Early Years (2000–2009): Football, Martial Arts, and Domestic Basketball Foundations

 

My sporting journey began at South Melbourne Districts Junior Football Club, where I faced plenty of early challenges but grew to love the community and physicality of the game. Around the same time, I trained in Karate at Ceberano Martial Arts, where I learned discipline, focus, and the foundation of competitive spirit.
 

Tennis, on the other hand, didn’t come naturally. I was once labelled “uncoachable” due to my resistance to traditional technique. It was basketball where I truly found my place. Starting in local domestic comps at MSAC, I leaned into my athleticism and carved out my own style. My jump shot was unorthodox and often raised eyebrows, but it caught attention. I prided myself on effort above all else, something I later came to understand (via DMAC and the AUBD program) was one of the few things that truly can't be taught.