBL hub season.
The interview is part of an SBS series - TAB Courtside 1v1, which gives fans a chance to get to know more about the unique personalities from the NBA, WNBA, NBL and WNBL, which help shape basketball in Australia.
Hustwaite, who has been covering all levels of Australian basketball for the past 13 years as a reporter, commentator and journalist, will helm the weekly show - every Thursday at 7pm (AEDT) via - where she interviews stars of the past, present and future.
SBS will again broadcast multiple regular-season NBA games per week in HD on SBS VICELAND and streamed live via SBS On Demand. Plus, every game of the upcoming 2020-21 NBL season will be LIVE, FREE and in HD via , with select games also live on SBS VICELAND.
