The Queensland Firebirds have named Ruby Bakewell-Doran as a squad member for the 2020 season.
Known for her work ethic, in the words of Firebirds Head Coach Roselee Jencke, she possesses “really good high-performance behaviours”.
“She’s hard working, organised, holds herself accountable and reliable,” Jencke said.
Similar to fellow training partner, Tippah Dwan, this appointment is not Bakewell-Doran’s first season as a Firebirds training partner.
Known for her rock-steady reliability, Bakewell-Doran was first named a Queensland Firebird training partner in 2019 season.
Background
Born in Newcastle, New South Wales, Bakewell-Doran’s family moved to Queensland when she was young, although this was followed by a brief return to Newcastle, where Ruby was first selected for representative netball.
The family moved to Brisbane when she was 14 and the young defender quickly caught the eye of selectors.
Injuries
In 2015, at the tender age of 16, Bakewell-Doran ruptured her ACL and underwent a knee reconstruction. But while this may have ended many young netballers’ ambitions for success, it did not deter her. She focused on her recovery and rehabilitation and was soon playing high level netball again.
Onward and upward
By 2017 she was playing for the Brisbane North Cougars in the Ruby level.
Her determination and skills were impressive and she came to the attention of the Netball Queensland High Performance Panel.
In 2018 she was selected for the Queensland Fusion team, playing in the Deakin University ANL. She was also selected in the U19 Queensland side to compete in the Netball Championships and that year she was named in the starting squad for the Brisbane North Cougars HART Sapphire Series.
2019 season
In 2019 Bakewell-Doran was a well-known staple on the Netball Queensland pathway. She was once again selected for the Queensland Fusion side.
And, as a testament to her hard work and recovery from the ACL, she was named a Queensland Firebirds training partner.
Looking forward to improving on her successes, Ruby was excited about 2019. But the season did not begin smoothly and she needed an ankle reconstruction during the pre-season.
Again, her hallmark resilience shone through and by the time the ANL season and the HART Sapphire Series began, Ruby was match-fit and raring to go.
The Brisbane North Cougars completed a successful season, undefeated, and claimed the minor premiership in September 2019. Unfortunately, they lost the grand final to the ascendant QUT Wildcats in a tightly fought thriller where Bakewell-Doran excelled.
2020 season
With a clean bill of health and a season of skills development and improvement behind her, Bakewell-Doran is excited to be a Queensland Firebird training partner in the 2020 season, which will be her first season to begin without injury or rehabilitation.
She has outlined a personal goal for the 2020 season: “I want to be bench ready at all times. If, for whatever reason, something happens to a Firebird and they need to bring someone up, I want that someone to be me,” she said.
Did You Know? Ruby Trivia!
DOB: 21/1/1999 (She’ll be 21 in January, 2020).
Preferred positions: GD, GK, but she can also cover WD very well.
Family: Ruby is the eldest of three girls. Her youngest sister, Lucca, (15) plays netball and middle sister, Isabella, (17), plays water polo and AFL.
Grassroots: Bakewell-Doran played Association netball at Downey Park, one of Brisbane’s largest associations.
