Healey ready to push Suns towards BPL summit
As he nears his Bowls Premier League (BPL) debut, Perth Suns recruit Carl Healey is looking forward to the opportunity to suit up at the event for the first time when its 19th edition commences in Moama next week.
The Right at Home Jackaroo has been a spectator on the Murray before and was mightily impressed by the event and the spectacular evening sessions that take place to conclude each day.
Already a dual World Champion and Commonwealth Games silver medallist, the 36-year-old already boasts a wealth of experience that will allow him to easily adjust to the extravaganza, but his goals will remain similar.
“I’m extremely excited, I’ve played down there a couple of times before,” he said.
“Having been there to watch it live and on television, it’s quite a spectacle and I’m really looking forward to being out there on the rink with one of the franchises to hopefully bring the title home.
“I think experience at those big international events gives you confidence to play at any level or any competition.
“It’s not something that is too daunting for me personally in terms of playing in it because the game for me doesn’t really change and the objectives are still the same.”
Healey will combine with Kristina Krstic and Blake Nairn for the Suns, who finished on the bottom of the ladder in November’s tournament at Pine Rivers.
The Cabramatta product has already had initial conversations with his new teammates about the roles that each will play within the lineup.
“We’ve had some brief discussions but I can’t reveal too much because I don’t want to give too much information away,” Healey said.
“But we’ve had some chats, I’ve caught up with Krissy in person and chatted with our coach Bill Brandsma on the phone.
“I just can’t wait to be able to represent such a quality state and the wonderful people that support the Perth Suns.”
Having been involved in every single BPL since the event’s inception in 2013, the westernmost franchise is yet to win a final, having progressed to the marquee Friday night stage on five previous occasions, most recently at BPL12 in 2021.
Healey aims to turn that fortune around to give the parochial fanbase of the Suns something to cheer about from afar.
“After speaking to Krissy and Bill, as well as Bowls WA President Doug Kelly, you can see the passion that they have just by the way they talk about the franchise, which really gets me keen to represent this team,” he said.
“In terms of their past experiences at the BPL they have had some okay results but also some below average results.
“So this is the time to turn the franchise around.”
BPL19 runs from February 19-23, 2024, at the Moama Bowling Club with live streaming on Bowls Australia’s Facebook page and YouTube channel, as well as live broadcasts from Tuesday to Friday from 4pm until 10pm AEDT on Fox, Kayo and Sky Sports NZ.
