We are super excited to announce the return of athletic guard Mak Dyer to the Perth Redbacks. Mak previously played for us in the 2018 season when we found ourselves missing a Grand Final by two points in two games. (Yes – we still have strong flashbacks about those games. Gah!)
Here’s hoping Mak can help us erase those flashbacks along with the memories of just missing finals in 2019 and 2020. Here’s what she has to say about her return:
“I’m definitely happy to be back. I started my career here with Perth and it just made sense to return. I was really fortunate to watch all of the West Coast Classic and could see which teams needed a guard who could score and could be a leader. If I could do that two minutes away from my house at the first club I started with and that I’ve always had a soft spot for, then I think that’s amazing. Craig has always been in my ear about coming back and it ended up finally working out and I’m really excited to be back home here at the Redbacks.
They welcomed me in with open arms in 2018 and you don’t forget that as an import when you get treated well and can build relationships with the staff, players and even the WABL kids. The changes I can see in the club from 2018 to now are huge and it’s something I’m excited to be part of again.”
Coach Craig Allen says:
“It’s really nice to get Mak back home to the Redbacks. She knows the senior girls reasonably well from her previous season here and she just adds another dimension to the group that we didn’t have last season. She provides scoring options, creativity and the leadership that she brings to that guard role.”
There’s a bit of a theme developing here as NBL1 Director Nathan Barns says:
“Mak is back home and it just feels right. I believe Mak has Redbacks blood in her so we are so glad that she has made the decision to return. Mak brings a high level of professionalism on the court and will also be a great mentor for your younger members both at NBL1 level but also throughout our junior ranks. We can’t wait to see her don the red again.”
Captain Jess Jakens is excited at the prospect of being back on court with Mak:
“Having played with her before I know Mak is a great teammate, she’s a great leader on the floor and any team is going to be grateful for that. I’m looking forward to sharing the court with her again.”
As is Mak:
“I like the look of our backcourt and I’m excited about the group we have together. It’s awesome to get to play with Del again because we have good chemistry together, and there are some young kids like Ella and Sarah coming up behind us. Bri just had a really awesome West Coast Classic season and to get to play with someone with that shooting ability makes my job as a point guard a lot easier. I’m really excited.”
Mak’s feeling fresh and full of energy after not playing professionally in 2020:
“I was really excited for the SBL season. When it got cancelled I got in the mindset of focusing on my business. It ended up being a blessing in disguise for me and I ended up being able to take my first break from basketball in about 15 years. So being able to take that break and try to rest up my body after playing lots of minutes 2019, it ended up being a really good thing even though initially it was tough having to accept I wouldn’t be able to play.
I’m anticipating playing a lot again in 2021 so being able to be fresh with my legs under me is something I’m looking forward to. I think I’m kind of a momentum type player so being able to play 30-plus minutes is almost to my benefit. It’s obviously a little bit of a shorter season, but if we make that finals push it will still go for a pretty long time. So if I can be healthy and sustain that high level of play for the whole season, I’ll be very happy.”
Originally hailing from Madison, Wisconsin, does Perth now feel like home having been here for three years?
“It definitely does feel like my home now and we are so lucky to be here during this whole pandemic. It’s really confirmed for me that there’s no place I’d rather be than Perth. It is a bit strange not being able to go back to the States, but I’m really lucky to have built a family away from home and Perth is where I want to be for the foreseeable future.”