Chelsea Burns has achieved everything she wanted out of her basketball career … now the Sunbury Jets’ captain wants to help others do the same.
Burns’ resume includes being part of the Women’s National Basketball League and representing Australia at the Uni Games. This season, she’s added playing with the Jets.
“I’m coming to the end of my career,” Burns said last week. “Mentally, I’m still there and I’ve achieved everything that I wanted too.
“I want to help develop players, so they can be successful. I think there will be success in the near future here, and I want to help them achieve that.”
Having spent the past three years in Perth, Burns made the move back to Victoria late last year. She had offers from several clubs to play either SEABL, where she played more than 200 games, or in the Big V competition.
Among the offers was one to play with the Jets, where her partner Kennedy Kereama had been appointed coach.
“There were conversations with other clubs and some were more in-depth than others,” Burns said.
“I’ve coached with him [Kennedy] and always thought about playing under him.
“I was always hesitant because of our relationship … but to have the chance to play under a national coach is a good opportunity.”
The coach-player relationship has been a good one so far.
“I couldn’t be happier to be here. We’ve learnt to leave what happens on the court on the court.”
Burns’ impact at the Jets has already been felt, and she was voted captain by the rest of the team.
“Captain is really nice, that they appreciate what I’ve brought and I’m delivering the messages in the right way. It’s good the girls have brought in to what I say.
“The improvement so far in the two to three months I’ve been here is massive. Naomi [Stevens] is starting for us and no one expected that. Alex [Darby] hasn’t played division 1 before and she’s working hard to understand the game.”
Despite all her experience, this season is throwing up new challenges for Burns. She has never played in Big V division 1, although she did play two seasons with Melbourne Tigers in state championships in 2007-08.
“Across the board I don’t know of the girls playing in division 1,” she said. “I’ll test myself as a player and I’ll have to play on the fly.”
Burns gave a glimpse of what she can do in the Jets opening round win, recording 10 points, 12 rebounds, seven steals.
“I’m never one who will score 40 points, but will contribute in more than one category,” she said. “I hope we’re building an exciting brand of basketball.”
