Dom Carbone has the talent to make it in the WNBL or AFLW after starring for Lightning in DBA and Darwin Buffettes in the NTFL

SHE has been talked up by current Darwin Buffettes captain Kylie Duggan as the ideal future leader of the Premier League team. And last Saturday night – on the basketball court for Lightning against Duggan’s star-studded Tracy Village team – Dom Carbone showed exactly why there is so much hype around her.

Darwin Buffettes’ star midfielder Dom Carbone returns from basketball duty with reigning three-time DBA champions Lightning to take on Nightcliff today. Picture: Che Chorley

SHE has been talked up by current Darwin Buffettes captain Kylie Duggan as the ideal future leader of the Premier League team.

And last Saturday night – on the basketball court for Lightning against Duggan’s star-studded Tracy Village team – Dom Carbone showed exactly why there is so much hype around her.

The gifted 19-year-old stood out with 26 points, hitting three of seven three-pointers alongside skipper Claire Maree O’Bryan (24 points, with 3-7 from beyond the three-point arc) to stun the Jets 94-66 in the 2020 Women’s Darwin Basketball Final.

It was Lightning’s third successive DBA women’s title.

And Carbone – like the strong leader she has already become – thrived under the pressure.

Claire Maree O’Bryan and Dom Carbone stand out as Lightning wins third straight Darwin Basketball Association title v Jets

NT Academy coach Jason Roe says Dominique Carbone and Janet Baird will impress in the Under-18 Northern Territory NAB AFLW All Stars Match at TIO Stadium

“It was an amazing feeling to win with these girls. I really enjoy playing alongside Claire,” Carbone told the NT News.

But she deflected praise from herself onto her teammates.

“We’ve had great contributions from all our players all season,” she said. “Peta Bailey, my sister Sarah Carbone, Ashlee Walsh, Mikaella Desamito and Lauren Barnes have all played really well.

“But one I really have to mention is April Rummery Lamb.

“She had an injury earlier in the season but came back and stood out for us. She’s improved so much, has a great work ethic and is just a well-rounded person.

“This team has some great combinations and we know we can continue to improve. We knew we’d be competitive against Jets in the major semi-final (Tracy Village suffering its first loss of the season in that match), and then again in the grand final if we focused on taking it quarter by quarter.

“We had a number of meetings this season and everyone contributed their ideas to the group.”

Dom Carbone takes a free throw for Lighning during her outstanding performance in the 2020 Women’s Darwin Basketball League Final. Picture: Glenn Campbell

Carbone is also staying in the moment regarding her goals next year.

There is no doubt she could push for a spot on a WNBL or AFLW roster.

The NT Thunder representative – who was one of the best on ground in the NT All Stars clash in September – will continue working just as hard on her football as she does at basketball.

“My motto is to give it my all with everything I do, and take the opportunities which come my way,” said Carbone, who has finished in Darwin’s best players four times from eight games this NTFL season.

“We had a great win against St Mary’s last week with Kylie, Tania Dhu and me missing, which shows the great depth in this squad. Molly Althouse can play anywhere and she’s a young leader for us, and Michelle Sliwinski has improved out of sight.”

Duggan was full of praise for Carbone when talking about the-then upcoming 2020-21 NTFL season in September.

“She’s still very young but she’s in great shape,” Duggan said at the time.

“She has what it takes to go to that next level, and she also has what it takes to take over the captaincy at some stage.

“I won’t be around in that role forever, and I hope Dom is someone who can take over.”

The second-placed Buffettes take on the fifth-placed Tigers at Darwin Mazda Nightcliff Oval in Round 11 action today.