IT'S COMMON to hear of footballers growing up playing basketball before they make the decision to go with footy, usually in their mid-teens.
But it's a lot more rare to find someone who's played basketball professionally and then made the switch.
Fremantle's Stacey Barr spent four years in the United States on a college basketball scholarship with the University of Idaho, where she studied exercise science and averaged a career-high 21.3 points in her final season.
On her return to Australia, Barr spent a few months at home in Melbourne before crossing the country to take up a one-year contract with Perth Lynx in the WNBL.
Early last year, disappointed at not having her contract extended, she started rediscovering her love of football.
"I'd played a year of footy in juniors, under-10s for Braybrook (in Melbourne’s western suburbs). But I'd played basketball my whole life," Barr said.
"For a couple of months (after her contract ended) I was still trying to play basketball. I was looking to play in Europe, but then I heard the national women's competition was taking off.
"I thought I'd throw my name in there, and I played a few games with Swan Districts (in the WAWFL). It was something new, something exciting and definitely something historic I wanted to be part of."
Her form in those games for Swan Districts was enough for Fremantle to draft her with pick No.68, their ninth selection. Unfortunately, the 24-year-old didn’t get to hear her name being called out.
"I was in Melbourne (where the draft was held), but I was babysitting my nine-month-old nephew. It was just the two of us, with a laptop in the background.
"He actually started crying and I was trying to put him to sleep when my name was announced, so I missed it," she said with a laugh.
Barr, whose strength is her overhead marking, played at half-forward for Swan Districts but Fremantle coach Michelle Cowan has indicated she planned to use her all over the ground.
The Dockers have at least five former basketballers on their list, and Barr believes there are quite a few similarities between the two sports, despite the big difference in playing area.
"There's definitely the team aspect, as well as hand-eye coordination – catching's pretty much the same. There's a lot of timing involved in basketball, especially going up for rebounds, as well as reading the play," Barr said.
"But my fitness regime has changed a lot. I'm going on long-distance runs, rather than concentrating on short bursts.
"You go for 50-minute runs. In basketball, you'd never have to do that," she said.
Barr said her professional background helped with easing into a new footy environment.
"There were some nerves before the first training session, but fortunately I've been in those situations before.
"Playing one year of professional basketball and going to America, with the college system being so professional and business-like, helped a lot."
