By JARROD POTTER
A CHANGING of the guard, at least temporarily, has been a boon for Dandenong Rangers’ WNBL basketballer Aimie Clydesdale.
Following mid-season knee surgery for Dandenong’s chief play-caller Kathleen Macleod, her absence gave plenty of opportunity for Endeavour Hills-based Clydesdale (13 points, 7 assists) to step up and show her potential in the starting line-up.
Clydesdale has made a seamless move from the bench to a starter after Macleod’s injury two rounds ago, and has proved she is a star on the rise in the midst of a breakout WNBL season.
With 13 points and seven assists in Dandenong’s 95-64 win over Adelaide on Friday night, all signs are pointing up for the 21-year-old.
“It came about in pretty unfortunate circumstances – losing Kath – and they’re hard shoes to fill but I’m just trying to use the opportunity and just give something to the team,” Clydesdale said.
“Obviously I can’t produce as many points as Kath or whatnot, but I’m just trying to bring what I can.
“Trying to use my speed – people always tell me I’m fast – so I’m trying to take advantage of it.”
With four years of WNBL experience under her belt, Clydesdale believes her success has come about in the right way as she’s earned the coach’s confidence to give her the ball in Macleod’s absence.
“I guess just putting in the work – I’ve been with Dandenong for four or five seasons now so I did my time and I’m slowly getting better and Mark’s (coach Mark Wright) having more confidence to put me on the court,” Clydesdale said.
It helps to have an Olympic Games gold medallist and a pair of Australian Opals running the court alongside you and Clydesdale has relished lining up with WNBA stars Cappie Pondexter and Penny Taylor.
“It’s been really good – they make you look better than you are – all I have to do is get them the ball and they’ll finish it,” Clydesdale said.
“They’re awesome to learn off – Penny Taylor, Cappie Pondexter and Kath I’ve learned so much off over the last few years and it’s been really good.”
Rangers’ coach Mark Wright was impressed with Clydesdale’s progression and thinks she has done everything right in her first major step up to the starting five.
“I thought Aimie Clydesdale was absolutely wonderful and it was her best game (on Friday),” Wright said.
“She’s revelling in that responsibility to being the starting point guard and it looks like it’s the emergence of Aimie Clydesdale.
“I’m so excited for her – she’s grabbed the opportunity with both hands.”
Dandenong sits third on the WNBL ladder and face West Coast at home in the ABC Match of the Week, from 3pm on Saturday afternoon.
