Name: Mary Costello
Age: 24
Position: Power Forward/Centre
What do you love about the game?
Basketball for me has always been about teamwork, that sense of belonging to something and working towards a collective goal.
How long have you played for the Jets?
This is my first year playing for the Jets. #Rookie
What do you love most about being a part of the Jets side?
From the day I walked into the Jets stadium, I was treated like family. Welcomed into this amazing association of people who are not only committed to basketball, but also to each other. If you fall, every single person there is ready to pick you back up.
What do you believe the teams greatest challenge is this season?
We’ve got this team of incredibly talented players, who are highly skilled and arguably the fittest and fastest in the league, but the ability to gel as a playing group is something we have all found difficult. We’re going up against teams that have played together for years, so they’ve already built that team chemistry and natural game flow.
What do you feel is your greatest challenge this season as an individual?
My greatest challenge is definitely my playing confidence, and is something my entire team can attest to. This is my first season back in representative competition and I’m taking on a new role in the 5 spot, where I’ve always traditionally played as a 4. Learning anything new is always tough, but having to do that while going up against super talented players is definitely daunting and brings in some self-doubt.
What do you hope to achieve this season?
As a team I hope we can build that team chemistry. As an individual it’s all about learning to be a better player and understanding how to play structured basketball.
How do you feel about your upcoming game?
It’s going to be a tough game, Maitland are incredible shooters and can move the ball really well. They definitely showed us what they were capable of when we played them at home, but that gave us a much better understanding of how to shape our game to combat their playing style. Team confidence will take time, but with work it will come.