Former Singleton Roosterette Kalani Bates pictured in her side’s 13-point grand final win against Lake Macquarie in 2020. The 19-year-olf has been selected to make her SANFLW debut for North Adelaide this weekend.
Former Singleton Roosterette Kalani Bates will be making her Hostplus SANFLW debut for reigning premier North Adelaide this Saturday.
Current Singleton women’s coach Nadene McBride believes her former ball winner will be one to watch on account of her progression from junior level.
New recruit Kalani Bates will hope to inspire her side to back-to-back victories against ladder leader West Adelaide this Saturday.
“Kalani has come from a family of sporting legends in my eyes,” McBride explained.
“I watched her come through our junior ranks and knew from the very start that Kalani was going to be a star in the footy world.”
Bates was adjudged the best on ground player in Singleton’s 2020 women’s grand final win against Lake Macquarie, lifting the premiership cup with her teammate and proud mother Paula after the match.
Kalani and Paula Bates chaired off after their final match for Singleton.
That same season the talented teenager was also the recipient of the AFL Hunter Central Coast’s Women’s Plate Rookie of the Year, Coaches MVP and Rising Star awards.
She was also one of six Singleton Roosterettes named in the team of the year, selected on a wing.
Her father Travis and brother Jesse also represented Singleton with distinction in the men’s top tier competition.
The Bates family pictured moments after their 2020 women’s grand final win over Lake Macquarie at Bateau Bay Oval.
“It was the very reason I talked her parents into letting her play senior footy at the age of 15,” McBride added.
“Injuries plagued her that year and such was her determination that she still took out all of those accolades.”
The North Adelaide Roosters celebrated an 18-point grand final win against Sturt last year, a tremendous feat after the double blues scored the opening four goals of the match.
2023 Hostplus SANFLW Captain’s Call – Kristi Harvey (North) – YouTube
Last week they celebrated a tight season-opening two-point win over Norwood to grab third spot on the ladder.
Their opponents West Adelaide sit on top of the table thank to their 14-point win over Glenelg.
The game will commence at 12:30pm (1pm Singleton time) at Hisense Stadium.
Kalani will be wearing #16.
BY ALEX TIGANI
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AFL Hunter Central Coast
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