MOLLER TAKES NEXT STEP WITH AUSTRALIAN BOOMERS CALL-UP

Written by Liam Ellison.

Since spending three years on Fremantle’s rookie list in the AFL and playing one senior game, Moller switched to basketball and has played four seasons in the NBL, split across the Sydney Kings and Melbourne United.

2018 has been a whirlwind year for Moller, winning the NBL Championship with Melbourne in March, touring China with the NBL All-Australian team in May, claiming a SEABL Championship in August and being named to the All-SEABL First Team with the Hobart Chargers for the second consecutive season.

However, Moller’s recent call-up to the Boomers for the upcoming FIBA World Cup qualifiers just might be his greatest achievement to date.

“It’s huge to represent Australia,” Moller said.

“I’ve changed my goals a lot which isn’t always common. When I was a kid and trying to decide which sport to play, people would say that If I went down the AFL path then I won’t be able to play for my country.

“While that was a really big thing, I still chose to go down that path. But since switching back, it’s been a goal of mine to play for the Boomers so I’m immensely proud and I hope it’s the start of more to come.”

Tickets for both of Australia’s home games in the fifth window of FIBA World Cup qualifiers against Iran (on November 30) and Qatar (on December 3) are available now via Ticketek.

Moller’s basketball journey started at a very young age before turning his focus to being drafted into the AFL as a teenager.

“I played basketball from the age of 6 or 7 all the way up until 14-15. I think my last basketball tournament was the Under-16 nationals for New South Wales.”

At that competition, Moller helped NSW Metro claim a bronze medal with averages of nine points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.3 blocks while his best game came against New Zealand when he tallied 19 points, 14 boards, two assists and six rejections.

“After that, I still played a bit for school here and there but basically I chose to go down the footy path from that point.”

Image via Getty Images.

Moller’s first call-up to represent his country came last year when he was included in the Emerging Boomers team at the World University Games.

Coached by Mark Radford, the team finished with a record of 6-2 for the tournament but for Moller, the games proved an important stepping stone towards becoming a Boomer.

“The World Uni games was my first international experience,” he said. “Being in the village and everything… it was an amazing experience.

“As well as that, the All-Australian tour to China this year was the first time I’d been with [Boomers coach] Andrej Lemanis and it was the first national group I’d been around. The tour itself was pretty relaxed but it was great to be a part of.”

Having essentially taken a six-year break from the sport as he pursued an AFL career, Moller adapted quickly in his return to the sport.

“AFL and basketball are similar in some ways. I was a ruckman and in the AFL centre bounce its very tight and compacted and you have to make fast decisions.

“It’s similar driving through the key where there’s a lot of people everywhere and you have to make really quick decisions.”

For Moller, the ex-footballer tag gets bandied around a lot but it is not something that bothers the ex-Docker. It is just a part of his story that is now set to include a chapter featuring the Boomers.

“I didn’t expect this one to come so quickly so I’m really looking forward to it.”

The Australian Boomers host Iran (on November 30) and Qatar (on December 3) at Margaret Court Arena in the fifth window of FIBA World Cup qualifiers. Tickets for both games are available now.

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At just 24 years of age, Craig Moller has clocked up quite the resume.

The post MOLLER TAKES NEXT STEP WITH AUSTRALIAN BOOMERS CALL-UP appeared first on Basketball Australia.