Jon Tuxworth May 26, 2012
Sisters Brianna, 17, and Michaela, 28, Dalgleish are sharing the court for the Canberra Capitals' Academy side in the SEABL. Photo: Rohan Thomson
Their father was a Canberra Cannons cult hero who helped pioneer the sport in the city. And Michaela and Brianna Dalgleish are proving the apple hasn't fallen far from the tree as part of the Canberra Capitals Academy SEABL side.
With his iconic moustache and aggressive approach, Mel Dalgleish was a crowd favourite during the now-defunct Cannons' early NBL days.
Brianna, 17, played alongside 28-year-old half-sister Michaela for the first time in Canberra's 55-32 road loss to Knox last week.
The teenager was drafted in to help an injury-ravaged, undersized line-up following serious knee injuries to Alex Bunton and Kathryn Rendell, and illness to Abby Davis.
Michaela's mother Rhonda played in the WNBL for the Canberra Capitals and her other half-sister, 14-year-old Alana, was recently selected in the ACT under-16 squad.
Her full sister, Kirby, is a bench player for Townsville Fire in the WNBL.
''This might be my last season, so I'll be happy to hand my jersey over to Bree,'' Michaela said.
''They're starting to fill the shoes of the people that went before, which is nice.
''I grew up on the Gold Coast with mum and was always around basketball stadiums, and I think it's the same with Bree.
''I know her and dad and Alana pop down to the courts a lot, and it's starting to pay off.''
Brianna played eight minutes in her SEABL debut last Sunday, pulling down two rebounds against former WNBL all-star five member Amy Denson.
''She pulled down some pretty big rebounds over Denson, and it didn't seem to faze Bree playing against her,'' Michaela said.
''Maybe when you don't know the opposition's history it makes it easier, she had a good crack at it.''
Canberra could be boosted by the inclusion of Capitals guard Michelle Cosier for tonight's home clash with Geelong.
After losing both legs of last week's Victorian road trip, Cosier's class would be invaluable as Canberra (3-8) looks to climb up the eastern conference standings.
''It's been hard, we've lost so many people [to injury] and it's been a difficult couple of months trying to filter players into those roles,'' Michaela said.