By Oliver Lees
With Commonwealth Games and World Championship accolades already to her name, Sunbury’s bowls sensation Carla Krizanic is ready to build her skills behind the microphone.
Last week Krizanic was named as one of 15 participants in the state government’s Change Our Game Women in Sports Broadcasting program, which is designed to get more women adding professional commentary to sports across the state.
She’s joined by a list of exceptional female athletes, which includes former national baseball team member Amy McCann and AFLW All-Australian defender Libby Birch.
Krizanic said despite having some broadcast experience working on television, she’s eager to soak up everything she can from the program. “I’m looking forward to all of it, but especially the skill acquisition side of things,” she said.
“I’ve never had a trained background in media or journalism, all I’ve learnt is off the cuff, so hopefully this can help me see some more opportunities come my way.”
But one thing Krizanic does have on her side is a comprehensive understanding of the sport.
The 31-year-old has been around the green for 16 years and has accumulated a wealth of experience in that time, including more than 200 appearances for Australia.
At the 2016 World Outdoor Bowls Championships in Christchurch, Krizanic tallied two golds as part of the triples and fours teams.
She also featured in the 2018 Commonwealth Games where she claimed two more gold medals.
She moved to Sunbury six years ago and has since assumed the role of ambassador for bowls at Sunbury.
The Women in Sports Broadcasting program will be led by Emma and Lucy Race, who co-founded the all-female football podcast, The Outer Sanctum.
“I’m looking forward to meeting the participants from other sports, there’s so much you can learn through your colleagues, particularly through womens sport,” Krizanic said.
“I suppose as I’m maybe getting closer to the end of my playing career and I’m having a family, I want to stay involved in the sport in some way,” she said.
“I want to keep giving myself opportunities to be involved in promoting the sport, improving my skills and hanging around at the higher level.”
Currently pregnant with her second child, Krizanic is taking a break from lining up for Sunbury this season, but hopes to be back in action in time for the Bowls Premier League (BPL) in February.
Club Sunbury was expected to make its debut in the BPL in Brisbane earlier this year under the name Melbourne Extreme, but the competition was ultimately postponed due to COVID-19 restrictions.
Unlike regular bowls format, the BPL includes a 30 second shot clock to quicken the pace of the game and make it more appealing to a younger audience.
The BPL National Finals will be held in Moama from February 22-25 next year.
Joining Krizanic as part of Melbourne Extreme is Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Matt Flapper and former world singles champion Ali Forsyth.
