Promoted Sunshine Coast Lightning midcourter Maddie Hinchliffe is determined to repay the faith shown in her by the club, but she’ll have to wait to do so.
The 22-year-old was elevated from training partner to full-time roster player, after a serious knee injury robbed local Ashlie Unie of her rookie season.
Hinchliffe can play wing defence and centre and is set to add depth and versatility to the 10-strong squad.
“I’m honoured to be given this opportunity with Lightning – it’s something I’ve worked so hard for over the years,” she said.
“For Kylee and the coaches to put their faith in me is so exciting and now I can’t wait to get out on court and contribute to the team.”
Hinchliffe linked with the Lightning during the off-season after being a training partner at arch-rivals Queensland Firebirds.
She played one game for them in 2019.
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Byrne initially said they would search far and wide for a replacement player for Unie but they ultimately opted to elevate one of their own in Hinchllife.
“Maddie has worked immensely hard since joining our club and it is pleasing to now grant her this opportunity to play at the higher level and elevate her game even further,” she said.
“While we’re disappointed to lose Ash for the season, Maddie is highly deserving and will be a strong asset to our team.
“I see so much potential with her ability to read the play and her strong work-rate and can’t wait to see what she can deliver both on court and as part of our wider squad.”
Byrne recently said she was “gutted” for Unie, who was herself promoted from training partner to the roster proper during the off-season. She was the first local product to earn a full-time contract with the club in its four-year history.
Injury twist, Hunt gets temporary call-up
In a bitter twist for Hinchliffe and the club, she’s now sidelined with injury herself, but just for a “short stint”.
She sustained a foot injury in the Sunshine Coast Lightning affiliated USC Thunder’s state league season opener.
Long-standing Lightning training partner Binnian Hunt was promoted to the squad of 10 as a temporary injury replacement player, ahead of the team’s first game against Collingwood on May 1.
The 23-year-old attacker made her national league debut with the Lightning last season and looked comfortable at the higher level.
Byrne was sympathetic to Hinchliffe, after working so hard to secure the senior elevation but was confident Hunt can fill the void.
“Maddie is so deserving of this opportunity, so to see her sustain an injury before Round 1 is devastating, but I’m certain we will see what she has to offer out on court later this season,” Byrne said.
“This provides us with another opportunity to invest in Binni’s development which is really exciting for the Club.
“The depth not only in our squad but in our training partner program and beyond is a real strength of this Lightning team and is an endorsement of our wider development program.”
The Lightning collide with the Magpies on Saturday, May 1 in Melbourne, 7pm.
